Goodbye 2010

Ahhhhh, New Year's Eve. A night filled with memories, promises and champagne. A heady mix! I have a feeling that 2010 is a year that won't blend into the generic memory bank, filed under "random childhood-rearing years". Last New Year's Eve, Christian and I drove to the labour ward, certain that our newest bundle was about to arrive. We were told on arrival, "You can't have your baby tonight. We've had 8 births already today, and it's only lunchtime. Those aren't real contractions - you'll have to go home!" Interestingly enough, when I returned for monitoring the next day (oh, Frankston Hospital on New Year's Morning, what an interesting spectacle you are!), they believed me when I said the contractions WERE real...just too weak and erratic to do any damage...and for someone who is not supposed to go into labour, that's real enough for me! So we were never destined to be on the news with a NYE baby. Oh well!

So what has 2010 given me? Let's have a think.

It has taken away my enormous belly and given me a delightful, happy, inquisitive, beautiful little girl who will be blowing (or spitting on) her first candle out in a few days...

It has taken our large, lovely, comfortable home and replaced it with an empty block of land (and the promise of a wonderful new house...sometime in 2011...we hope!)

It has transformed my two-year-old daughter and three-year-old son into a three-year-old princess and a four-year-old superhero, both of whom never fail to keep me on my toes with never-ending giggles, spills, (occasional) tanties, cuddles, and yoghurt.

It has reinforced to me, over and over again, how lucky I am to have Christian. (It has always been our running joke that since we got married in a Catholic church, the only escape is death...so apparently he decided to test that theory a couple of times this year!! Luckily, God / Buddha / Allah / The Great Woman In The Sky spat him back and said he wasn't ready yet...)

It has taken away my job teaching at a school I loved, and replaced it with another year of maternity leave...and the possibility of exploring a new career as a checkout chick. When one door closes...

It has reminded me that I have, without a shadow of a doubt, the best friends anyone could hope for. So thank you.

So what do I ask of 2011?

For my children to remain happy, and healthy, and to keep me laughing with their mangulated song lyrics and fantastic interpretations of the world.

For my husband to stay out of hospital, and out of the way of armed gangs. Is that too much to ask?

For all of my family, grandparents, parents, siblings, siblings-in-laws, aunties, uncles, cousins and the whole gamut to be happy and healthy and strong.

For the chance to spend more time with my gorgeous friends, whose company I crave. I know life gets busy, but surely we can find the time to stop for a cuppa? Let me know when you're free!!

For our house to be built before we are ringing in 2012. Seriously.

For the opportunity to spend another glorious year at home with my children, interspersed with some sort of employment which does not require my kids to be in daycare. (I can only dream!!)

And now, enough about me - what about you? What do you hope to see or find or do in 2011? The only thing that would complete this blog is to hear from all the wonderful people who have read about, and supported Team O'Toole this year. I cannot thank you all enough for reading my rantings and ravings this year - you are the cheapest form of therapy I know! (and that's a compliment, although it may not sound like it...) I hope you all have a safe, fun New Year's, with plenty of umbrella drinks and kisses and/or high fives at midnight. See you in 2011!!!