A year seems to take an awfully long time. Especially when you’re in the middle of it, waiting for what’s next. Even more so if you are pregnant. In Texas. During the worst drought in over 100 years. With 30+ days of over 100 degrees temperatures. Oh wait? That wasn’t all year? Because it certainly felt like it.

As I’m sitting here at my little desk in the corner of my living room I think back to the past year. Starting Craft Hope, a book deal, and the birth of the littlest Sims. All the while juggling life as a stay-at-home mama to two other monkeys, rambling in this space, trying to be a good wife and make more than just cereal for dinner, and every other thing the Good Lord threw at me.

Today, my monkeys are getting older. The book is almost complete. Chikaustin is still my place to ramble on. Craft Hope is AMAZING and I am blessed to have met so many wonderful individuals through that process. My husband still eats cereal from time to time, but he realizes that life won’t always be this way. The house is a mess, always moving things around adjusting to our growing family and the needs of everyone in this space. And heck, I get bored if furniture and pictures sit in one spot too long. I twirl through the room like a whirling dervish and rearrange the place quicker than you can blink.

A look back at 2009…

{January}

We took the longest road trip ever, to Taos, New Mexico, so the kids could play in the snow. Had a revelation on a Sunday morning and started Craft Hope.

{February}

We thrifted, hung around, watched movies, painted, and played. Found out we were expecting the littlest Sims.

{March}

Hosted the first Craft Hope project and 27 dresses arrived. The dresses now have homes with little girls in an orphanage in Mexico. I was breath taken.

{April}

We announced that we were expecting. And thought we should retire chikaustin to focus solely on Craft Hope. Silly hormones. How could I leave this space?!?

{May}

Pregnant, and out of the first trimester, I was busy as a bee. Sewing girls clothes, traveling around Texas, nesting, and getting a glimpse of our littlest one. Love that second trimester!

{June}

Had an editor call me from Lark Publishing offering me a book deal for a Craft Hope book. What??? From there I connected with amazing designers and bloggers for the book. There’s more talent in that book than you can shake a stick at. Kept my etsy shop up and running with Fiesta dresses and vintage home goods. Stayed inside because it was starting to get HOT.

{July}

Pfew. July was busy. Craft Hope was growing and growing. So was my belly. The kids loved 4th of July and the hometown parade. I nested some more.

{August}

We were gearing up and getting ready for baby. Birthday celebrations, more nesting, and a family trip to the beach.

{September}

I was 9 months pregnant and exhausted. The nursery was ready and so were we! Makena tried her hand at soccer and realized she liked running through the tunnel at the end of the game more than playing the game.

At the very end of the month we welcomed Chloe Jeanette Sims to our family.

{October}

October was all about being home with Chloe. Chloe was brought into one activity filled house with a three and four year old. She napped best to the noise and grew like a weed.

{November}

Fall is my favorite time of year and we spent most of it cuddled up on the couch. We took a few outings with family, but mainly played in our own backyard.

{December}

I got to meet two wonderfully fabulous bloggy friends at the Pioneer Woman’s book signing in Austin. And did you know that I’m famous? She linked to me. Oh yeah. We spent the holidays with family and enjoying our new family of five.

Bring it on 2010! I can’t wait to see what you have in store!

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If you made it through that recap and are still with me you are in for a treat. And since I feel personally responsible for making sure you have the most up to date/current/hip/happenin’ information, here ya go…

Renegade Craft Fair is coming to Austin. What? Renegade Craft Fair is coming to Austin for the first time May 15 & 16. I’m shouting over here. Can you hear me??? Sooo excited about this one. Oh yeah, because Austinites are THAT cool!

And…. my ever-so-hip father-in-law introduced me to a new show. He’s the same guy that just burned the new Lady Ga Ga and Black Eyed Peas cd’s for me. Uh huh, he’s THAT cool. You are not going to believe it. My dream job would be to be a buyer for Anthropologie. You know, traveling the world in search of vintage treasures to go in the stores. There is a dude that does just that. And there is a show called Man Shops Globe on the Sundance channel that follows him around. BELIEVE IT! Set up your dvr now. It’s a doosy.

Since we’re talking antiques, Round Top is coming up the first weekend in April. The last one was the weekend I gave birth to Chloe and Miles refused to push me around in a hospital bed. Men. Needless to say I won’t be missing it this time. Giddy up and hit the road with me!