What I Know For Sure: 2008

Opra.h always does a What I Know For Sure column in her magazine and I felt it was appropriate to apply to my life this year after all that we've gone through. So enjoy "What I Know for Sure, the 2008 edition"

• My second pregnancy was amazing and I look at my baby every day in awe that I grew such a wonderful little person inside me. He is absolutely perfect in every way and I thank God that we were able to time his arrival when we still had insurance. He's already 4 months old and is getting huge. We've started him on cereal in his bottle in hopes that he'll begin sleeping longer. I've been pumping and supplementing with formula. In a couple weeks we'll be starting jar food. He's started rolling over (from belly to back) and he's smiling all the time as well as laughing and making numerous different noises. Baby M is such a happy baby and has adjusted very well to our new bedtime routine. I know for sure that having two children is one of the best jobs I could have ever asked for!
• Little Man is absolutely a joy and cracks us up many times per day. He has taken to playing computer games, all by himself!!!! I am amazed at his ability to use the touch pad mouse and figure out the game concepts as quick as he does. He is very smart and is a sponge soaking up information. The cutest thing that he's said lately was regarding the evening world news. I watch AB.C's nightly news with Cha.rles Gibso.n and on Monday Da.vid Mu.ir was filling in. Little man was at my parent's house and this is what he said, "Hey where's Cha.rles Gibso.n? My mommy watches the world news with Char.les Gibso.n every night." How cute is that???? He is also very excited about our new president elect and frequently tells people to turn off the lights because he heard Bar.ack O.bama say that in one of his interviews on the nightly news.
• My husband didn't get a new job. I'm glad that he is no longer in his position because it was affecting more than we realized and jeopardizing our relationship and family. I know that this happened for a reason and that something great is in store for us. Patience is a virtue and we will continue to be patient in order to acquire something great in the new year.
• I'm a good teacher. I've been able to jump right back into the classroom in the form of subbing and be very successful. It's stroked my ego and made me feel like I'm utilizing my experience and education, which has been a blessing in disguise. It wasn't my first choice to go back to work when my child was 6 weeks old but it's turned out to be a very good opportunity. I've be able to add experience to my resume, build relationships with teachers and administrators in hopes that I'll be able to get some letters of recommendation, and hopefully some long term positions will open up sometime this year!
• I'm stronger than I thought. If anyone would have told me that R would lose his job, we'd lose health insurance, I'd go back to work, and we'd be getting help from the government a year ago I would have told them that there's no way that I'd be able to go through that and still be sane. Yet I'm still sane, strong, and thankful that I've had this experience. It's humbling and taught me to never take anything for granted. When times are tough, I've gotten tougher. I will never forget the day that R called me to tell me about losing his job and never again will I think that we are above that or that it will never happen to "us." I know that what ever life throws our way that somehow I'll be able to handle it and by having faith I will make it through.

I'm not making resolutions in 2009. I'm going to focus on staying grounded and living more simple. I have the best family and I am going to work on enjoying my life and special times we have together. I guess I'm going to have a motto in 2009: simplify.