For the MMC team, it’s the last (official) work day of 2009! The office is buzzing and the piles of cookies are finally disappearing as everyone is gearing up for a much needed holiday break. Personally, I have a lot to reflect on this year. One year ago today I sat in my home office, too pregnant to put on my own boots, wondering if the uncomfortable stomach pain I had been feeling since I woke up were actually contractions. Despite my best efforts to evacuate her sooner, a year ago tomorrow my unbelievably amazing daughter, Teagan was born.

Like everything in life, we live and we learn. I never dreamed I would have so many “key learnings” after just one year as a mom to the little lady we describe most as persistent and tenacious. My husband and I came up with some thoughts on our experiences, most of which we never could have imagined just one year ago.

For example, a top line:

- We spent a lot of time before Teagan was born dreading early mornings but we actually look forward to the extra time we get to spend with her before we both leave for work. In fact, we look forward to every extra minute we get to spend with her. – Vacations are no longer “vacations.” They are a change of scenery. I still need a lot of them. – I never thought I would find so much support and strength in some of my fellow co-workers. I had no idea how much I would need it! – Seeing those little legs run furiously across the apartment each time I walk through the door make every other thought in my head go away. This beautiful little girl is as obsessed with me as I am with her. I love that. I know it won’t always be that way. For now, it’s amazing. – In general, we knew our life would “never be the same again” but we didn’t realize how much we would love our new life.

We can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store for our family, but if it’s even half as wonderful as 2009, we are in for another unbelievable year! Wishing the same for my extended family – our amazing team, colleagues and friends at MMC! xoxo

Happy Birthday Teagan!