Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

We hope this ”letter” finds you well. For Brian and I, 2009 has been another amazing and exciting year, the highlight of which has been watching our sweet girl blossom before our eyes. If you can believe it, Avery Elizabeth is 14 months old this Christmas! If you thought she was a big girl when she was born, you should see how big this personality she’s developed is!

Singing, dancing, playing, talking and generally hamming it up for anyone willing to become her audience are among her favorite activities (I wonder where she gets that from). She is a big fan of books and if she can find a book and a willing adult, she’ll be snuggled up in your lap as soon as she can manage. She amazes us by adding new words to her vocabulary daily. A fantastic dancer, she looks for any opportunity she can to get down and boogie. OK, I lied. She’s actually a horrible, horrible dancer, but a fantastic entertainer in the process! She loves ring around the rosey, cartoons, bananas, Elmo, scrambled eggs and, of course, the apple of her eye, her daddy.

I could go on and on about Avery, but if I had to sum her ginormous personality up in one word, it would be Bright. Not just in the obvious way. Yes, like any doting parents we are convinced she’s significantly advanced for her age. But in a deeper sense, she has truly been a light to us this year. Having withstood a surprising turn of events, including losing my job, adjusting to being a stay at home mom, and eventually learning to balance work and life, she has shed light on the meaning of family for both Brian and I,  and on what is truly important to us in the midst of the chaos that can become our daily routines.

For me personally, one of the highlights of being Avery’s mom this year has been the opportunity to see the world through my little girl’s eyes. Avery doesn’t care how full the calendar is or how much is in the bank account. She never worries about what is to come. She dwells in the moment, and focuses all of her attention on what or who is directly in front of her. She is honest with her emotions, and chooses to look towards the future rather than focusing on the past. She has a sense of wonder at the simplest of things, a falling leaf, the first snow. She has brought to life the importance of a child-like faith, and challenged me to possess it.

Brian and I have never been more aware of how important our friends and family are in shaping our lives and our family’s life. We value each of you and thank you for your support this past year. We wish you all a holiday season filled with love, joy, and hope, and the same for the new year.

All our love,

Brian, Libby and Avery