2013
Looking back on 2013, it was a great year! The year began with me being about half way through my pregnancy and Bode in full terrible two’s. This pregnancy was rough with the morning sickness waves but I maintained a good schedule of keeping active and being a working mommy.
In my opinion, the terrible twos peaked around the arrival of Allyson and got slightly better with each month. Allyson arrived in May and helped complete our little family of four. She has been a little more challenging than I remember Bode being but I have grown so close to her over the past few months. Maybe it’s because she is my youngest, my baby, but I feel like so protective over her. I look at her beautiful innocence and want her to stay little and perfect forever. This little girl has truly stolen my heart and has me wrapped around her little finger.
My relationship with Bode has also changed a lot this year. He has always been a Daddy’s boy since the very beginning but this year I started to notice a Mama’s boy coming out. We had the opportunity to have a few dates over the fall months and since then we have bonded so much more than ever before. I felt like it had been too many months of yelling and the word “NO” or “Stop doing that” or other negative verbiage, it was finally nice to just laugh a little without any other distractions. Bode will always be my little angel, the gift that made me a mommy and I would do anything for this kid. But I find it funny how I have higher expectations of him, even though he’s only three I expect him to be the big brother already or maybe it’s just my maternal instincts trying to teach him to be the caregiver and protect his little sister. So far I’m loving 3-years old, so much talking and interacting, like a real little man.
Yes, my year was mostly based around my kids and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I will never get this time back, the time when my kids are young and innocent and rely on me for everything. I’m embracing this moment and not rushing into working out, or making gourmet meals, or keeping the house spotless every day because I don’t want to miss a thing. I’m not as young as my mom was when she had me but I feel like I’m thankful that I have kids at this age, when I’m still young enough to have energy but also mature enough to have had enough life experiences to make the best decisions for my family. At the end of this year I finally returned to work and so far it’s been a hard transition for everyone. But I’m hoping as time goes on these changes in our routine will get easier and we will all get settled in. Thank you 2013 for good health and lots of happiness
Here’s a link to my photo montage for 2013:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151839297803365&l=3520739799995218248
2014
Moving in to 2014 I am looking forward to continuing to watch both of my babies grow. Bode is in preschool and will be moving into Pre-K in the fall (along with turning 4-years old in October). Ally will start to move (crawl/walk) and maybe even some talking too before her 1st birthday in May. Matt and I celebrate our 5-year anniversary in April and I’m looking forward to making more time for dates without the kids since the 1st year of Ally’s life has been hard to get alone time out. Both of my sisters-in-law graduate in May; Katie from undergrad in Delaware and Maggie from grad school in Hawaii. Our best friends have finally set a date and in July 2014 they will be saying ‘I do’ in Santa Barbara County. Along with the wedding, there will be other opportunities to celebrate leading up to the event. Another best friend will be having her first baby in February and I couldn’t be happier especially since she is having a girl.
I have also decided to write down a few New Year’s Resolutions for 2014, things that I feel will help better me. Even though I’m not a new mom, I easily forget to take care of myself. It took me almost 2 years to start putting ME first after I had Bode and its taking me some time to do the same with Ally. However, I’m trying to be realistic and hopefully by the time Ally is 1 I will have started taking time for myself which I know will in turn make me a better person…
- Read for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week
- Do some type of physical fitness at least 3 days a week
- Make time for myself at least once/month to do something for ME (i.e. go on a long run or walk, girls day out, shopping alone, get my nails done…)
Nicole Hank 