Coming to a mailbox near you…

Christmas letters! The Spin Cycle hosted by the lovely Sprite’s Keeper says ’tis the season, and so we may as well run our rough drafts by the internet. Or the letters we’ll never dare to send…

:::

Merry Christmas, friends & family! It’s been quite a year for the bessie.viola household. Those of you close enough to call or stop by have already been filled in on the majority of this; for those of you who count this letter as your only communication, well, forward on any follow-up questions and I’ll be sure to address them in 2009’s letter. Here we go!

January

I was HUGE. I was uncomfortable. Yup, I was still pregnant. The discerning among you will note that this is clearly a December picture, but there weren’t many pictures taken of me in January because I was EVEN HUGER. And pre-eclamptic. And none of my shoes fit. OH WAIT – here’s one:

Right, moving on.

February

Now THIS was a good month. Madeline Grace (previously known only as the gender-neutral Flipper) was born. Three weeks early, our peanut arrived after 23 hours of labor, ending with a c-section. I’ll spare you more details than that unless you come over, in which case I will haul out the scrapbook and regale you with tales of my battles with Pitocin. She was (and still is) absolutely perfect: 8lbs 3oz and 22 inches long. She’s grown since then, of course, but more on that to come.

March

This month was a blur of breastfeeding and getting to know our little girl. We didn’t leave the house much, but we managed to organize a baptism ceremony on March 30.

She behaved perfectly throughout the service. I did too, crying only a little. I even stayed upright on my 2.5 inch heels. There was a yummy meal afterward, and cake.

April

Madeline’s first Easter. I returned to work just a few days after. Madeline began to spend many hours with Grammy and Aunt Sophie, who spoiled her beyond all recognition. I think she was disappointed when I’d come home.

May

May was a month of weddings for our little family: Jimmy’s cousin Susan tied the knot in Detroit, necessitating our first family trip. It was Madeline’s first hotel stay, and she loved the Marriott.

At the end of the month I crammed myself into a bridesmaid’s dress and stood up for two of our best friends as they said their vows. They’ve been living happily ever after since.

You know what’s an adventure? Breast pump + strapless dress, that’s what.

This is also the month I started to go a little PPD/crazy. It would be many more months before I would even speak that out loud, and several after that before I would see someone to help. But I did, and I am, and we’re okay.

June

In June, my baby sister Laura graduated from high school. This was astonishing to me; I couldn’t believe it was already here. I was so proud of her on this day. She’s truly grown up into a beautiful, accomplished woman.

July

July was a blur of time with family, parties, and general enjoyment of the sun. Madeline finally decided that it was okay to be outside for more than five minutes at a time, and started to enjoy it a bit. We celebrated 4th of July at home, watching fireworks from the deck as she snoozed upstairs.

August

August was a month I was dreading all year. On 12 August 2008 Laura left for basic training with the USAF. It was difficult to let her go, and even harder to go for six weeks without once hearing her voice.

She kicked basic training right in the ass. I am more proud of her than anyone I know.

September

Football season, which we won’t talk about. In short: injury after injury, leading to several losses and no playoff bid for the first time in years. Coach Jimmy was pretty frustrated at times.

Madeline began attending a dayhome for the first time, which she’s grown to love. She gets to spend time with her cousin almost every day, and she’s blossomed while chasing him around.

She also began physical therapy in this month, a process I hated and she hated and which created a LOT of screaming.

Laura graduated from basic training. We weren’t able to go. I spent a weekend glued to my cell phone and Facebook, watching the pictures pour in from Texas.

Then Laura was off to tech school, and once again I could call… email… leave her stupid voicemails. My heart was glad.

October

My big sister’s wedding! It was beautiful, she was gorgeous, and I gained my first brother.

We missed Laura, but she was present in more ways than can easily be explained.

You know what’s even weirder than breastpump + dress? That would be breastpump + dress + roomful of L&D nurses/bridesmaids insisting “Pump here!! Your boobs aren’t special, we see them all the time!!” And then actually doing so? That’s weird.

Madeline’s first Halloween was a blast, and she even tolerated her first costume: a ladybug.

Per her expression, you’ll notice that “tolerated” is about the best word for this.

November

Time for giving thanks, and this year is no exception. We have much to be thankful for. Madeline continues to show herself as a blessing in different ways each and every day; her smiles and babble remind us of just how blessed we are.

December

Another time of great blessings, and a time to reflect. This journey through the year only skims the events that have comprised our lives along the last twelve months; we all know that the experience is much richer, much fuller than the telling.

Thank you for sharing these memories with us, and for all the love and care you’ve bestowed upon us in the past year. Many blessings to you and yours in 2009!