2013 Recap...

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?

Moving thousands of miles away from home was definitely new. This is the longest (and furthest) I have ever been away from Kansas.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I think I did, in a way. I only had one and I think I improved a bit as a person by not as much as I could have.
You can read more about my 2013 resolutions here.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My sister gave birth to her first son in February and I had Asher in April!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

We have been very blessed this year but Will lost his (maternal) grandmother. They weren't very close though.

5. Did you visit anywhere exciting?

Germany, of course! Although, I will admit that we haven't seen too much but that will change (I hope) next year.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

I would like to have more motivation, more dedication. I definitely lacked both in 2013.

7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

April 21st - Giving birth to Asher in a German hospital without an epidural. 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I think making it through a (relatively short) deployment with two kids under two and a dog was a pretty big achievement. I mean, everyone survived so that's a plus. 

9. What was your biggest mistake?

My biggest mistake of the year has been not taking advantage of being in Europe. I plan to change that though.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Thankfully, no.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My iPhone 5c...and cloth diapers.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

 
My boys (all four of them, if you include Artemus). They have adjusted to moving, deployments, homecomings and a, at times, cranky momma.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Hmm...I don't think anyone's behavior had me appalled and/or depressed this year. 

14. Where did most of your money go in 2013?

Bills, little people (aka kids), food and gas.

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

Asher! And everything that goes along with having a little baby (although he was eight pounds at birth).

16. What song will always remind you of 2013?

Pompeii - Bastille
Drunk in Love - Beyonce
Roar - Katy Perry

17. Compared to this time last year, you are:

1. Not pregnant

2. Not in Texas

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish I would have focused on myself more. I tend to put myself aside a lot and this is something that needs to change.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

I wish I would have worried less. I gave myself so much anxiety that I shut down quite a bit.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

I spent Christmas at home with my boys, and I loved it.

21. Did you fall in love in 2013?

I didn't fall in love but I think I grew in love, if that makes sense.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

The Mindy Project

Orange is the New Black

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Nope, hate is a very strong word and a very strong feeling. I don't think I feel that way towards anyone.

24. What was the best book you read?

 

I hate to admit this but I did not read an actual novel this year (only books about parenting). I did buy The Lowlands. So maybe that will be the best book I read in 2014.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I didn't have any musical discoveries this year. I rarely even listened to music, well, besides our Frank Ocean cd that played all year in our car.

26. What did you want and get?

I wanted a healthy baby and I got that (and he's pretty awesome too).

27. What did you want and not get?

A stand mixer...but there's always next year

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Oh man. I don't even know. It was spent at home and I was super pregnant (I gVe birth to Asher a week and a half after my birthday). I turned 28 (aka old).

29. What’s one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If I went out exploring more and took pictures. 

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?

I literally spent most of my time in leggings and big shirts. It was a really unfashionable year for me. 

31. What kept you sane?

Haha, sane?!?! I don't think anything kept me sane this year. That will be one of the things I work on.

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Man, this year I didn't really fancy anyone.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

I ignore/avoid politics as much as possible. It helps that I never watch the news and being in Germany is like living in a bubble.  

34. Who do you miss the most?

My family. This is the longest I've gone without seeing my mom. Yeah, I know I'm an adult but that doesn't make it any easier especially when I think about the fact that she's hasn't had the opportunity to meet Asher in person.

35. Who was the best new person you met?

I met two good friends here in Germany. It makes things a lot better when you have someone in a similar situation to talk to.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013?

If there's anything I've learned from 2013, it's that I am not the person I want to be. I need to grow as a person, as a mother and especially as a wife.

37. What are your new years resolutions for 2014?

You can read about those here.

I found this survey on Ok, Dani. If you have time, check her recap out!

Goodnight 2012.

Wow, this year has flown by. Our family has seen it's fair share of ups and downs but we've made it through and are ready for a new year. Both Will and I experienced exciting moments in our careers. Will received a promotion at work while I was able to find a job doing something I feel very passionate about. We also were successful in getting pregnant this year (which brings about a world of excitement on its own). We found out that we were PCSing to Germany and began preparing to move thousands of miles away from home).

Now we're closing out our year but spending time with Will's family before we head off for our first adventure of 2013. There are tons of things that people pledge to do when deciding New Year's Resolutions. I never do resolutions since I know that eventually I'm going to break them (especially those about eating healthy or exercising) but this year, I've decided to make one resolution.

My New Year's Resolution for 2013 is to be a better person/wife/mother/friend than I was in 2012. 2012 was hard year for me in a lot of ways but I've realized that I didn't put a 100% effort in when it came to my relationships and personal development. This year, I pledge to make a change. Now, I'm not saying that I'll turn into the perfect mother/wife but I hope (and pray) that at the end of 2013, I will know that I made an effort.

So, as we bring in the New Year, I'll leave you guys with some of my favorite pictures from 2012 (including Liam's two year pictures taken by our fabulous photographer, Melissa Bradfield). Cheers everyone!

A few snapshots of our 2012

Melissa Bradfield Photography