A Time to Reflect on 2009

December 31st, 2009 | Author: ajpassey

2009 was a fun, fast and fantastic year for our family. Because Babies Grow Up launched on New Year’s Day 2009. Given all that’s happened in the last year, I’ve spent some serious time reflecting on all our experiences. I’d like to share some highlights from the year as well as some of the most popular posts.

Here we are with Carol Rice

My Highlights from 2009

Amazing New Friends

I met some amazing people through blogging and have developed some pretty cool friendships over the last year. As I started my blogging, I was invited to participate in Play Activities‘ Operation Playtime. Melitsa has become a close friend and encourager over the last year. We both released our first eBooks in 2009. I enjoyed reviewing Treasure Basket Play and hosting a giveaway just this month.

I also enjoyed meeting many of the gals from Sassy Scoops long before they formed this amazing marketing team. Vanessa of I Never Grew Up drew me in with her Nature Days. Through her I was able to meet Jyl of Mom It Forward and subsequently get involved in local blogger events in Utah such as the Goldsmith Jewelers pearl necklace promotion and the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. Through the TSF I re-met Carol Rice and was able to be a mommy blogger for the Jonesborough Storytelling Festival in Tennessee. All that, alone, was enough to keep our year busy and exciting. But there was more.

Favorite Products

Toward the end of 2009 our product reviews have focused primarily on music for children and families. We have added some terrific music to our collection and look forward to finding more great albums to share in 2010. My favorite from 2009 isn’t actually on sale yet, but it will be in just a few weeks. It’s Bari Koral’s Rock and Roll Garden. While we were away from home over the holidays the girls had a few days of being out of sorts. I just popped this CD in and it worked like a charm every time to bring my girls back into good spirits.

Another favorite of the year was Wow! Wow! Wubzy! Pirate Treasure. Even Brent enjoys listening to this when driving the car. Elli has just started trying to say Wow! Wow! Wubzy! and it’s too cute! We also love our Band in a Box from Melissa and Doug and use the instruments weekly as we make our own music.

My Favorite Posts

I was so sad to hear that Reading Rainbow was taken off the air and then further saddened by the reasoning behind the decision. I already described my feelings and elaborated on the overlooked need Reading Rainbow filled in creating lifetime readers.

I was fascinated by the benefits of rocking I learned from a child development professor at BYU. This post is one of my favorites because it shows just how perfect mothers are for their children.

While Brent was away at Officer Training for the Air Force, I wrote this post containing my thoughts on love. Fulling loving another person, spouse, child, parent or friend, entails a bit of hurt along with a wealth of joy.