I literally cannot figure out where the time has gone… do you guys know? (insert: dramatic sigh)
I don’t know why this is always a surprise every year for me. I’ve got 365 days to countdown to it, and yet it still feels like we just started a new year a couple of days ago. Anyone else? This year has been especially quick. Maybe it’s because I’m getting old? They say time just goes faster and faster the older you get. Sadly, I’m beginning to understand…
I don’t typically get too hyped up about a new year, resolutions, etc.
But, uh… this has been a big year in my little corner of the world. So. many. changes.
First, I experienced losing my first close relative – my Grandma Rosie – last November (2018). There were a lot of “firsts” without her here this year. One major event being the birth of our baby girl, Gracelyn Rose (she’s named after Grandma Rosie).
Gracelyn is one year old today (insert: crying emoji x10). For some reason that just punches me right in the feels. Grandma Rosie would have gotten the biggest kick out of her, just like she did with Myles. I miss her.
NYE 2018
Let’s see, I had Gracelyn on NYE at 10:50pm… we should have checked for factuality, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say she was the last baby born in 2018 in Des Moines, IA. Just sayin’… it’s kind of a big deal.
Having a NYE birthday to plan every year amongst the chaos of the holidays will be super fun, I’m sure. But hey, we got that tax credit and met our healthcare deductible… score! We love you baby girl! Her birthday party was this past weekend and it was fun to celebrate her! We know it’s a big ask for family members to get together (again) during this crazy time of year, but it was fun, nonetheless!
SURVIVING TWO UNDER TWO
That was a fun start to the new year… if you’re really curious about how those first weeks after baby go, you should read this blog post! I/We also experienced a major, life-altering, career change… I went from Marketing Director to Mom Boss a few weeks before Gracelyn was due. And let me tell you, the stay-at-home-parenting gig is not for the faint of heart.
Really, the first half of the year was all about surviving two under two and trying to get a grip on my “new normal” life. In the second half of the year, I felt like I was able to come up for air and a dense fog lifted just enough to give me some motivation to fill our life with more chaos and challenges. yay!
Change is Good, Right?
The second half of this year has brought even more change… I started this blog on August 1st. I’m not sure what I was thinking. It’s become a fun outlet for me, which is what I was looking for, but man, I had no idea the work it would take. I have a new appreciation for the veteran bloggers out there who are making this all look so easy.
I’ve thought about my goals and dreams for this space for the new year… I should really write those down somewhere. Hopefully I’ll find more of a groove and dedicated time to put towards the blog in 2020. (insert: crossing fingers emoji)
Oh yeah. I turned the big 3-0 in August, as well. That was a nice milestone. I was surprised with a gathering of friends and family here at our home. It was fun having so many of my favorite people in one place. 🙂
And somewhere in all of this, we nailed down house renovation plans and are currently under major construction. It’s been a fun process to learn about and document as we go along. The kids have, surprisingly, adjusted well to the noise and racket going on right outside their bedroom walls!
Where We’ve Been in 2019…
We traveled a bit this year, nothing too crazy… Great Wolf Lodge, KC, in February (again, I’m not sure what planet I was on, besides just majorly needing a change of scenery, when I thought that would be fun with a 20 month old and an eight week old?!), Clear Lake Family Trip in May, Omaha Weekend in August, and Cabo in November (couples getaway for the win!).
I hope we can do our first big family road trip in 2020. One of my fondest memories as a child was our Summer vacations. We’d go somewhere new each year. We always left at sunrise, and I loved watching the sun come up just as we were heading out. I’m looking forward to making memories like those with our kiddos.
Speaking of traveling, I think I’m going to dedicate all of January to writing travel-related posts! I’ve got three lined up right now, but I may come up with one more (doubtful, but I’m trying to be optimistic)… How’s that sound? I know I enjoy reading about warm, sunny places with cold beverages and delicious food while I’m sitting in the frozen tundra of Iowa. Surely someone else does, too?!
The Sum UP
Well, that pretty much sums up all the things. I feel like that was a random selection of thoughts I just spewed onto the keyboard. The one thing I always find interesting as I reflect back on an entire year is just how much goodness actually occurred in my life.
It always seems like, “Oh, we didn’t really do anything this year…wah, wah, wah.” But really, when you take the time to remember the events and activities month by month, we really did pack in some awesome moments.
I’m grateful for another year well-spent and well-loved here on Earth. May you all take stock of the goodness in your life in 2019, and aim for an even better 2020. I know I have so much to be grateful for. Cheers!
-MG
Oh, PS – I’d like to thank you for reading my blog and any feedback you’ve provided so far in this journey. Your support is very encouraging and I appreciate all the ways that you’ve been able to help me grow. Simply engaging on my posts through social media, commenting on a blog post itself, or sharing a post you find helpful/intriguing are all ways that you help to raise awareness of my blog and reach more people. Thank you! I appreciate your efforts more than you know!
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