I'm going to do the lazy way out and post a bit from the first entry of every month as a way of looking back on 2008, since Tim already did a pretty good job of hitting the major family moments. But, before I do, allow me to point you to a photoset I threw together of River's first year (really, first 13-1/2 months). Marvel at how our adorable baby boy went from this:



to this:

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January 2008:
I have successfully (I think) uploaded my first YouTube video! It's 38 seconds of my mom rocking River at 1-week old.



February 2008:
I keep meaning to link to this Amazon List of Baby Products I Have Actually Found Useful, which I made when one of my college roommates asked me in email what I suggested she get.



March 2008:
And, because enough hasn't gone wrong lately...
...today I got in a fender bender. With a very polite, non-snooty Frenchman who was in the country to sign divorce papers and had to leave tomorrow because his visa has expired. Our bad luck collided, is how I put it, and he thought that was pretty funny. I think.



April 2008:
River has two new bottom teeth. River has bitten me four times. Today, he drew blood for the first time. I am very upset about this. It hurt really really really bad.



May 2008:
This week we had a visit from Jenn. River had his first swim lesson (he sucked his toes when he was supposed to be floating on his back). He discovered the cats. He tried oatmeal (and didn't like it). He gave me a real kiss on the cheek (open-mouthed gnawing, but it was clear he was trying to do it the way we kiss him). And, best of all, he's saying "Mama!" very clearly. I think he sort of knows it means me, no matter what Tim says (he's just jealous). At the very least, River knows that saying "Mama! Mama! Momma!" will bring me faster than anything else :-)



June 2008:
Good week for pictures! Lots of solid foods, and a new "Popeye" face. All this despite some painful teeth cutting (he now has almost 5 teeth! 5!).



July 2008:
Hey, the picture I took of sea turtles at the Maui Ocean Center is in the iPhone version of the Schmap Maui and Molokai Guide. No, I'm not sure why my last name is (the only one) in all caps. I don't think I submitted it like that.



August 2008:
River and I both had a cold (he got it first, as near as I can tell, from the YMCA daycare. Sigh.) this week, and we're both still recovering. It's making physical stuff -- like walking to and all around, and from, the Lake Fest today -- exhausting. Still, I also managed to go see my sister's Flamenco show at La Taza de Cafe on Friday night (she was awesome! I love Flamenco in an intimate, restaurant setting), and to the Impressionist's Picnic where we hung out with Stephany and Zach (who is only a couple weeks younger than River) yesteray. No wonder I've been so tired lately.



September 2008:
I wanted to do a whole fancy entry, describing the wonderful time I had in Maui with pictures scattered throughout. And, while I still want to do that, I know myself well enough to know that I should probably not wait until I have to link to my Flickr set of Maui pics.



October 2008:
I know I need to get River pics up soon -- and there are some good ones -- but in the meantime, here's a 30 second video of River walking over at Middle Harbor Park a week ago yesterday. He's already even better at walking than he is here!



November 2008:
Hi! Obama won! Obama won!

Last night my sister came over (my nephew was over at his godfather David's house for the evening), and we hung out, had wine and pizza, and watched the Daily Show's election coverage (with trips to CNN and cnn.com to fill out commercial breaks). I was putting the baby down when Tim came in to tell me -- at 8pm -- that they'd called it for Obama!



December 2008:
My computer was in the shop for two weeks, but I was already behind on these. Finally, I have pictures up for River, week 52.