Just dipping my toe in the water after a 7 year hiatus. I wonder if anyone is still here? What's with all these CPR ads (e:Paul)? Hoping everyone is staying safe.

Cheers for now!

As we say good-bye to 2013 and hello to 2014, I wish you joy that never ends and happiness with all your family and friends.

Reflection:

Where were you and who were you with when 2013 began?
In my bed with Rory, waking up just in time to watch London fireworks on TV. Tobie asleep.

Where will you be and who will you be with when 2013 ends?
Going to watch fireworks at 7pm, then back home for cuddles with Tobie and once again in my bed with Rory, waking up just in time to watch London fireworks on TV - unless Tobie is still awake.

Was 2013 a good year for you?
It was a bit tiring but overall, yes.

What was your favorite moment of the year?
Finally getting to take Tobie to the US to meet his grandparents, cousins and Aunties and Uncle.

What was your least favorite moment of the year?
One of the vomit/poo fests Tobie had. Take your pick.

Did you reach your New Year goals for 2013?
Some.

-Continue to lose weight- I did, up until I found out I was pregnant again.

-Travel to the US with Tobie to meet family- Yes!

-Read the 3 books waiting in line to be read- 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

-Buy an awesome bicycle with a basket and bell and take some lovely rides with Tobie- No. But someone gave me a functional bike that I hope to use next year.

-Move house closer to London- No. With the discovery of my second pregnancy this was not in the cards.

-Let people know how much they mean to me even though they've grown distant- I feel I've done my best with this.

-Be the best wifey and mother I can be and never let a day go without telling Rory and Tobie how much I love them- Yes!

What was your favorite month of 2013?
May - finding out number 2 was on the way.

Did you travel in 2013?
Got to go home to the US and while part of the UK (for now at least) we spent Christmas in Scotland, which was a nice change of scenery!

Did you lose anybody close to you in 2013?
No.

What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2013?
The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

What was your favorite song in 2013?

What was your most exciting moment of 2013?

What was your proudest moment of 2013?
Watching Tobie make developmental leaps.

What are your goals for 2014?

-If possible, have a water birth with 'Squirrel'

-Travel to the US with Tobie, 'Squirrel' and Rory to celebrate our 5 year anniversary.

-Get a chariot for my bike to take Tobie and 'Squirrel' for rides

-Find new ways to express myself to cope with being a mother of 2 little ones.

- Continue to let people know how much they mean to me even though they don't stay in touch much.

- Be the best wifey and mother I can be and never let a day go without telling Rory, Tobie and 'Squirrel' how much I love them.

Cheers to a happy new year!

Home in the UK now. The flight felt super long because Tobie decided the middle of the night was the best time to stay awake despite how tired he was.

Didn't get a chance before I left to say what an epeepaganza Sunday was. Went into town to meet up with (e:Springfaerie) for coffee, popped over to 7 Eleven to grab water and snacks and ran into (e:Drew), met up with (e:Theecarey) and other folks to watch the last show of Hamlet at Shakespeare in the park and while there saw (e:Enknot). Crazy day!

I've got a few pics of my lovely trip home. Had a great time relaxing with family and letting Tobie get to know his grandparents. I didn't like having to come back, it felt too soon.....

I'm coming home for a nice long visit with the little monkey. (Rory will join us for a few weeks). If you'd like to meet up get in touch :)

We're still waiting for Spring to arrive over here, but at least when the sun is out you can pretend! Here is Tobie marveling at the ocean on his first seaside outing.

On the eve of each New Year we often reflect on our lives. As we say good-bye to 2012 and hello to 2013, I wish you joy that never ends and happiness with all your family and friends.

Where were you and who were you with when 2012 began?
In the living room of our new home with Rory, Stickybean and Blinky.

Where will you be and who will you be with when 2012 ends?
At home with Rory, Tobie and Blinky.

Was 2012 a good year for you?
Absolutely yes!

What was your favorite moment of the year?
Announcing the birth of our first child Tobie Joshua Webber.

What was your least favorite moment of the year?
The entire work saga which culminated in me handing in my notice.

Did you reach your New Year goals for 2012?
50/50

• Continue to lose weight - YEP!

• Travel to the US with Stickybean to meet family- No :(

• Read the 5 books waiting in line to be read - read 2 of the 5

• Buy an awesome bicycle with a basket and bell and take some lovely rides with Stickybean and Rory - nope :(

• Get my UK driver's license- YEP!

• Buy a car - YEP!

• Be the best wifey and mother I can be and never let a day go without telling Rory or Stickybean how much I love them- YEP!

• Make my cat famous for her awesome fetch skillz and run a line of crazy T-shirts, even if it's just for us :) - if I could figure out how to get my flippin' videos posted....sigh

What was your favorite month of 2012?
February - Tobie's arrival!

Did you travel in 2012?
Not outside the UK- this is a FIRST! I had to renew my UK visa, so I've been without a passport for months now! Grrrrrr. My travel bug is very, very unhappy about this.

Did you lose anybody close to you in 2012?
My Mamaw (mother's mother) in January :(

What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2012?
Strange as it sounds, I was actually impressed with Looper. It was much deeper than appears on the surface.

What was your favorite song in 2012?
Tie:
Somebody that I used to know by Gotye and
Skyfall by Adele

What was your most exciting moment of 2012?
That last push when Tobie finally entered the outside world and I became a mother; something I NEVER thought would happen.

What was your proudest moment of 2012?
Me: Getting my UK license
Parenting: Tobie's first steps were pretty heartwarming.

What was your most embarrassing moment of 2012?
Can't think of anything funny...

What are your goals for 2013?

• Continue to lose weight- I've lost all the pregnancy weight and am back to where I was when I first left for Doha. Only 40 more pounds to go!

• Travel to the US with Tobie to meet family.

• Read the 3 books waiting in line to be read.

• Buy an awesome bicycle with a basket and bell and take some lovely rides with Tobie.

• Move house closer to London.

• Let people know how much they mean to me even though they've grown distant.

• Be the best wifey and mother I can be and never let a day go without telling Rory and Tobie how much I love them.

Cheers to a happy new year, celebrate safely and have fun!!!

Happy 40th Birthday Peter! We hope you have an amazing time on your special milestone day!

Other notes:

We are not coming home for Christmas :(

Last week Tobie starting taking his first proper steps, nice and slow and steady :)

This morning Tobie stood up in the middle of the room unaided :)

I quit my job because they were being horrible :/

Remembering Joshua. Smiling every time I say my son's name in full. He was named after a terrific guy!


2005, outside kunie's before a night out at the pink


2006, at my birthday party at the 333

My Mamaw (mother's mother) died Wednesday night. She wasn't doing too well in the last few months suffering from dementia. My mother went down there in November to help care for her and I'm glad she got to spend a few months with her mother before she passed, even under difficult circumstances. It's not the easiest news to digest at 9 months pregnant but I'm doing pretty well to try to stay calm and not stress the baby with my grief.

Mamaw was a riot. She was a strong woman who said what she felt, often without filters. She was 89 and just had her 72nd wedding anniversary with my Papaw on Dec. 26th! She was the oldest of 10 kids in her family, most of whom are still living. She had 9 children (8 who are still with us), 26 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren. Yeah, family gatherings are quite the production!

Selfishly I was hoping she would hang on just a little bit longer to see a photo of great-grandchild #40, but she was suffering and I am glad she is now at peace.

She was widely known for her sickeningly sweet 'sweet tea' and one of those women who wouldn't ask questions if some random kid walked into her kitchen asking for food. Her door was (literally) always open and folks knew they were welcome and that Mamaw would always look after them.

Good-bye Mamaw.

As The New Year Rings In
On the eve of each New Year we often reflect on our lives. As we say good-bye to 2011 and hello to 2012, I wish you joy that never ends and happiness with all your family and friends.

Where were you when 2011 began?
In the 33rd floor Sky Lounge of Nido watching London fireworks.

Who were you with?
Rory, my boss, his wife and a few friends.

Where will you be when 2011 ends?
At home.

Whom will you be with when 2011 ends?
Rory.

Was 2011 a good year for you?
Overall yes, but a difficult year in terms of loss.

What was your favorite moment of the year?
Announcing to our parents that we were going to have a baby.

What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Finding out my nephew had cancer, my dog Bambi died and that Joshua had died.

Did you reach your New Year goals for 2011?
Most of the them!

Lose weight- I lost 18 pounds before getting pregnant!

Travel to Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Russian Federation, Denmark, Gibraltar, Brunei and Ireland. I’ve also got this thing about SCUBA diving shipwrecks in Bermuda - Made it to Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and Denmark.

Rewrite a more comprehensive Resident Handbook - did it!

Read more. More specifically, read at least 2 books per month - read more, but didn't reach that specific goal. Pregnancy made me so tired and sick the first 5 months reading wasn't on the menu.

Beat Dead Rising with all endings, all survivors, all quests and full levels. Zombies! - Negative. Couldn't be bothered to play games either.

Buy an awesome bicycle with a basket and bell and take some lovely rides in London. - Nope. Once it came time for nice weather we found out Stickybean was on the way and basically bicycle riding isn't allowed :(

Get to know London better. Start utilizing my secret black book to mark bus routes and hidden treasures we come across in our excursions. - Yep!

Grow more ‘duck feathers’ to let certain things roll off my back a little more quickly. - Yep.

Be the best wifey I can be and never let a day go without telling Rory how much I love him. - Absolutely!

Make my cat famous for her awesome fetch skillz and run a line of crazy T-shirts. OK, this one is a joke, but it would still be fun. - Seriously thinking of this one for next year....

What was your favorite month of 2011?
May; we both stared at the pregnancy test stick in awe.

Did you travel outside of the US in 2011?
Indeed: England, Holland, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Russia, Sweden and Poland.

Did you lose anybody close to you in 2011?
I did. Our dear Joshua and my sweet little Bambi.

What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2011?
Hmmm....I think the King's Speech

What was your favorite song in 2011?
Someone Like You by Adele

What was your most exciting moment of 2011?
Buying our first home together.

What was your proudest moment of 2011?
Being part of the winning team for a prestigious award for Environmental Excellence in the UK.

What was your most embarrassing moment of 2011?
Rocking up to the airport only to find out our tickets were actually for the day PRIOR.

What are your goals for 2012?

• Continue to lose weight- I was doing well before getting pregnant, so once it is safe to do so I'd like to continue with that progress.

• Travel to the US with Stickybean to meet family.

• Read the 5 books waiting in line to be read.

• Buy an awesome bicycle with a basket and bell and take some lovely rides with Stickybean and Rory.

• Get my UK driver's license.

• Buy a car.

• Be the best wifey and mother I can be and never let a day go without telling Rory or Stickybean how much I love them.

• Make my cat famous for her awesome fetch skillz and run a line of crazy T-shirts, even if it's just for us :)

Cheers to a happy new year, celebrate safely and have fun!!!