The lovely Robyn from Mrs D Plus 3 wrote a post reflecting on the past year which I really enjoyed reading and I thought I would do the same. It’s kind of like the Taking Stock blog posts that have been doing the rounds each month, but this one is a year in review for 2014.
First memory: Wondering on the first day of January what the year would hold for us. I was fearful about having another baby so soon after Magdalene. I was worried about work, worried about how I would keep my blog going and worried about what others would think of me. I remember sitting on my bed with my head in my hands and then racing to the toilet in our ensuite to throw up. And then I would eat a cruskit. I went through boxes of cruskits and Jatz!
Biggest regret: I have two regrets. The first one is worrying about so many things when I should have just prayed and let go. The second is not realizing how much of a big deal it was to make the Top 30 Personal and Parenting Voices of 2014 category for my blog. I wished I had gone down to Sydney for the master class and the launch party.
Funniest thing: My Magdalene is so funny. If she hears someone fart she will shake her head and say ‘phoar, stinks’ and then point at the offender and say ‘fart’. No one can blame the dog if they let a fart out and Magdalene is within earshot or gets the first whiff. She will point to the culprit.
Favourite photo: After doing the Olympus Sponsor challenges, my favourite photo would be this one of our family. I remember posing for this photo outside and trying to get everyone to look at the camera. This was the result and I laugh at Esther’s face and poor Phoebe bent over!
These two photos taken on Christmas Eve had to be shared too.
Proudest moment: My blog making the Top 30 for Personal and Parenting in the Kidspot Voices of 2014. I’m also proud of the sponsored post opportunities that have come my way and being able to use those funds to invest back into my blog and our family budget. I’m super proud of my girls too. I love my family and I love the way my girls interact with each other.
Best purchase: Our new car. We upgraded from a Honda Civic to a seven seater Toyota Kluger. I was a bit worried about driving such a big car, but I’ve driven dad’s Hilux ute for years. There is so much SPACE and I love the reverse camera.
Favourite outfit: I have too many. Probably my black jumpsuit with the sparkly bolero jacket that I wore to the Annie Sloan Cocktail Party in August and this year at the Kidspot Gala Awards night. For a $50 jumpsuit and a loaned Bolero from my mum, it’s a pretty good outfit.
Best month: July. I turned 30 and I had Phoebe 2 days later. Jacob had most of July and all of August off to help me with the girls. The time went so quickly.
Biggest achievement: Winning the Healtheries #Snackosphere sponsor challenge with Kidspot Voices of 2014 and being a runner up in the Garnier Smart Beauty challenge. I still can’t believe I won and but it’s started to hit home as the prizes have started to arrive at my doorstep last week.
Favourite Movie/TV series: The only movie I saw this year was Mom’s Night Out and I could relate to it so much. My favourite tv series would have been The Block and House Rules. I can’t wait for the series to return in 2015.
Most memorable News headline: There have been so many this year. Back in March, I was celebrating my cousin’s wedding and the next morning I read in the news that a Malaysian Airlines Plane had gone missing. We still don’t know where it is. Other memorable news headlines that have touched me are the wars in the Middle East and between Russia and the Ukraine. The loss of life from the MH17 plane that was shot down. And the recent events last week in Sydney. This year has seen a lot of tragedies.
What made you belly laugh: Phoebe’s number threes. She has done the worst nappies out of all three of my girls. I started Phoebe on solids as soon as she was 4 months and last week while sitting in her bumbo, she was sitting in this mess while I fed her! Daddy cleaned that one up.
Biggest decision: A personal matter – whether to get my tubes tied when I had Phoebe. I was booked in for a cesarean to have her and my obstetrician suggested it could be done if I was certain I didn’t want more children. I remember discussing it with Jacob and making sure we were both happy with the decision. Jacob was fairly keen because it meant he wouldn’t have to go and get nuked himself. 🙂
A lesson learnt: It’s better to have a messy home and enjoy playing with my kids, than to have a clean home and not create memories. Esther starts Kindy next year and a little part of me is sad that she is growing up so fast and won’t be home with us during the day for 5 days each fortnight.
What made you cry: I had friends of friends who lost their babies right before I had Phoebe. I cried when I heard the news of their loss. I cried when I heard about the 3 children and their grandpa tragically killed on flight MH17. Put in a prayer for those parents this Christmas and New Year who would have missed their darlings this Christmas. I cried during the siege when I heard 2 people died and the 8 children who were tragically killed in Cairns.
Most random thing you did: Jacob and I tried a new restaurant to celebrate my 30th Birthday. Because we hadn’t been out to dinner for a long while, I had to look up a bloggers Instagram account to check out her food photos and that is how I decided what restaurant to go to. And you want to know the blogger in question of whom I stalked? It was Nikki from Styling You. She’s only lived in Brisbane for a year and knows more about the best eating joints than I do and I have lived in Brisbane all my life!
What stands out for 2014 for you? Has it been a good year or not so good year for you?
