2009 has been a really, truly, great, blessed year for our family. With the birth of our son, Duke, we welcomed a new, perfect little being into our lives. It was a wake-up call for me too, since life with Duke has been....challenging, to say the least. I think it was karmic justice for my "first time parent arrogance." There have been a lot of tears - both from me and from Duke, frustration, fatigue, and other challenges. But there's also been joy, wonder, and a feeling deep down that our family is now complete.
Another huge change that happened this year was the Colonel quit his job. It sounds crazy, given the economy and the fact that we have a young family, but it has been one of the best decisions of our lives. The Colonel is a hard worker, probably with one of the strongest work ethics of anyone I've ever met, so this was a major decision for him. He's a student now, and we have a lot less money, but our relationship has never been better. He went from working about 60 hours/week to going to school for approximately 20 hours/week. Having him around, especially with the sleeping challenges we've had with Duke, has been a lifesaver! I'm so proud to see him excel in school and to be motivated to do well in his program.
We have very little disposable income now, but we're so much happier. We simplified this Christmas and stuck to a strict budget, plus made a few things by hand for the kids and it just felt...right. Being creative is something that was really missing in my life, so it feels good to have that as an outlet.
I wouldn't have believed anyone who told me we would be happier with less, but we really are. I feel like my marriage is stronger and that life is just generally more balanced these days.
Just to brag, here are some pictures of our handmade gifts for the kids. First, Duke's set of wooden blocks:
And Sunshine's felt food:
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