Looking Back - 2011.

2011. This year has been hard, good, exciting, joyful, and just plain full.  I found this fun little way to look back from Ashley Sisk, and I thought I'd share.  Each caption has the prompt she suggested, and I've linked back to the original posts for those of you who are new.  Happy New Year!

(Me.  Matt took this photo in August on our mini-vacation before Ellie's heart surgery.  I look back on this year and I'm amazed at how much sweet Ellie has been through, and how much she put us through!  This was such a scary time, and now, we are okay.)

(I love you.  I love seeing these two together.... Even though you can't really see Ellie in this photo.)

(Still laughing.  We took Ellie to a park and let her play in the leaves.  She wasn't upset when Matt snatched one out of her mouth, which was out of character.  Turns out, she had one stashed up her sleeve! )

(Winter Wonderland.  Thanksgiving in Lake Placid was beautiful.  First "real" snow we saw this winter, despite the few random flakes that fell Halloween weekend.)

(Birthday.  Yep, Ellie's actual birth day.  I think Matt took this?  She was born via emergency c-section and came out crying, much to our relief.)

(Friends.  Ellie and the neighbors at a party.  Don't they look so grown up and intense?  I wonder who they are gossiping about... I thought this wouldn't start for a few more years!)

(I Was Inspired.  I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in October, and ran a PR.  Race inspiration came from an old running buddy and from Ellie.  Race training help came from Matt, who let me do what I needed to do in order to train, even if I woke him up early.)

(Spring Fever.  Christina has these flamingos sent to our front yard to celebrate Ellie's two month birthday.  They made me smile, and the neighbor kids loved them, too.  The flockings occur each spring.)

(Travel or Vacation.  Ellie bundled up in the snow at Lake Placid during our crazy road trip.)

(Summer Days.  This is where I spent my summer vacation.)

(A Day in My Life.  I spend a lot of time reading with this little munchkin, specifically "Hippos Go Berserk.")

(All Smiles.  This is one of Matt's favorite photos of Ellie.  I can't get over that smile.)

(Autumn Harvest.  We took Ellie to Cox Farms in October.  The absolute highlight for her was this pumpkin.)

(Home.  Home from the NICU after three weeks, this photo brings tears to my eyes even nine months later.)

(Celebration.  Confession, I did not make or even buy these cupcakes.  I take it back, I think I got one?  But I took this photo with Matt's family in town to celebrate Ellie's baptism, and that celebration was a very big deal.)

(Let's Do it Again.  Hiking with Ellie is a fun little adventure.)

(I Miss You.  My brother came to visit and meet Ellie.  I miss him, and I hope he comes back soon.)

(Beautiful.  The first time I saw Ellie after her transfer to Children's and surgery.)

(Dress Up.  Sometimes, baby elephants party too hard.  We had a good Halloween.)

(Macro.  More Lake Placid.  I can't help it.)

(Holidays.  Ellie started getting Christmas gifts at Thanksgiving.)

(More Holidays.  Because I love this shot.)

(My Favorite.  I love these two.)

(Don't Ever Change.  I love this laugh.)

(Just Because.  This one makes me smile.)

(Hopes and Dreams.  Praying for all of us to be happy, healthy, loving and constantly learning in 2012.)