Happy New Year! It’s been a whirlwind and I haven’t had time to even sit down and think about the new year- it just kind of snuck up on me!
Family photos—I have a love-hate relationship with taking them. There’s so much time and preparation that goes into it, and all these details must come together somehow with all the right timing, or you end up with editing nightmares or cranky babies and hungry children… In our case, everything kind of came together perfectly as our best friend Victoria offered to take our photos at the last minute. The weather happened to be perfect during a forecasted snowy week, and even though the rule of thumb is you never take photos in harsh light they came out perfect. Absolutely perfect. I feel like it made up for the fact that we did not get baby photos in the hospital, except whatever candid shot we were able to sneak into the NICU on our phones. It’s really the last thing you think about when your infant is hooked up with wires on every limb and IV’s on their head, struggling to breathe or gain weight, among other things. And so this was the first time we ever went out as a family, all dressed up, feeling the sunshine and smiling together in months. I’m his mother and of course feel like he’s the cutest thing ever, but add a bow tie? My heart melts. And I just want to note that we have never taught our daughter to pose or smile. She is just pure princess and does it all on her own. I don’t know whether to be proud or frightened at the teenage years that lie ahead.
This will always be a special year for me. It’s the year our son was born and our little girl became a big sister. The year my husband accomplished his cherished college degree and teaching credential, and by a miracle a place in school opened up for him to have a full time job there. The year I went from being a marketing professional and working mom to a homemaker and freelance designer. I really appreciate the skills and sacrifice that Moms make, no matter what their phase in life. Being at home has made me so proud of my own mother and grandmother, and humbled me at the sheer and paramount responsibility placed before me of forming these little people into good people—even great people. It certainly can be a lonely road if you’re trying to do it all by yourself, and so I have all of our friends and family to thank for being there for us, praying for us, and helping to bring about miracles.
I could never thank God enough for how we’ve grown this year. The hard times have tested every part of me I thought was strong, broken that strength down with just enough time to catch a breath, and have left me even more resilient. The struggling has helped me to truly appreciate my children that I put so much time and love and energy and me into. I prayed to have these children. I rejoiced at being able to carry a child. I carefully took care of my body (which I normally couldn’t be bothered to take the time to), relished the little kicks and the turns and the changing. I tried to be prepared and plan, and yet for all my preparedness I was thrown from my carefully laid plans to see the hand of God putting everything back to the way it was meant to be. I have felt His love for me when I didn’t think I could go on another day because there was not an ounce of energy left. We have truly felt the windows of heaven pouring down blessings on us to have our baby and joyfully bring him home from the hospital. Thank you, 2015; I can’t wait to see what next year has in store for us.
-Kat
