New Year's Reflections

It's New Year's Day, which also means that it's our anniversary. Our second one, to be precise. We've developed the tradition of watching our ceremony (utilizing the FF button liberally), reviewing the guest book (in which we also made notes of funny and heartwarming stories from that week), and reflecting on how our relationship is going and making notes in a special notebook. (Yes, I realize that it's a bit of a stretch to call it a 'tradition' when this is only the second time we're doing it, and frankly, all we've done so far today is review the guest book.)

But since we're both self-helpy, goal-setting kinds of people (admittedly, Mo's far better at actually reviewing them and trying to achieve them throughout the year), it's kind of nice to use this reflection time to also look forward to what's to come in the coming year and think about what we'd like to manifest.

I can certainly say that, when we had our ceremony two years ago, I wouldn't have imagined that I'd be pregnant at our two-year anniversary. I was sure that was five years out or so. But it didn't take too long into last year to change my mind on that, and I definitely feel ready now. Which I guess shows the limitations of yearly planning, since you don't know what life will bring.

In any case, I hope that reflecting and looking forward are traditions that we can pass on to Blueberry.

I've been thinking recently about traditions and rituals and how I didn't realize what an important part they played in my own upbringing. I've been lax about many of them over the last few years, but it's been fun discussing what we want to pass on to Blueberry. For example, it was so much fun to introduce Nomi to my family's Christmas traditions this last week. I think he was a bit skeptical going in, since he didn't grow up with a Christmas tradition in his family and has only really been exposed to the consumerist aspect of Christmas. But he came away saying how much fun our kid(s) will have with it. And I got to remember what was most important about it for me, which is just the togetherness of family and the warmth of staying in, playing games, sharing, laughing and eating with each other. Giving presents. And enjoying the winter and snow, of course!

We then also want to develop traditions with Eid so that Blueberry can learn that side of the family culture as well. It will be fun to see what else we dream up to pass on as traditions that s/he can look forward to every year!


So here's to 2011! It's certainly going to be one of change for us, and we're so looking forward to what's in store!