It’s no doubt that 2015 was the very best year of my life.
I worked at a fabulous bakery (and got promoted) + made lifelong friends, had a wonderful pregnancy, and met the sweetest little boy, our George Bear.
Crazy to think on New Year’s Eve 2015, we announced our pregnancy to the world and this year was spent cuddling with our almost 6 month old. What an absolute whirlwind!
2015 was a huge year of change for me: I was promoted at my job, we had recently moved into a two-bedroom apartment at the close of 2014 + now into a home, my body grew and grew + is now getting back to a new normal, and the biggest change came with the transition into mommy hood. Arguably, I was very much in mommy-mode when I was pregnant but when little dude arrived it felt much more real + all-encompassing. 2015 was the year that my heart grew bigger.
Some of my absolutely favourite moments of 2015 in photos:
^ um, Aria Marie you’re the sweetest dolly!
^ the cutest cake at my Ottawa baby shower! Thank you sissie for planning it for me!
^ talk about being spoiled by showers! My Toronto shower!
^ no words.
^ what a dude!
^ two-year wedding anniversary!
^ my people.
Wow, how unbelievably blessed am I?! I spent 2015 surrounded by love. Gah! All the feels, you guys!
So.
I don’t really do resolutions but I always make new goals. And now that the Christmas decor is taken down, I can now focus on decorating/properly unpacking our home (we had only been in this house for a week before we pulled out all the Christmas trimmings!). I love interior design + now I finally have the time to slowly but surely decorate our home (a house!! woo!) with items and furniture that spark joy!
Every year I look forward to a new year. A fresh start. And this year is no different. Sure, some days I want time to slow down so I can keep cuddling GBB all day ‘err day but watching him sit up by himself and play with his blocks + squishy trucks makes my heart soar. I am looking forward to watching him explore, learn new things, and for our friendship to get stronger + more amazing (is that even possible?).
I have the good ol’ goals of eating more veggies, drinking more water, and spending more alone time with the hubs, but my biggest goal of this year is to live simply.
Before becoming a mommy, I would say I was a perfectionist. And not that I would want everyone around me to be perfect or all my things to be in perfect condition (although I like that!), but a perfectionist in myself. It was so damn annoying. As I logically know nothing is perfect + I truly cherish those perfectly imperfect traits of others and of moments in my life, I always had the hardest time letting myself off the hook.
Becoming a mommy is a whole new world + there is no room for being perfect. I am not perfect (and happy I’m not either because that would be hella-boring) and GBB doesn’t need me to be perfect. He needs me to be there. He needs me to be happy. He needs me to let go and enjoy all the diaper changes (ok, not all of them because let’s be real; blow-outs are serious), giggles, spit bubbles, car seat freak-outs (they’re getting less painful for me + they’re less often for him! phew!), and the cuddles, oh the cuddles (this now is not hard for me to enjoy, obvi!).
This year, I want to live simply. I want to let go of what I think I “should” be doing or what others are doing with their littles. I want to practise patience and grace with myself + allow myself moments when I need a time-out or when I need a baby cuddle. I want more mommy-time, even just one hour/day. I want to shop more but save more money. I want to start using essential oils in my home + take better care of myself. I want to write more, read more, and create more. I want to get more organized and surround myself with the people + things that spark joy in my life (thank you Marie Kondo!). I want to enjoy all the tiny, seemingly-mundane moments of my big + beautiful life because those moments, those moments are the big moments. The simple + quiet days full of cuddles + giggles, and naps + walks, and baby-wearing + breastfeeding. Those simple days are the days I will remember and cherish forever. So what if the dishes don’t get done or the laundry sits in the washer (although that bothers me so much–I’m scared of mold, you guys! Ha!), or it takes me F O U R hours to drink my cup of coffee (who else is with me on this?!)? It’s all about the little moments.
So, now that I’ve gone real deep, here’s to a new year!
Hello 2016; the year of more kisses, more cuddles, more laughter, more fun, more patience, more grace, and more naps (always more naps!) and a year of living simply.
Happiest 2016 to you my friends! I adore each + every one of you. Thank you for reading and following along!
XO