29

I have written a reflective post every year for the past several years around my birthday. It's a chance to look back at the past year before blazing ahead to the new year. Here are my posts from when I turned 28, 27, 26, and 25. (Have I really been blogging this long?!)

What was the single best thing that happened this past year?

I'll give you one guess.

Yup.

The best thing was welcoming Cora into our family!

What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Pushing a baby out of my body.

What was an unexpected joy this past year?

Four years ago, we moved from Los Angeles to an LA suburb for Michael's work leaving behind our wonderful church from our dating, engaged, and newlywed days. We felt that 35 miles was simply too far to maintain a solid church community. After a series of events, we recently ended up back at our beloved church. If you had told me a couple of months ago that we'd soon be worshiping there again, I would have told you to be quiet. But, we are back, now with two kids in tow, and we feel like we've come home.

What was an unexpected obstacle?
Grace had really bad acid reflux as a baby. I told myself while pregnant again that the chance of Cora having it too was very low. But when Cora was just a few days old, I could tell that she had the big bad acid reflux too. We tried to manage it without medication for a while, but at seven weeks old we finally put her on medicine. I guess we just make refluxy babies.

What image best captures this year?

With whom were your most valuable relationships?

So many people. With each passing year, I realize in deeper and fresh ways how important it is for me to have friendship and camaraderie with a variety of people. The people that first come to mind are my sweet little family and my friends who have little children my kids' age.

What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Oh gosh, I feel like I don't have time anymore. Especially not time to waste.

What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Snuggling with Cora while she slept. The baby days fly by so fast. I'm so glad I've been able to squeeze in these moments.

What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?
Parenting is teaching me to let go of control which has made me a more joyful person. Yes! 

What days will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I will always remember the day my sister, Andrea, married Jason; our June trip to Thailand; and the day Cora was born.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I have two: (1) Flying to Thailand and back while six months pregnant and with a sixteen month old in tow. (2) Growing, birthing, and caring for Cora while caring for Grace.

What was your biggest failure?
The times that I've been angry and impatient with my kids and husband instead of the gracious mom/wife that I want to be.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My sister's wedding and meeting our second kid.

What kept you sane?
This question assumes that I was sane this year. I feel like on many days there wasn't any sanity to be kept. But, the times that were sane were the times when I got decent sleep and was able to let go of expectations and fly by the seat of my pants.

What are you looking forward to the most this year?
Sleep. I just want to sleep. Last night, Cora woke up once between 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. If this continues, I will wake up feeling like superwoman every day.