Happy New Year, Everyone

Happy 2009, all. 2008 certainly was a year, wasn't it? In the Waldes' lives: I got pregnant (on our own!) and turned 30; Brian got a great new job with the Town of Breckenridge; I was promoted to Director of Finance at TKC; Anya celebrated her 2nd birthday; Brian and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary; we had a GREAT trip with the Mikulas' to Sayulita, Mexico; and we were blessed with the birth of our 2nd daugher, Sonja.

What an exciting election year as well! Go, Obama!!! This was the first election that we can remember really being grossly invested in. I watched more political "talk-shows" than I ever thought I was capable of. I am so filled with hope and anticipation for this president. He certainly has a big walk to walk, and I hope he can do it. At the very least I can say that my daughters' futures are a bit safer and protected with this incoming administration. Maybe not monetarily (but maybe so), but I got really worried when crazy Palin thought she was going to jump into office and think she was going to help overturn Roe v. Wade. Ugh. CRAZY!

What else...well, of course 2008 is also a year we'd like to put behind us, with everything we've gone through these past 2 months. I never in a million years thought that we'd be "those people" with the sick or disabled kid. Well, now we are, and we're adjusting. It's hard. It's not fun. I wish so badly some days that we could have just had a "normal" baby, but this is our new normal. I keep telling myself that this is the only thing we'll know in the future, therefore it is our normal. It's hard to get past the unknown, though. I'd say that's the hardest part of all of this, is that there's still so much out there in Sonja's future (and ours) that we don't know. But then again, I'm a control freak who likes to have everything laid out in front of me so I can plan. That's just not in the cards for me this time. We'll roll with the punches...all of them; and we'll keep going through our "normal".

2008 was a year in which we truly realized how blessed we are. We have the most amazing family and friends. I don't know what we'd do without them. Our parents and sisters, our friends in Summit County and across the country and world. They are all amazing people. We are surrounded by their love, without which we would never have survived the heartache we endured this year. Thank you, and we love you all back.

Here's what we're looking forward to in 2009: more birthdays (Anya's 3rd, Sonja's 1st), anniversaries, fewer doctors appointments, maybe a vacation or two, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas (with palm trees?!). Skiing with Brian and Anya, the smell of spring, warm summer days and the changing aspen leaves in fall. The Dillon farmer's market. Our annual bike trip to Crested Butte. Margaritas at the tiki bar ('cause I can indulge again!!!) and a hot toddy at the ski lodge. Building snow-people families. Seeing family. Going to somo lake. So much to look forward to!

So here's to a happy (ier), healthier, prosperous 2009, everyone.

Christmas 2008

I've been staring at a blank screen for some time now, not knowing where to begin. Most of you know what we've been through the past (almost) 2 months. But to recap, Sonja was born on 11/9, diagnosis of DiGeorge Syndrome with multiple heart defects, open heart surgery on 11/18, and finally home on 12/9 - her 1-month b-day. What a ride it's been.

But most importantly, we were all home on Christmas day. It was perfect. Brian and I made the decision to spoil Anya absolutely rotten. She deserves it with what she's been through. What a day it was for her. We tracked Santa online through Norad's website - gotta love the 21st century. Left cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots for Rudolph. All were consumed by the morning, of course. Anya woke up at 6 a.m. - just after I had finished the 4:30 a.m. Sonja feeding. I was devastated...until she came into our room and just wanted to snuggle together. Miraculously, we all fell back asleep until about 9 when we turned on NPR's airing of David Sedaris' Santaland Diaries. If you've never heard it, PLEASE find it online somewhere. It's been our Xmas tradition to listen to it every year for the past 5 or so years, and it never becomes less funny.

We grabbed the video camera then and caught Anya's reaction to the presents left by Santa under the tree. Again, perfection. We started with the stockings, followed by some small gifts, followed by the grande finale - THE gift from Santa Claus. The only thing Anya asked for from Santa - a Fire Engine. However, Santa not only came through with the engine, but the entire fireHOUSE, complete with fire people, a garage, bunk beds, hoses, a pole for sliding down, a trampoline, shooting water. Oh, what joy to see her playing all day long with it. And almost 2 days later, it hasn't lost its novelty. I'm sure by next Christmas, this firehouse will be a long lost memory, but for now it's such a pleasure seeing my daughter engage in such creative imaginary play. She is amazing.

So the gifts of the year:

Anya - the firehouse

Sonja - the Baby Einstein play gym

Brian - might be the Zombie Survival Guide from Ram & Jean

Amy - my beloved Frye Veronica Slouch boots - I'm sleeping with them at night and wearing them even in my pj's. Beautiful creations.

A belated Merry Christmas to all of you, my friends and family. I'm sorry we've been quite out of touch lately, but now more than ever I can actually say without much guilt that we have a good excuse!

With love,

Amy, Brian, Anya, Sonja, and Maddie