It’s New Years Eve and many of us will be reflecting on what all happened this year, and also looking forward to the coming year. I wanted to also take a moment to thank all of you who made this year so wonderful. I am so incredibly thankful that so many of you read my blog, share, and comment. I started this as a journal to document our life as a family since our daughter’s birth and it has grown into so much more. It is thanks to all of you that so many opportunities have been able to happen; everything from giveaways to winning Vancouver’s Top Mom Blogger. Discovering Parenthood has definitely changed a lot over the months, case in point the photos below. It will definitely be continuing to change; hopefully for the better. It has been an incredible year and I look forward to what is in store. I truly hope you will continue to adventure with us. God knows the plans He has for me and my family.
Wishing you all a wonderful start to the new year!
January we ventured to the beach when we had a string of several incredible sunny days in a row. Our little one year old also started giving us a run for our money with some epic tantrums. I was also fully back to work, I had gone back the month before, but only for a few days as Christmas break was right around the corner. That was hard, being back at work and not getting to spend all day with my daughter.
February was the month of the Olympics, and the cauldron was lit in Vancouver. We loved getting to share it with Evie and seeing her reaction to the warmth, and the glow of the flames. We were also dealing with more and more comments about our daughter’s appearance with her eyelid. Please be kind towards others, and remind your kids to be kind too. We had a wonderful dumping of snow, and I am hoping that this happens again this year. We had a lot of fun starting some family traditions for Valentine’s Day. I can’t wait to make our heart shaped pizzas again this year.
March we hit the road and did our first family road trip. We headed to Oregon. While it might not have been the best weather, it was wonderful to see the beach and explore. Though traveling with a 15 months old was a bit crazy, especially when she would not sleep in the crib at the hotel. We definitely hope to be back to Oregon again soon. We a had a visit in at Aldor Acres, which reminds me we really need to go there again soon. Evie got to watch her first “hockey game” when we took her to the Canucks Open Practice. Seriously, it’s the best way to take youngsters to watch hockey. The big highlight of this month though was Evie being one of the flower girls in her Uncle’s wedding. She was the cutest littler mermaid there ever was.
April was the arrival of my goal I set for myself. I wanted to do the Vancouver Sun Run. With the support of my hubby at my side, and Evie in the stroller I finished in just a smidgen over 2 hours. I am by no means a runner, but I did my best. I’ve actually grown to really enjoy getting out and going for a jog/run. I miss not going out when rainy or freezing cold weather hits. We filled our home with family and friends for a little Easter lunch. We are already planning for this years Easter get together. I loved watching Evie run around the yard finding all her Easter eggs. Evie was a very active 16 month old.
May we bought Evie her first tricycle, and we got her a brand new helmet. She is still too small for the tricycle even today, but she sure loves the helmet and understands that safety is important. She likes to wear it even just around the house, and recently realized that there is a light on the back. We realized that we have a little book worm on our hands. She loves having book after book read to her. She will also happily sit and flip through books and look at the pictures all on her own. I was also surprised to find out that I was nominated for Vancouver’s Top Mom Blogger.
June was berry picking month, and several of us mom bloggers met up with our kiddos for a little hang out. I am so thankful for these friendships that have come from blogging. We can vent about blog problems, and ask for advice when it comes to our kids between one another. I hope and pray that our girls continue to develop friendships too. My Mom and I attended Cirque Du Soleil: Totem which was absolutely incredible to see. I hope to see another Cirque event this coming year. Possibly the biggest moment for my blog was when I was named the Top Mom Blogger. I couldn’t believe it, and still can’t. Thanks to this I have met many more wonderful bloggers, and developed more wonderful friendships. I will always remember Evie helping me to get ready for the big celebration event. My hubby and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary and headed to watch Wicked, thanks to my mom for the wonderful gift.
July was a very busy month. We went to Anvil and volunteered at the summer camp for teens. Right after we hit the road, and did a long road trip out to Alberta. We drove part way, stopping in Kelowna for the night, and then hit the road to get to my cousins home. Alberta has so much to explore, but next time we are flying out there to save some time! We picked up a used slide that was originally from Ikea, and has since been discontinued, and Evie loves it. I love seeing her so active, and enjoying being outside. We had the opportunity to go and meet some kangaroos.
August I got to do one of the craziest things I have ever done in my life. The opportunity came to go up in a plane with one of the stunt pilots who would be performing at the Abbotsford Air Show. Needless to say I survived, though I was bummed my video of the flight did not record. It was amazing, and if the opportunity came round again I would jump at it… but definitely will not be parachuting out of plane any time soon. Barrel rolls are one thing, crashing to the earth at crazy speeds and pulling a cord is a whole other story. I also had surgery to remove a lemon sized mass from my right breast. Thankfully before our next camping trip I got the good news that the mass was not cancerous! Before the surgery I donated a large portion of my hair to Wigs for Kids BC. If you are thinking of donating please consider this organization. We also ventured out to visit Storybooke, well, where it is filmed actually. We also went on the most incredible vacation to the Painted Boat Resort, and fell in love with this little area of BC.
September was filled with heartache, and the love of friends and family. We faced another miscarriage, but we also got away with members of our church. Friends. That weekend to Manning Park really helped us through a difficult time. Evie loved every minute of getting to be around people she loves, many of whom she called “Aunty” and “Uncle”. If you are important in her books, you get given this title by her. We’d still really appreciate your prayers as we hope to have good news again some day in the future that we are expecting another rainbow baby.
October… oh how I love fall. We visited the pumpkin patch and so much more. I just love this photo of Evie so much. It is a memory that will forever be in my mind. Her sitting on the massive pumpkins happily playing with the tiny little one she wanted to bring home. Evie helped out with the pumpkin carving this year, and got right into the mess of things. It was fun seeing her all dressed up in her costume, and going out trick-or-treating. We even hosted a little party at our home for all of her friends.
November is my birthday month, but it also often marks the beginning of the holiday season. We had the opportunity to go check out the Vancouver Christmas Market as a family. I think a new tradition may have started from it. We may have to visit every Christmas season, and also stop in at the Burnaby Village Museum for their Heritage Christmas. Evie got to see her first big show when we took her to see Disney on Ice. She loved every moment of it. We had a little bit of snowfall, and made sure to get outside and go play.
December was full of wonderful adventures. We loved getting to visit Squamish, and go ride on the Polar Express. We celebrated Evie’s 2nd birthday. Christmas was wonderful together as a family. The big, huge highlight would definitely be Disneyland. It was Evie’s and my first time there. So many memories, and magical moments were had. The smile that was on Evie’s face the whole time there made it so worth it to go. I was in tears our first day there, waiting at the gate to go in. We were there… Disneyland.
What a wonderful year we had.
