Welcome, Welcome 2009

As we enter a new year we are finding ourselves meditating on the year ahead as well as the year just so recently concluded. We're counting our blessings and listing our resolutions! On the "Blessings" list: Justin's job, Cavan, family and friends. On the "resolutions" list...well that's really kind of a personal thing. We can tell you that being more efficient and keeping in close contact with everyone we care about are both resolutions on the list, thus this blog!

Let us quickly recap 2008, in case you missed anything.

January we moved into our dream apartment: two bedrooms, hardwood floors, a ground level patio and roughly 1600 square feet of pure, NW PDX living bliss. Dustin and Jessica moved in with us and we were having a grand time. Brynn was just learning to crawl and said her first word, "duck," followed quickly by her second "dada." Justin turned 27 and had a job interview with Dreamworks.

February was the month we decided to move to California as Justin was made an offer he just couldn't refuse. We also found out that we were expecting a second bundle of joy on Valentine's Day. Most of this month was a whirlwind of preparing to move to a new town while cherishing all the moments left in our old one.

March we moved to Redwood City and Justin started his new job, making Shrek 4. Tiffany spent most of this month with morning sickness. Brynn was pulling herself up on everything and loving the Doodlebops. Tiffany turned 27, but pregnancy brain prevents her from actually retaining that fact and she continually has to ask Justin how old we are.

April and May were pretty much a blur. We finally found the green places and started hiking. Brynn took her first steps at the end of May and she started using sign language. Tiffany was still sick with pregnancy.

June was Brynn's first birthday. We had visits from both sets of parents (or, um, grandparents as they probably identify themselves now) and Uncle Tony. Lots of visits into the City. Went to some art exhibits and the aquarium. Tiffany's belly continues to grow. We learn its a baby boy growing inside there.

July marked the first time any of us went home for a visit since moving. Tiffany and Brynn flew to Portland for one week, Brynn's first time on a plane. At the end of the month Tiffany gets put on bed rest. Maybe the trip wasn't such a brilliant plan, in hindsight. Brynn was a busy, little hand full at that point.

August and September were spent preparing for the new baby. Dustin and Jessica came to visit and Tiffany did not adhere to any of the rules of bed rest during that time, but we sure had fun! We learned that we are not really a "beach family." We may be more of a "coast family." The Oregon coast and the California beach are two different animals.

October we thought the baby would come any minute all month long! It was the longest month in human history! Fortunately, Nana was able to be here most of the month to help and to be at the ready for when we eventually went to the hospital. Finally, Tiffany was induced a week after the due date and Cavan Everett Fischer, the first, was born on Saturday the 25th. Dustin and Jessica came for another visit to meet their newest nephew and we all went to a big Halloween lunch at PDI where Brynn walked her first catwalk in her adorable rose fairy costume.

November we were trying to settle in with our fully formed family of four. Justin's parents came for a visit at the beginning of the month and they spoiled the heck out of Brynn, which both parties enjoyed to no end. We had our first Thanksgiving all of our own making; hopefully lots of new traditions were formed that day. Not the least of which was the drinking of bellinis (a yummy Italian concoction involving sparkling wine, cranberry juice and fresh lime). We also got our first synthetic Christmas tree (which is actually still standing in our living room...)

December we braved the elements to be with family for the holiday. What should have been a 12 hour drive turned into about 17 hours. The drive home was even longer somehow. But we loved spending time with our loved ones. And it was the first time Cavan met all of his cousins and extended family. It did make us sad that we live so far away because obviously Brynn and Hayden Moore and Cavan and Demir Cifcti are destined to be BFFs just like their mamas! On our way back to Cali we stopped in Eugene to show the kids their future school and to eat a yummy lunch at the Glenwood. Brynn was so impressed she got a cheerleader outfit to show her school spirit. We spent New Year's very quietly, and almost asleep actually. But we did manage to see the ball drop and have a few sips of bubbly to say good-bye to '08.