I've been telling myself for months that I really needed to get on this blog and update a lot of information. It has been nearly an entire year since I last posted here. I can't believe how fast life has been flying by, even though there are days where I feel like life is inching past.... It's been a year of firsts.... a year with Melanie... a year without a blog post....
Throughout the past year we have had many ups and downs.
In April; Mel and I attended multiple soccer games for Mel's first time to watch Aunt Cassie and Sara play soccer. This was Cassie's last year, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the games... Mel liked her nap time...
In May; Brad, Mel and I all attended the Tulip Festival for the first time as a family. Mel got to "drive" Great Grandpa De Jong's tractor, and she actually liked it! We also attended Cassie's graduation from High School.
In June; Brad, Mel, and I went to the Zoo for the first time. We took a 'staycation' to Sioux Falls where we went shopping, went to the zoo, and visited some family.
In July; We all went to Aunt Cheri's wedding where Mel was a flowergirl for the first time in her life! She actually ended up sleeping in Grandmas arms down the aisle... Mel also attended her first County Fair where she learned how to make goat/sheep noises.... We won't ever forget that!
In August; The Ackerman side of our family went on vacation together. We were gone for 5 days. This was Mel's first real family vacation. She also caught her first fish off the dock near our cabin. We had a lot of fun during this week, and we were blessed with many amazing memories...
September.... Where do I even begin. We moved to Merrill, IA where Brad and I both accepted new jobs. This was Mel's first move to a new house. Mel also started attending daycare for the first time in her life.... and she loved it. Mel also went in to the Dr. at the Castle in Sioux Falls for the first time to evaluate her hips, which were cleared of hip displaysia. Mel also started crawling at the end of this month too.
October; We painted pumpkins for the first time as a family. We also went to the Pumpkinland and did the Corn Maze with some of our family friends. Mel got to dress up as Tigger for Halloween, and we visited all of her Grandmas and Grandpas (and great/ great great grandparents).
November; We said good bye to my grandma Gloria. We spend hours with my family reminiscing over the past, feeling blessed with the memories we had with her. This was also Mel's first Thanksgiving! She stuffed her face with tons and tons of food, just like the rest of us!
December; This was quite and emotional month. On the 19th we had a chimney fire which started the attic of our rental house on fire. We were saved by a smoke detector. Praise the Lord. We moved out of the house into a temporary parsonage 15 miles from Le Mars. It changed our lives drastically, doubling our commute every day, moving us farther from work and town, and living in a house that wasn't home... Then there is Christmas. Our spoiled rotten 11 month old received tons and tons of clothes, toys, and money for gifts. She loved the attention she got from everyone and she stole the show. She learned that gifts were meant to be opened and she really enjoyed ripping the paper off of gifts, whether they were hers or not.
January; Mel turns one. ONE... and on the day she turned one she learned to WALK.... What a double whammy on this mama who was in denial. My baby turned one and learned to walk all on the same day. We threw a pretty fun birthday party for her, that she will never remember, but that's what pictures are for right?? :)
February; This past weekend we got to return back to our rental house. We are back HOME. Mel knew exactly which room was hers, and she definitely missed her crib. She walked right up to it and gave the mattress a huge hug. It was ADORABLE. We are adjusting to our new life here, in a newly remodeled house. We're working on decorating, furnishing, and unpacking the boxes that have been packed and un packed too many times this past year....
So there is the catch up from this past year.... I PROMISE to start keeping you all updated more often now. We have lots of fun adventures to come this next year.... and I can't wait to keep watching my little peanut grow and becoming a little lady...
