My Favorite New Year's Eve

Here I sit. At my computer. On New Year's Eve. With two kiddos sleeping soundly in their beds, and Carey and I trying to decide if we stay up to ring in the new year or grab a few extra hours of oh-so-precious sleep. I think our decision has been made, since I am sitting here at my computer and Carey is currently watching Transformers. We're both waiting. Waiting for the clock to strike twelve. Waiting to see what surprises and challenges and blessings 2012 will hold for us and our family. And yet, as we look forward to the coming year, we also remind ourselves of one of our favorite New Year's Eves. If I may borrow a page from Sophia Petrillo: Picture it: Hoboken, 2007...

Carey and I were living in Hoboken, enjoying our (rather tiny) one bedroom apartment in that beautiful town and loving the local restaurants that we frequented. We decided to ring in 2008 at Court Street. (Seriously, for those of you who live in or around Hoboken, you have got to try this place. The dining room offers a wonderful sit-down atmosphere, and the bar area is perfect for a casual bite to eat or to spend an evening watching, say, March Madness with a bunch of other crazy SU fans.) Carey made our reservation, and the evening finally arrived. We both got gussied up and walked over to the restaurant. What Carey didn't know was that I had a secret. Well, I thought that I might possibly have a secret. See, I thought that I might be pregnant. Carey and I were definitely not trying to have a baby. And at this point, I was just a bit "late," so I wasn't sure if there was a Little Ng in there or not. I didn't want to get Carey excited (or freak Carey out - I wasn't real sure how he'd react...), so I decided to wait to say anything until I knew for sure, which probably would have been another week or so. I obviously hadn't thought that since we were going out for dinner on New Year's Eve that Carey would probably order us drinks, or that our reservation included a champagne toast at midnight. Yup, definitely had not thought that far...

As we're sitting down to dinner, Carey did order us drinks. And he encouraged me to try the wine that he ordered. I took the tiniest of sips of my own drink, and politely declined trying his. But he continued to encourage me. In fact, it became borderline badgering. (Sorry Carey, but it kinda was...) Finally, I looked Carey in the eyes and said, "I don't think I should be drinking because there's a chance that I might be pregnant." I will never know what went through his mind, but he simply said "Okay" and proceeded to finish his dinner (and my drink). That New Year's Eve, Carey did ring in 2008 with a champagne toast, while I hoisted my water glass skyward, hoping that 2008 would see me become a mother.

The rest, as they say, is history. Less than a week after New Year's Eve, I did confirm that we were pregnant, and nine months later, our beautiful little girl was born. 2008 was an amazing year, and each year since has proved better and better.

So here I sit. At my computer. On New Year's Eve. With two kiddos sleeping soundly in their beds, and Carey and I feeling so incredibly blessed that we can't wait to welcome in 2012. Filled with hope for the year ahead. Ready to take on its challenges together. Prepared to witness the milestones that mark the passage of time and the growth of our babies. But mostly, prayerfully waiting to see what journeys God has planned for our family this year and hopeful that He will guide our steps. From our family to yours, warmest wishes for a New Year filled with love, health, and happiness!