Seth Andrew-----Emma Christine: 2010 Re-Cap

Two Thousand Ten is almost over!

We are so thankful for everything God has done in our lives this year. Here is 2010 in retrospect, with a few pictures sprinkled in...

2010 has been a busy year for the Toaders, but a year blessed by God. We've been busy growing, working, and trying to relax in-between. In January, Seth turned 2. Looking back at the pictures, he seems like a little baby compared to the kiddo he's grown up to be now.

In June Emma turned 1. Her first year, and now year and a half, have flown by. She seems to blossom faster than I can keep up with.

In the spring we also found out that we will be welcoming a new member to our family in January 2011: a little girl (whose name is yet to be determined).

Seth and Emma have become great playmates this year. Once Emma started crawling and walking, the two of them spend much time together playing with blocks and pretend food, drawing with crayons (and that not being limited to paper), and just plain having fun running through the house.

The summer was quite busy for us. My parents moved to Portland in July, and unfortunately my Mom's health has since been declining. It has been quite a trial for our family to see everything unfold. This also kept us very busy, so we took every opportunity to take quick (and not so quick) trips around Oregon and beyond.

In July we went to Mexico on a wonderful, relaxing vacation. Throughout the summer we got away to the beach for a weekend, and in the fall we went to Hood river for their bounty of apples. Adrian and I also took a quick trip to Boston to visit Simon.

Before we knew it, Thanksgiving was upon us. We spent a quiet evening at home just the four (well, technically five) of us. Christmas quickly followed, and now the new year is at our doorstep. (DEC 2010 Photos)

Looking back on 2010, it has been a very good year. Adrian and I had the privilege of watching Seth grow up from a little toddler to a boy with budding imagination. We are now enjoying very interesting and comical conversations with him, and we just love getting a glimpse into his sweet little self. He is a wonderful big brother to Emma. He often walks over to give her an unsolicited kiss, or helps her up if she trips over a toy. He genuinely finds satisfaction in knowing she is happy. He has grown a particular interest in trains, especially Thomas. He also loves giving Adrian a hand with tools, fixing different things around the house.

Emma has grown into a little toddler. She started walking this summer, which opened up a whole new world to her. She has a sweet yet independent spirit, which pushes her to explore and conquer her little obstacles without fear. She knows how to stand up for what she wants (a toy that risks being taken away by Seth for example), and yet will gladly hand Seth something he wants in order to make her brother happy. It is wonderful to see the difference between the two of them, and yet to see the formation of such a wonderful friendship.

Adrian has been very busy at work. He recently changed the area where he works in his company, giving him a larger line to oversee. It has been an adjustment for him, but he has conquered the challenge beautifully, as he always does.

I have been trying to keep up with kids, house, life...all while patiently (and now not so patiently) watching and feeling my baby grow inside. Less than a month now until our lives will change again, and we will have to adjust to a third little being in our family. We are truly excited--and a little apprehensive to see how life in five will be. At the end of next year we will have many more stories to tell, of a little Boy getting into mischief, a little girl trying to keep up with him, and a little baby discovering her new world.