A Look Back at 2016

3:36 PM


It always feels so strange on the first day of the new year to realize another 365 days has passed and be given the opportunity to start fresh again. Today may be the same as yesterday but truthfully, because we collectively step forward and reflect together, it is not just another day. It's a time to be thankful for the good and bad and pay that wisdom forward.

This past year for me has been the most physically difficult of my life as well as emotionally fulfilling beyond my expectation. Before getting pregnant, I always feared how my small frame would handle growing and delivering a baby, but now I can look back and say look what I did. (For the record I was 4'11" and 80 lbs pre-pregnancy which I will say openly in the hopes that it abates that fear in others.) Photos of my pregnant body still leave me in wonder at the sacrifices mothers go through and what a blessing it is that life is created that way. I will never be the same and I'm okay with that because there is nothing in my life I have ever done that compares with how fulfilled I feel being a mother.

I've written and re-written dozens of ways to try and explain how bringing Aria into the world has shifted my definition of joy, burden, humility, sacrifice, and love but maybe the best way is to just share this video of what the past year has been like for my husband and me. One second from each day of 2016.



I can't watch it without tearing up! I blame the hormones. ;)

Never have I been more willing to let go of my anxieties and run toward the daily joy of being in the moment, watching my daughter grow. This year my goal is to leave fear at the door so I can be fully present for her, and also for me. There's no guarantee that things will be perfect but I'm excited for the beautiful imperfections that 2017 will inevitably bring!

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10 comments

  1. Such a beautiful post, thank you for sharing and being honest about pregnancy and motherhood. Happy New Yea! xoxo
    Serein
    http://sereinwu.com/

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    1. Thank you so much! Looking back I feel like I could've been more mentally prepared if I heard more stories about other mothers' experiences, so I'm going to try and make the effort to speak up about my experience more too. Happy new year!

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  2. 2016 has been a great year for you! I cannot wait to see what you will do in 2017. PS I love the a second a day video

    Cat // https://fromgirlc.wordpress.com/

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    1. I'm so glad you loved the video! As I was going through 2016 I felt like we were stuck at home so much during the pregnancy and after but seeing it all together, I feel so blessed and realized even more how much we actually went out and accomplished! I'm looking forward to 2017 too! :)

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  3. Love this post! Can't wait to see how 2017 will be for you!

    Linda
    Typically Linda || Instagram

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  4. Beautiful video! Congratulations on your beautiful daughter Aria! Simply gorgeous!!

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    1. Thank you so much! We are so proud of how much she's grown!

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  5. What a beautiful year you had. You have a gorgeous sweet girl.Hope 2017 will be just as you wish.

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    1. I hope that I can look back at every year with as much appreciation as I have this year. Thank you so much and I hope 2017 is amazing for you as well! <3

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