Bon Voyage 2009-Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

I am so ready to scream "Auf Wiedersehen" to 2009 and enthusiastically begin 2010 with a new invigorated sense of self. This year has been rough; I'm not even going to lie. Broken relationships have cast a dark shadow over what otherwise would have been viewed as a somewhat excellent year. Watching my boys transform from squirming little worms to bustling, dirt eating boys has been an amazing experience. They are finally showcasing their individual personalities, and I can already predict what is in store for me in years to come. Dylan, the showboat of the clan fits the "boy" stereotype perfectly; always on the move and obscenely headstrong. He crawled first, walked first, talked first and just generally feels the need to overcome any obstacle placed in his way. Although the smaller of the twins, he has a dominating presence over Chase and is often caught stealing food and toys from his helpless little brother. Under that domineering façade, however, he is a total sweetheart. He is always quick to run to Chase's defense to provide a helping hand. Whenever Chase is in the middle of one of his many daily meltdowns, Dylan makes sure to run over and give him a quick "It will be okay" pat on the back. It comforts me to know that Dylan is already so aware and understanding of his brother's feelings. (Although, it does make me a little nervous; I have a feeling my boys might be quite the pair of rebels). Then there is Chase, the sensitive of the two. He is no rush to beat any developmental milestones and is perfectly content with being alone in the corner building towers. He has an insane sense of attention to detail. If there is even a sparkle of glitter on the floor, with hawk-like eyes he will see it, and run over to investigate. Deemed by some as the "crybaby", he is quick to overreact in situations. God forbid you cut him off as he beelines to the puddle of mud for a quick snack (he has a strange fascination with eating nature: leaves, dirt, grass…I don't get it). A meltdown is in store if you take to long delivering his milk or don't pick him up at his first command. But he is just so cute and cuddly that I don't see his minor crying problem that big of an issue. All mothers say this and it's totally cliché but my kids are literally the coolest kids ever. Hello, they are twins yet different in every way possible. (BTW…you won't believe how many times I am stopped and asked if A) they are twins and then B) are they identical. I'm sorry, please define identical for me. Now look at my children. One has blonde hair, blue eyes and casper white skin and the other is strangely tan, has brown hair and brown eyes. NO THEY ARE NOT IDENTICAL!!) When it comes to my twins, I could not have been blessed and I can't wait for what 2010 has in store for the three of us.
I love working. I stayed home with the twins for 6 weeks before I realized that being a stay at home mom is not my thing. I felt completely suffocated being stuck at home with the kids all day eagerly awaiting the arrival of the boy's father so I could have some sort of intellectual conversation. I just feel that by staying home with your children you almost loose a sense of what you are in relation to the rest of the world. You are a maid, a cook, a nanny (all things I do NOT want to be 24/7). I can relate my pursuing a job to the destruction of my relationship. Making my own money and paving my own path really helped me to gain confidence and independence. I don't need a man to take care of me and macho-egotism doesn't appreciate that mentality; a lot of men can't handle independent women. 2009 was so great to me career wise. I am one of the fortunate ones who succeeded in landing a job with actual career growth. I still have a long way to go until I reach my ultimate career aspirations, but we all have to start off somewhere. Luckily, I am in the perfect position to get to where I plan on going.
Love….yikes. Love was NOT my best category this year. I won't go into detail because I don't feel like writing a novel right now, but I enter 2010 with a fresh mind. I don't really care if this upcoming year is kind to me in the love department. I am still trying to figure out who adult Amber is and I don't need a man interrupting my year of self realization. (But if it falls into my lap, I'll take it J ) It seems as though this year has spit out more engaged, married, or pregnant facebook friends then those before it. And only more people and more people will fall into those categories in 2010. I'm sure next December when Erica, my sis, and I are out facebook stalking, we will become saddened by how so-and-so is married and we are not. That's just what happens to single women over the holidays; we get depressed over what others view as a woman's shortcomings. After a quick pity party, we move on. Who wants to be married anyways? (Damn it…we do, but you didn't hear it from me)

I'm excited for 2010. I think that it is going to be an amazing adventure and believe me; I am ready for the ride!