a walk down memory lane

What a difference a year makes. 2009 has probably been the best year on record for myself and I can probably speak for Jason, too. I thought about doing a review of 2009, but I figured that Bryce was the highlight of 2009 and you all have kept up with him all year on the blog. You can look back through the archives if you want to know how he changed from month to month. I decided to look back at the entire DECADE and share some of our memories.

2000 - 2009

2000

I graduated from high school in June 2000.

I cringe when I look at myself. Working at William's Bakery my senior year didn't help my figure one bit, ha!

High School Sweethearts

We graduated and went away to college together!

Go Hokies!

Freshman year at Virginia Tech

I don't have any pictures, but Jason and I also got engaged on Christmas Eve 2000! (We waited a few years to do our pictures and announcement.)

2001

2001 was a hard year for our country. I started my sophomore year at Tech, but the events of September 11 left me very homesick. I came back home and worked the rest of the semester.

2002

I transferred to VCU and FINALLY got accepted into the program of my dreams!

Jason and I celebrated 5 years of dating. We got dressed up and went to dinner at the Tobacco Company. It just so happened it was Super Bowl Sunday that year. Jason must really love me to give up that game!

2003

No pictures again, but Jason and I bought our house and started fixing it up.

I turned 21

My birthday was on a Monday and then on Saturday......

.....we got married!

2004

We had our first snow at our house.

We bought our first new car together!

2005



I graduated from VCU with my Master's

My dream of becoming a teacher was finally coming true.

I spent all summer calling the school board office in Hanover and I finally landed a job. Here I am on my first day of school with my mentor (and Jason's 4th grade teacher).

My first class

I even got the beginning teacher of the year award. WOW!

2006


We got Macy. She weighed about 2 pounds when we got her.

Our first child. We have just as many pictures of her as we do Bryce.

We went out to Wyoming to visit our friends, Matt and Krissy. The Grand Tetons in the background are just gorgeous.

Standing on snow in June!

2007

2007 brought on a healthy year as we prepared for the Monument Avenue 10K. I enjoyed training for it and running it, but Jason did NOT. I wish I had the time or dedication to do it again. I was proud of myself for running the whole thing and completing with a time right at an hour.

2008

Jason and I have always been planners. And this vacation to Bermuda was just another part of the plan. We had always said we would celebrate 5 years of marriage in Bermuda before starting a family. Here we are in Bermuda and I was 10 weeks pregnant!

2009

Bryce Charles Whitlock

This precious baby boy entered our lives on February 25, 2009.

I have tears in my eyes as I write this. I can't complain about any of the years in the past, but I can absolutely say that this past year has been the BEST year of my life. I never imagined how much joy a baby could bring. I love Bryce with every part of my being and I can only imagine how he will contribute to all the memories to be made in the next decade.

I'm sure I left out some monumental event in our lives, but this is all I could find pictures for (either on the computer or old photo albums). I can't believe I'll be blogging about my 10 year high school reunion in 2010 (if we have one). Hope you all have had a wonderful year and decade. Good luck and best wishes for the new year!