Tonight we are just chilling at home with mashed potatoes, pork, and kraut - and ok, maybe a glass of wine.  We finally did the Christmas ornaments for the baby too!  It is that time, once again, to summarize the year in a blog post.  How else to start it off other than to say this year - everything - changed.

Some high points for 2017:
- Avery.  Every. Thing. About. Her.  Even the pregnancy was a high point.  It was a pretty easy pregnancy (I know this) and a crazy experience from taking the pregnancy test, going for ultrasounds, feeling the first movements, and even her birth.  The showers that were held for us were amazing and beautiful, and I've never felt so loved.  Even the photos from our maternity shoot were a highlight as I've never felt as pretty either.
- Getting to be away from my day job (as a result of the previous bullet) for 7 weeks was also a high point.  I felt refreshed on what I was working on in a way a week vacation never could make me feel.  I get how much people just want to stay at home with their kids, but alas that is most definitely not in the cards.
- Selling the old house, buying the new one, and moving out of Johnstown.  I type that with mixed emotion because I'm also sad to be away from the people and places I frequented in Johnstown.  But it _IS_ a good thing.
- Then there were all of the things achieved here at the house (beyond unpacking). There is a roof over the deck, concrete under the deck, a fence for the girls, beautiful retaining walls, and grass and flowers/trees to make this coming spring an adventure!
- How easily Safyre and Danika adjusted to their new home.
-  I still managed to get one cruise in before I was past Royal Caribbean's threshold for sailing.  Lor-Lor and I had a blast in the caribbean!
- Finding a new church.  It's smaller than I thought I wanted but the love is real.
- Getting to work from home.  It really is a nice set up.
-  I had several visits from my Sister and one from my Niecey-poo.

Looking at my desires for 2017 from last year's post I can repeat "yay" that the house sold.  I tried to talk to neighbors, two houses are at least friendly but three sets ignored my attempts.  I can at least say I tried.  I did get out to one concert (Die Antwoord) but I didn't do Kennywood and whatnot due to the pregnancy.  I was also looking forward to not needing to kennel the girls for the holidays and instead getting to be with them.

The tough parts of 2017:
- There was a lot of loss this year within my family and for friends.  We lost my Aunt Dee on Mom's side, my Uncle Mike and Aunt Dot on my Dad's side.  My beloved friend Christine (Slippy) is also gone.  A close friend's sister lost her battle with cancer.  Coworkers lost teenage children and spouses.  Other folks I know who lost siblings to suicide.  It makes me sad to know these families are missing loved ones through the holidays.  Other friends have worried for a parent's health at some point this year - and some continue to do so right now.  If I hadn't had the pregnancy and Avery, I can't even imagine how negatively I'd be looking at 2017.
- As I said, I miss everyone back in Jtown.  I even miss having humans to talk to in person periodically during my work day.  I need to find new friends that are near by and I don't know really how/where to do that.
- I won't lie, having a baby is a major adjustment.  I can't go and do things when I desire and I'm definitely tired.  Starting to get sick (which happens when a kid and boyfriend are bringing cooties in - even though I managed to avoid this type of crap for years) takes a whole new tone.  The house is a bigger mess.  There are drawbacks, but they're outweighed.
- The holidays have always made me a little sad.  It's the let down after all of the anticipation and preparation I guess that usually gets me.  This year I was a little extra sad for the absence of my parents, because they couldn't be here for Avery's first Christmas.

My desires for 2018:
- To make some new/local friends.  It can feel pretty lonely from time to time and it's frustrating to have no where to go or nothing to do other than medical appointments and/or going shopping (not a healthy friend), especially when my Favorite Egg has his activities and still gets out often while we sit at home.
- To live in the moment, even the poo filled ones, with Avery and enjoy every phase.  This year flew.  I feel like a time warp happened and I know it is only going to get worse.  I pray that I can find a way to make it all slow down - more deep breaths and a conscious effort to just dig in to what is around me.  I've always feared change but there are so many changes that I cannot avoid and when I adjust to one stage and learn to enjoy it I'll fret for and mourn those stages leaving.
- To make a few more upgrades around the house (cabinets in the laundry room, a different sink and some tile on the one wall in the 1/2 bath), maybe some electrical alterations or glass block in the garage to let some light in.
- Now that the baby is "out of the way" I guess I can rehash last year's desire to get my weight back in check.  That may be a challenge with a little one.
- To learn how to cruise with a wee one in tow!  There is one cruise booked and I'm praying it is still more relaxation than hassle with this big change.
- To take Avery to visit my sister and her husband.  I'd like for her to get to meet her cousins too, but I guess there's no telling where Niecey-Poo might be.
- Now that Avery is here I also have a big one that borders on resolution - I'd really like to cut back on the choice words that come out of my mouth, so I'm not getting a call someday from a school repeating one of those words as having come out of my wee one's mouth.