Another Year Lost But Never Forgotten

Well its good-bye 2011 and hello 2012! In 2011 we all had our ups and downs. Lets see... I became a parent, lost 50lbs, had a crazy babysitter, moved into a condo, gained 5 lbs, lost a brother in law, had a birthday, and ended the year with a new job location. Am I glad to say good-bye to 2011? YES! Unfortunatly, the bad out weighed the good on this one. One memory I will always have about 2011 is my brother in-law John. I met John for the first time in 2010 around October. I was very pregnant and traveling was HORRIBLE! The seat didnt recline so I was hunch back on the end seat of a tiny airplane. My brother in-law and sister in-law picked us up from the aiport in Minneapolis. It was a three hour drive from the airport to their house in Detroit Lakes, MN. After spending a few days at their house we decided to spend some time at Nick's dad's house in Brookins, SD. I don't remember much about the drive there or the time before I met John but I do remember him wearing a T-shirt with the sleeves ripped off. I remember him asking me if he could feel the baby kick and after saying yes, him sitting next to me with his hand on my belly. I remember his excited face after feeling the baby kick. I also remember it taking awhile for the baby to move for him, probably because he had the same calming touch as her father. Everytime Nick touched my stomach she stopped kicking. There were only a few times after that day that we visited with Nick's family. Everything else I know about John, unfortunatly, were by brief visits, stories, or pictures from Nick. On September 3, 2011 John was killed in a hit and run accident, he was only seventeen years old. With all of the stories, pictures, and just being with him those few moments, I am so proud to say he was my brother.