Thanks for the Memories 2009

My dear sweet baby A.J.,

In just a couple of hours, the clock will strike midnight and we will say goodbye to the year 2009, welcoming in 2010. You, thankfully, have been asleep for a few hours now and with any luck will not wake up until the new year is at least 6 hours old. Before you went to sleep for the night, I made your daddy take this picture. Our standard self portrait, the last picture of our family taken in 2009. The grown ups look scruffy (we're on vacation after all), the baby looks dazed, and you can see that taking down the Christmas tree is still on the to do list. This is us, right this very minute. And I would not change a thing.

I'm not sure I've ever loved a year the way I loved 2009. The first six months were full of challenges and anticipation. Daddy and I went on our last vacation just the two of us (for a while anyway). I got my gestational diabetes diagnosis and learned how to give myself insulin several times a day (good thing you helped me get over my fear of needles). We spent lots of time picking out the things we would need for your arrival. We took the hospital childbirth class and tried not to worry that we would forget the important stuff when it was time for your arrival. We celebrated the birth of babies that will hopefully grow up to be your good friends (Miri, Nash, Charlie, and Charlie). Mama turned 30.

And then June came. You arrived and our world changed more than we could have ever imagined. We weren't quite sure what to do with you when they first sent us home from the hospital, but thankfully we are quick learners. You threw us a couple of curve balls there in the beginning with the jaundice (you spent a couple of days on the baby tanning bed) and then the seizures (you looked so tiny in that hospital crib). Your first week felt like it lasted a month, and there were moments that I wasn't sure I was smart enough or strong enough to be your mama. I know you won't remember those early days, but I will never forget them.

Now, you are approaching seven months old. You sleep in your own bed. You're experimenting with big people food, putting those two teeth of yours to work. You are so close to crawling and sitting up all by yourself. You smile and laugh all the time and I am so proud to be your Mama especially when someone comments on what a happy baby you are.

You are always up for an adventure and I can just imagine all of the adventures 2010 has in store for us. This time next year you'll be walking and talking (at least a little bit) and you'll have a new cousin to teach all sorts of tricks. I'll probably be here writing you another letter talking about how much I loved the past 365 days. And I'm sure I'll make Daddy take another silly picture of us just the way we are.

Happy 1st New Year baby boy!
All my love,
Mama

The first of many family Christmas self portraits

Rest assured, there are plenty of "real" pictures of us together. But this one is just us. Our crazy little family of three with our signature self portrait.

Wishing all of you a happy, safe, merry day of family friends and love.
Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!

Our Santa Baby

We have no doubt that A.J. will not remember any of this year's Christmas activities. But we also know this is a year we will never forget. A year to continue old traditions with the next generation. A year of firsts for all of us. A year to be thankful.

Santa came early for the Homburgs.

World Tour Wrap Up

Hello All! A.J. here!

I'm happy to report we all survived my big world tour over Thanksgiving.

It was a little touch and go towards the end (whose idea was it to put me in the car for TWELVE HOURS in one day?) but we all had a great time visiting!

Here are a few pictorial highlights from the trip (see that big word I used there? Mama helped me out!)

Tennessee:

Mama and Daddy took me to Panera where they would not let me have a bagel, but they did let me cuddle with Miss Janelle. She is one of Mama and Daddy's former brides and one of Mama's good friends. I like her very much because she is a good snuggler and she has long hair which I enjoyed pulling on very much!
This is Auntie Lee Ann. We stayed with her in her beautiful new condo while we were in Tennessee. I wore my sweater with the penguin in the pocket just for her because she likes them. She was so nice to us. She let Mama and Daddy sleep in her bed, and she let me take a bath in her tub!

I also got to spend some quality time with my girlfriend Allie. She is almost exactly three months younger than me. We actually went to Disney World together when we were still in our Mamas bellies. We go way back! We are already planning our next big adventure together in January 2011 when Allie's Mama is going to run a marathon and a half marathon in two days. My mama thinks that's a little crazy, but it's still a good reason to go to Disney World!
While we were in Knoxville, Mama took me to visit the station she used to work at. She let me sit on the set, but kept repeating over and over "A.J. you do not want to work in television. The pay is terrible and you don't get to have a life. You will be much happier if you grow up to be the pilot of Air Force One." Okay, Mama. Whatever.

This is Miss Erin. Let me tell you a little about Miss Erin. She is crazy, just like my Mama and my daddy. She carries around a BIG camera (again, just like my folks) and she takes lots and lots of pictures. When I first met her I tried to pretend I didn't know how to look at the camera, but I finally gave in and let her take some pictures of me. You can't see them yet because Mama says it's a Christmas secret. I'll spoil part of it for you though...I'm really cute. Pretend to be surprised, okay?
Before we left Knoxville for the next leg of the world tour, I met my new friend Sydney. She's got a few months on me and man is she cool. She has more teeth than me, and as a result she gets to EAT REAL FOOD. I watched her have dinner and I was very jealous. She also gets around much better than me. I'm hoping the next time I see her I can show off some new
skills.

Virginia:
We spent a LONG time in the car on our way to Virginia, but when we got there I was very excited to see my Goofy Grandpa. He made me laugh even though I was a little tired and crabby.

I was also quite happy to find that my great Aunt Lorri spared no expense in her kitchen...including an olympic sized sink! Perfect for taking a bath!
Gradually, over the course of my stay in Virginia, all of these people showed up. Mama says I am related to all of them. I think she's right because they all seemed a little crazy to me.

Michigan
On our way home we stopped in Michigan where I got to see my Grandma and Grandpa Homburg AND I got to meet my great grandma! It was very fun but I was very tired of traveling and also working hard on cutting my second tooth so I wasn't the best company!

Indiana:
Technically we only drove through Indiana, but we stopped for gas in just the right spot so I could see my Auntie Stacy! Please ignore the irate look on my face. I believe Daddy snapped this picture right after Mama made some comment about getting back in the car.

So there you have it! My world tour in a nutshell. Mama says everyone needs to move closer because she can't do another trip like that ever again. I think she's just being overly dramatic. It wasn't *that* bad. I mean I know she went partially deaf from my screaming for 3 hours in the car one day, but I'm sure she'll regain most of her hearing.

On that note, I'm off to get dressed for my big evening with the Ossmann family. Something about presents! See ya!