It’s been one heck of a time folks. I almost can’t believe it’s over. It seemed like just yesterday I told ya’ll everything there was to know about 2008 and then welcomed 2009 in with excitement. And then woooooosh.
It just flew by. Like when Maverick did that tower fly-by in Top Gun. Soo hawt.
And what a year it was too!
Not only did we renovate our basement and completely overhaul our front yard but we also visited another country, said goodbye to loved ones, welcomed new friends (big and small), and started our journey on the path to parenthood. 2009 was definitely a banner year!
And we were thrilled everytime we got to share a milestone through this blog. It really did mean the world to us when you laughed with us or cried with us. It was you that kept us going when the projects got tough. Your comments were the boost we needed in the midst of loss. Your words of encouragement – well, they brought us to our knees. We thank God for you. You were truly the best kind of friends. And even though I don’t know all 24 of your names or faces – you were a big part of the reason that 2009 was so special.
(hold on – gotta go clean the snot off my face now from crying like a baby)
So with that – let’s look back at all the memories that 2009 holds. (And for those of you that can’t read one more oh-niner recap without gagging, just know that you are very loved by us Bower-folk and I can’t wait to see where 2010 takes us!)
JANUARY
- Moved our washer & dryer to the basement and installed lighting in the basement
- Picked out a daybed for my dressing room
- Bought a new TV and new glasses
- Redid a cabinet for our bathroom
- Hosting dinner with my boss
FEBRUARY
- Installed new light in our bathroom
- Made some cheap art
- Celebrated my 28th birthday
- Visited the Biltmore Estate
- Watched my boyfriend bite the dust
- Got a dolce chair for free
MARCH
- Installed a kitchen storage rack
- Helped some friends renovate their kitchen
- Grieved for Grandma
- Stained a dresser for our den and got new bookshelves
- Made some more cheap art and some more
- Bought a house plant and a lamp and bedside tables and new stools for the kitchen
- Pulled the goalie…if you know what I mean.
APRIL
- Tiled our bathroom and Switched out bathroom faucets
- Made even more cheap art and then did it again
- Changed out decor for summer
- Revealed my dressing room and sewed a daybed cover
- Made over a side table and a coffee table
- Created faux windows and a cheap spice rack
- Planted a garden bed – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
MAY
- Hosted the Petersiks and set the table with Sherry
- Created a hallway gallery and a ladder plant stand
- Obsessed about birds and our first flowers
- Almost caught our house on fire
- Went to a wedding
JUNE
- Prepped the front yard and planned for renovation and chopped down a tree
- Ordered gifts from Crate & Barrel
- Created some gifts and coin art
- Went to the flea market
- Celebrated ABP’s blogiversary
JULY
- Replanned yard renovation and graded and sodded and chopped down a tree and built a wall then another
- Celebrated Independence Day
- Made over a chair
- Celebrated a new baby (and got totally knocked up)
AUGUST
- Renovated our basement
- Planted shrubs
- Fixed a drainage ditch
- Partied fantasy football style
- Visited Nashville
SEPTEMBER
- Added faux paneling to the dining room
- Flooded a basement and learned a lesson in preparation
- Learned a little more photoshop
- Mended a fence
- Took a lot of photos of babies and teens
OCTOBER
- Revealed our Pregnancy
- Decorated for Halloween and for fall
- Joined the DIY Blogsquad and put together a to-do list
- Visited the Dominican Republic
- Upgraded a trash can and explained how to do faux paneling
- Celebrated Wedding Week – part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5
NOVEMBER
- Decorated for fall again and for Thanksgiving
- Protected our home against fire
- Renovated the other side of our yard – here, here, and here
- Planned Baby Boy Bower’s nursery
- Got a new washer & dryer
- Drylocked our basement
DECEMBER
- Revealed Baby Bower at Thanksgiving and redid a wardrober for his room
- Blogged the 12 Days of Christmas – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
- Took photos of neices and nephews and gave some photog tips
- Tiled our basement
- Weatherized our home
- Changed our hardware and painted our railings
- Removed paint from our exterior brick and had fun with a new tool
Whew. On second thought, the end of 2009 couldn’t have come any sooner! I’m kinda exhausted just thinking about it! (and secretly putting together a list of stuff we can’t wait to finish for twenty-ten! Don’t tell Jeremy. But just so that you know – here are a couple teaser projects that we have been working on & can’t wait to share!)
Reading back through this gets me really excited for the upcoming year. I can’t wait to read about all your new adventures!
That’s a negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full
Great post! Here’s to another fantastic year 🙂
I’m having trouble reading some of your older posts- the page will start to load and it looks like a different header, but then just as it’s finished loading, WHAM it takes me back to the homepage! Am I breaking the internet??
Wow, what a year! Who needs Resolutions with a list like that!
You were crazy busy, chica! Girl after my own heart :o)
Hi Katie! I’ve been reading you since May or so but I am bad about commenting, so this will be one of my new resolutions! Just wanted to say thanks, congrats on your new little boy coming soon, and I really enjoy and appreciate all you share.
Tom – I see you speak the language of love…very nice.
Sorry Goose but it’s time to buzz the tower 🙂
XO – KB
Katie –
You must be…either that or WordPress has a personal vendeta against me. I double checked the links – so you may just have to try again later 🙁 BOOO.
XO – kb
2009 was an awesome year for ya’ll, what a great recap! I’m praying we can afford and find time for 1/4th of the work you did on your house. It all looks FABULOUS! Off to drool over your kitchen and the faux paneling job for the 1,000th time…
Ahh, I think they’re not working because I guess you used to use blogspot? The problem started when I clicked on your “everything there was to know about 2008” link (which worked) and then tried to click on any of those links. Those look like they’re blogspot links and are giving me a worse time than the bird that pooped on me yesterday. ah well.
Oh sweet funny crazy Katie,
I only found ABP a few months ago but I feel like we’re old friends… even though you have no clue who I am. You make me “lol” every day. Thanks for a great year! Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Ps: You and Sherry could be in-laws one day!!!
Love the recap – just started reading your blog about three months ago. You have been up to a lot this year!
I just recently found out my husband and I are expecting and since we bought the ugliest house we could find a few years ago(thinking it would be quick redo) we are still DIYing. Do you have any tips for what you can and can’t do while pregnant? Any tips for a soon to be “nester”?
What a great recap! You’re so freakin’ talented! It makes me want to hate you, but strictly because of jealousy…Congratulations on all of your accomplishments!
You posted so many great projects this year. I think the bathroom cabinet makeover is my favorite. It reminds me so much of Restoration Hardware! Thanks for working so hard to have an awesome blog – I enjoy checking in everyday 🙂
You sure did tackle a lot of projects! I love the sparkler photo.
Gosh, you two look so young. I remember those days, vaguely.
Whew, what a year girl ! So many awesome projects, most importantly that little baby boy on the way ! Can’t wait to hear all the stories, and I’m dying to see what you do with that little cabinet. I have one almost exactly like it and painted it white. Whatever shall you make of it ? I’m sure it will be marvelous. Happy New Year !
Hi Whit –
Golly girl, I could (and should) write an entire post about this topic specifically. As for basic projects, this is what I have read so far – 1. Don’t do anything that makes you sick…like if fumes are making you feel ill…stop immediately. No matter what it is. 2. Painting is okay as long as you don’t get nauseous and are in a well ventilated area and take all necessary precautions (such as wear a mask for extra fume protection). 3. Demo is ok but if your house has lead paint or you are going to be dealing with any toxic materials, I would let someone else do it. 4. Sanding (or refinishing hardwood) is more of a lung issue and masks are required…but again, lead paint history or anything that makes you feel short of breath or nauseous is your cue to pass the DIY buck. And finally – take extra precautions whenever possible. A good gas mask, some heavy duty work gloves, and safety googles are all must haves no matter if you are preggars or not 🙂 Hope this helps!
XO – KB
I liked reading this. I have been reading your blog since the spring when I moved to Georgia. I really feel weird saying this but it’s been kind of comforting to me to read every morning. I moved away from all my family and friends for my husband to get a new job. So having no friends here and feeling like I relate to you on SO many things makes me feel like I have a friend.
It was also encouraging to see how much you accomplished in a year. We just moved into our house in the summer and I get discouraged at how little we’ve accomplished. Decorating and organizing are so important to me. My mom is an interior designer, so growing up with her has made me think about decor constantly. It was cool to see that your beautiful house didn’t come together over night. Reminds me that I need to be patient.
what a year!
What a fun year!!
I am also having problems with your links to older posts. They take me to the page but within seconds it takes me back to your homepage 🙁
Gosh darn WordPress.
I am coming for you.
And when I find you.
I will give you more grief than you are giving me.
and Wendy.
and Katie.
ARGH.
I guess your grandma must have died prior to my discovering the blog. I am truly sorry. It’s so hard to lose a special loved one who colored life so beautifully.
Blogs are good at keeping track of events.