You know all those memes and funny Facebook posts (and some not so funny) about 2016 and how crazy it's been - like how can there be so much good and so much bad at the same time, like how we REALLY need 2016 to be over and for 2017 to be a little better behaved?! Yeah, that's SO us!! God has given us SUCH good gifts in 2016 and we made some incredible memories, but to say it's been a tough year of growth would be an incredible understatement.
10. Life with our big girl! It is such a blessing to be Miss Bryleigh's momma and daddy. She is such a joy and we have loved watching her grow up over the last year, which included turning 2, going to her first movie, starting school, and learning all kinds of things! (Here's to hoping year 3 sees the end of the pass and the beginning of panties!) I am thankful for the little beautiful life God blessed us with when He loaned us our Bryleigh Girl.
9. Diaper Daze. Along with growing and learning, our big girl had a tough year with all of her tummy issues. She had lots of appointments with her doctors at Cooks and several different tests, including a sweat test to rule out Cystic Fibrosis, an endoscopy and colonoscopy, and a big genetic test. We spent a lot of the past year focused on trying to find out what was wrong with Miss B and how to help her, even without a diagnosis. Although we are ending 2016 just like we did 2015, with no diagnosis, we are PRAISING THE LORD that these last weeks of 2016 have been (mostly) tear free when it has come to changing diapers and all things diapers related. God is so good! I am thankful that God is faithful and He sustains us, even on our toughest days. I am thankful that He knows Bryleigh's tiny body inside and out. (And insurance. I'm STILL thankful for insurance.)
8. Our Teams. 2016 was a fun year for sports in our family, starting with cheering on Carrie's Broncos and Peyton Manning in the Super Bowl! We spent a lot of time at the Ballpark cheering on our Rangers, and it's been such a fun season cheering on the Cowboys. One of us is happy to have cheered on the Big 12 Champion Sooners, and the other isn't as pleased with how the year went (on and off the field) for their Bears. We LOVED getting to visit the Nationals' park again and watch two games, including a Scherzer gem! We even found ourselves cheering on our alma mater (UTA Mavs) in a men's/women's double header. I am thankful for the fun we get to share as a family, making memories together whether our teams win or lose.
7. We're pregnant! And it's a boy! On March 24, we found out that we were expecting a sweet little baby that would join our family around the first week of December. True to each of Carrie's pregnancies, there was lots of sickness to start things off, but our sweet baby was healthy and growing! On July 26, we found out the exciting news that the sweet little baby was a BOY! We had a fun year of dreaming and planning for our little guy. I am thankful for the miracle of new life that is a blessing and a gift from God.
6. Sweet Sister. We weren't the only ones adding to the family in 2016! Our sweet little sister got engaged on July 3, just 2 months after they both graduated from UTA. Erin has already started working as an ER nurse and we are SO excited for March to get here so that we can officially add Luke to the family. I am thankful for the little sister I got when I married in to Brad's family and for all the blessings He has given to her! What a blessing she is to all of us.
5. A San Antonio Get-Away. We had a blast exploring San Antonio with Carrie's family in May to kick off a fun-filled summer. There was time on the River Walk, lots of good food, a trip to Sea World (in the middle of a monsoon), and a 1000 piece puzzle. I never get tired of seeing Bryleigh with her cousins (and she never gets tired of seeing them). I am thankful for the fact that God saw fit to put our sweet Tate, Olivia, and Bryleigh in our lives, close in age, so they can grow up together.
4. BCinDC2016 AND BryleighsTrip. 2016 was an awesome year of travel for our family with a return trip to DC for Brad and Carrie AND our first (and last) vacation as a family of three where we took our big girl down to Galveston. I am thankful for the time I got to spend with my husband and my little family this year
3. Bed-Rest Days. The last quarter of our year was spent in and out of the hospital, complete with a 17 day stay in the antepartum unit at Baylor Scott and White in Dallas when our sweet little boy tried to make his grand entrance at 31 weeks and again in isolation for a few days while being tested for TB and again after giving birth (that part was a much funner stay!). I am thankful that God sustained us during such a scary and frustrating time. I am thankful that he took care of and protected our sweet boy. And I am thankful that we got lots of extra time with our B-dad at home with us!!
2. William Bradley. Our sweet little guy was born on Thanksgiving Day at 9:00 am after a quick-ish labor and delivery. We fell instantly in love, as did Big Sister, and our lives will never be the same. What a gift he is!! I am thankful for the incredible blessing it is to be Will's mom and to get a first-hand look at Bryleigh being his big sister. What good gifts our Father gives!!
1. Life as a family of FOUR. In the short 5 weeks we've been a family of four, we've already deposited some incredible memories in to the memory bank, including Will's first days at home, his first Christmas (and all the fun involved there), his first hotel stay, his first trip to the zoo, and so much more. We are looking forward to all the adventures that are in store for 2017. I am thankful for the incredible family God has blessed me with and all of the days and all of the things...every single one of them, no matter how tired, or gross, or long, or "boring" they may be.
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