The New Year 2010.

The holidays came; the holidays went. We visited family and friends; family and friends visited with us. Sicknesses came; sicknesses went. These last two months have been a time of give and take, success and setback, love and frustrations. But overall, these last sixty days have been a tremendous blessing towards the peacefulness of our household.

Taylor is fully potty trained. Simon’s taken an interest in potty training. Taylor’s fine motor skills, as demonstrated by her ability and desire to draw within the lines of her coloring books, are developing nicely and at an even pace. Simon’s sense of self, his personality, his fortitude against the sometimes-overbearing temperament of his sister continues to be unbending to her pressing will. Cognitively and physically both children are excelling. Daily, Taylor says the most amazing things. Simon’s vocabulary, while the accumulation of words did stall a little these last couple of months, is back on track and growing rapidly. But more importantly, Taylor and Simon are happy. They laugh. They play. They fight and make up without extensive intervention. In a word, they are well.

Adrianne and I have embarked on a journey of healthy living. We’ve reintroduced physical exercise into our daily routines. We’ve figured out and are determined to struggle through eating healthily, despite the desperate cravings for that twelve-ounce beverage and nacho dinner on Tuesday night. And I’m proud to say that our resolutions are working. Yesterday I counted my eighth pound lost since January 1st. My treadmill “at pace” speed has increased from 4.5 mph to 7 mph. And for the first time in many months my jeans feel comfortable once again.

What does the New Year hold in store for us? I don’t know exactly, but it’s looking good so far.

See you next week.