a year of firsts

I am wrapped up in a year of firsts. Watching Vera grow and change every day is such a joy and is of course filled with new and exciting things. Since July 16th our family has had more "firsts" than we can count:

*Our first time as parents
*Our first sleepless night
*Vera's first vacation
*Vera's first trip to Dairy Queen
*Vera's first smile
*Vera's first laugh
*Vera's first Halloween
*Our first time going on a date without Vera
*Vera's first time sleeping through the night
*Vera's first time rolling over
*Vera's first Thanksgiving
*Vera's first time sitting up
*Vera's first Christmas
*Our first experience with teething
*Vera's first tooth
*Vera's first cold
*My first time getting sick as a mom
*Our first night away from Vera

The list could go on and on. I just love my little daughter :)

But this year has also brought another list of "firsts" for me:

*My first time in 25 years to not go back to school after labor day
*My first time to not have Christmas break
*My first time to not have a snow day
*My first time to not have spring break

Now, I know that all of these are teaching related and I know that they pretty much all relate to breaks from school too. I do understand that I also have had the first time in 7 years that I haven't had to grade 75 4-page research papers. I also understand what a great privilege it is to be home with Vera every day and I would not trade that for anything. But, this week when nearly all of my teacher friends got a snow day I was just slightly jealous because it was the first snow day where it didn't affect me at all. It was just a normal Tuesday for us, folding laundry, doing Tae-Bo and dusting. And now spring breaks start too. I wouldn't say that it was normal for me to go anywhere over spring break, but it at least brought a small change to life. Not this year though.

But this is all okay. Because I am really excited for all the "firsts" yet to come. Our first walk outside in the spring. Our first trip to the playground. Our first time playing in the backyard. Vera's cute little smile, her contagious laughter and her big eyes will trump any snow day.