It’s December so that means it’s time for our annual Christmas letter. If it comes out all right, it may be arriving in a mailbox near you.
Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope this letter finds you all healthy and happy.
Our year has been blessed in many ways. The most blessful event happened on February 9 at 9am when Amelia Rebecca joined the world. It was a long night of labor for Becky. We went to the hospital at midnight and she labored for about 3 hours before we were sent home because she wasn’t far enough along. So Becky labored and labored until about 8:00 until we arrived back at the hospital. By this time she was so far along that she missed out on the drugs and was rushed into delivery. An hour later we were holding a beautiful 7lb 13oz little girl. She was beatiful and healthy from the beginning and she continues to grow in her beauty as she gets bigger. Katie was really excited to have a new friend and her baby sister. Amelia got to come home to a surprise 50th birthday party for Becky’s mom, Nola.
We’ve been settling into our house ever since we moved in back in October of ’05. I think we can finally say we’re pretty close to having it done – except the yard – for that we’ve decided to go with the half grass/half mud look, just for something different. We finished the basement and put a patio on the backyard. On November 30, we participated in our local Holiday Home Tour – so that gave us some extra incentive to finish up everything around the house. It even got Eric on a ladder to hang Christmas lights.
Katie has had a great year. She’s gotten a new partner at daycare and she enjoys spending time there with her friends Mya and Jalynn. She’s gotten into so many things this year and she’s really expanded her vocabulary. She enjoys playing with puzzles, coloring, taking baths and giving mom and dad orders.
Becky has been plugging away in her role working on testing the next generation accounting system products for Microsoft. Eric has been managing some large customers on accounting and customer relationship management software for Microsoft. We got to spend a kid-free vacation in Boston this summer which was a lot of fun. We got to take a tour and see a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, plus we had the chance to take the Freedom Trail throughout town.
In August, Eric started a weekly blog at ericnewell.com – mostly because he’s getting old and needs to write things down so he can remember what’s happened. Plus, it’s been a great place to keep track of Katie’s greatest quotes such as – Eric: Katie, do you want to help my with my project? Katie: You are a big boy daddy. You can do it all by yourself.
Other highlights of the year have included Eric’s brother Dave’s wedding to Alicia Lunde in September, the birth of a niece, Evia, to Becky’s sister Jessica this June and the coming birth of Becky’s brother Brandon’s first child.
We wish you all the best in the year to come.
Merry Christmas,
Eric, Becky, Katie and Amelia Newell
Eric's space 