We miss you, Bimblebee...

So it's now 2012.  We entered the Land of the "Terrible Twos" and even more big changes within our family were coming up.

Although I never mentioned it before, my mother-in-law, Bimblebee, had been battling Breast Cancer since 2002, and although she went into remission around 2003, it came back in 2007.  By the end of 2011 it had spread a bit, so in 2012 we made a family decision that she and my father-in-law, Papa, move to NYC so that she could go back to Sloane Memorial Hospital (one of the best Cancer Treatment Hospitals in the country).  It was the same hospital that helped her into remission in 2003, so we hoped for the same in 2012.  Since they decided to move to NYC, Bobblehead, Mama, and their two munchkins decided to move into my in-laws' house, where Hubs, Bobblehead, and Tiny Dancer grew up.  Although Bimblebee's condition seemed stable, every week a new obstacle on her path to recovery pushed her back a few steps.  Bimblebee (or Mom) lost her battle on May 17th, 2012, just 3 days shy of her 58th birthday, and exactly 5 days after her eldest sister passed away of a different form of Cancer.  May was not a good month.  On what would have been Mom's 58th birthday, we had an Indian Mourning Prayer at a local Hindu Center, and released balloons.  Not a day has gone by that we don't think about her and miss her. We know she's dancing and laughing with her sister, and watching over us.

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack...(2009-2010 recap)

I know, I know...you're wondering where the heck I've been for the last 2 and some odd years.  I've been pretty busy actually.
The last you heard from me (September 24th, 2009), I was 3/4 of the way through my pregnancy.  Well, on December 8th, 2009, my li'l monkey (we had a baby boy!) was born in all his 7lbs 10oz and 21 1/4" glory.  Monkey was a handful from the get-go, and I went through a bit of PPD (more about that at a later date perhaps).  But boy, did I fall in love with this kid the moment they placed him on belly. That super pensive face--he always looked like he was deep in thought--I couldn't stop staring at him (can you imagine how he must have felt?  "Moooooom, STOP looking at me!) 2 1/2 years, about 100 milestones (and tantrums) later...and I still can't stand being away form him.  Needless to say, going back to work when Monkey was 3 months old was not an easy move for me. I went back part-time initially, but have been rockin' 4 days a week for the passed year.
Back to my lost 2 1/2 year timeline...
Tiny Dancer got married to Golden Boy October 2009 -- I was 8 months preggers and Mama could have delivered right there on the dance floor. (Thankfully, she didn't.)  We partied til the break of dawn, baby bellies and all.
Mama had a baby girl, my Stinkybelle, in November 2009.  She was a feisty diva from day one and I love every bit of her.
2010 seemed to wiz by...I turned 30 (woohoo!!), we did some traveling (Monkey got to meet all his British cousins!), took Monkey to a few weddings, made some new friends, and tried out a few Mommy & Me classes.  Monkey rolled over at months, pulled himself to standing by 8 months, stood on his own by 9 months, and started walking at 10 months...and within what felt like seconds, it was his 1st birthday.

We had a Monkey themed party (of course) with a big ol' chocolate monkey cake and some monkey cake pops. Of course, he spent most of the party crying or with pensive-face.

The following week, Monkey started getting his first tooth, and we left for his first trip to India to visit his Bada Nana (Great-Grandfather). Monkey had a lot of fun trying new foods, running around India, and meeting new people.  The three of us, Hubs, Monkey, and I, spent New Years Eve cuddling in bed together. Perfect way to end a busy year.

Things to do before I go broke...

My name is Brownie, and I am a shopaholic. Recently I was talking to a friend (no, not OH), and she told me that I shop so much because I am bored, and don't have any hobbies like I once did. She asked me to think of what fun things I would like to do, that would take me away from my insane shopping habit (much to the extreme joy of Hubby).

So here's my list. Let's see if I can get at least some of them done this summer, and save some moolah for the Li'l Bluebri's college education.

1. Take drawing classes (OH gave me a set of of 5 for my birthday...now I actually have to use them)
2. Visit a different Museum every couple of weeks (Met, Moma, Bodies exhibit, Natural History, Frick)
3. Ride a bicycle through Central Park (not feasible while pregnant, however), or just walk around the park & have a picnic lunch there
4a. Join a Book Club....it sounds like fun, but then I actually have to complete a book for each meeting
4b. While we're at that, actually use my library card for the first time
5. Help out in some sort of child care environment, maybe an art class for kids or something to that effect
6. Try an art therapy class for adults (do they exist?)
7. Take swim lessons
8. Create some new scrapbooks (especially one for the baby)
9. Work on a photo montage for Tiny Dancer & SK Prankster
10. Put together new fun playlists on my ipod (I want some good tunes for the baby to hear in the womb)
11. Plan the nursery/get the nursery done
12. Take a dance class (again, probably not very feasible during the pregnancy)
13. Join Netflix and rent a bunch of DVDs of shows that I want to get into; go to the theater and see a movie
14a. Go to the Bronx Zoo/Sothstreet Seaport/Cloisters/Botanical Gardens/
14b. Again, while we're at it, (Although this should probably be done WITH kids) Go to an Amusement Park--Hershey, Sesame, Great Adventure
15. Increase my baking skills--get creative with fondant, flavors, colors, etc.