2015 for me has been absolutely wonderful. I cannot believe the year has passed and we're now in 2016. I have mixed emotions and quite alot of anxiety about this. I really didn't want to see the back of 2015, as I know it signals the start of change and the end of my maternity leave. I have alot to get my head around and I think that will be in another post! This post is a reflection and roundup on the past year.
Around this time last year I was quite pregnant and writing all about my pregnancy journey so far. I had a relatively straightforward pregnancy other than having low blood pressure and dizziness, I was on the countdown for my maternity leave but as it happened ended up being signed off for a month due to the dizziness. I couldn't wait for my baby girl to arrive in April! During January and February I spent alot of time reflecting on my previous birth which really helped get my head into gear for my next labour, I had alot of demons to battle and writing about everything really helped.
Once I was off work I took the opportunity to spend lots of time with Alfie, it was great, I felt we really bonded and I wrote this post back in March about being a Mum. I threw myself into blogging, Alfie was in nursery twice a week and other than cleaning I wanted to keep my mind active and writing acts as a release for me plus I enjoy it so being able to dedicate more time was good and it has brought about some great opportunities for me.
The weeks seem to fly by and before I knew it I was in labour!! I welcomed my beautiful 2nd child, a daughter on 15th April, 3 days after my due date. I was besotted (and still am), I was over the moon and have been in a complete baby bubble since then. I wrote a post about being proud and that still stands everytime I look at my 2 children.
The next few weeks were filled with adapting to being a Mummy of 2, it was harder than I originally thought it would be but I got there in the end. Alfie turned 3 at the end of May (with the best cake ever!) and we had loads of family days out which was ace.
August was pretty quiet, we tackled the threenager and I reminisced over the girl that I used to be......that was a fun post to write!
September brought more reflection with a very honest post about my body image this was one of my most popular posts and I had some really lovely comments about it. September also brought about some major decisions and we decided that it was time to move. We had discussed it for months and always knew what we wanted do (try and keep our current house as a rental property) but it took quite a while for us to sort it and to find our family home. We looked around about 10 properties and knew and soon as we stepped in to this certain house that we wanted it and we were lucky enough to have an offer accepted and we moved in at the end of October.
At the end of May/beginning of June my friend Sarah who blogs over at RunJumpScrap launched our Best and Worst Linky which continues to go from strength to strength. I have loved every week of it and I can't wait to see how it progresses over the next year, I have discovered some fab new blogs to read because of it. It's alot of work but totally worth it to build up a little community.
We had an absolutely brilliant summer holiday, we spent a week in the Dordogne and then met friends for 10 days in La Rochelle. Some people thought we were mad going with a three year old and a 10 week old baby, I admit I questioned our sanity at times but it was fine really! We had such a good time we have already booked next years holiday with the same friends so at least that is something to look forward to.
August was pretty quiet, we tackled the threenager and I reminisced over the girl that I used to be......that was a fun post to write!
September brought more reflection with a very honest post about my body image this was one of my most popular posts and I had some really lovely comments about it. September also brought about some major decisions and we decided that it was time to move. We had discussed it for months and always knew what we wanted do (try and keep our current house as a rental property) but it took quite a while for us to sort it and to find our family home. We looked around about 10 properties and knew and soon as we stepped in to this certain house that we wanted it and we were lucky enough to have an offer accepted and we moved in at the end of October.
The last few weeks have zoomed by in an alarming manner. I feel like my feet have barely touched the floor, unpacking a house and looking after 2 kids is knackering! I am so pleased to be living closer to family and friends, it makes a huge difference to seeing people now. We have squeezed in so many things since moving.....wine tasting, meals out, shopping dates, spa trips, santa specials and lots of eating and drinking. Celebrating our first Christmas as a family of four in our new home has been pretty amazing. It's also beyond amazing to have loads more room to store everything! We then said goodbye (sadly from my point of view) to 2015 with a great night at a gala dinner with friends.......it softened the blow somewhat, my head and liver defintley didn't like me in the morning though that's for sure.
I truly have had a great year. As much as I was sad to say goodbye to 2015 I do always look forward to seeing what the next year has in store for me, for us and for my friends and family. There are going to be alot of changes in the next few weeks, change is sometimes a good thing and perhaps embracing it is the best option.
I don't make resolutions, I never see the point but I do like to enter the new year with a fresh outlook on life and enjoy each day. I like to set goals and although I haven't really thought about many for this year I do know that I want to be happy and my family to be happy too. I'd really like my blog to continue to be read and enjoyed. Just before Christmas I found out that I was number 160 in the foodies 100 chart and nearly into the top 500 in the 'tots 100' chart too which really was pretty cool! I try not to get too bogged down in stats and charts but it is nice to see hard work paying off.
I have really enjoyed writing this roundup, I have been a very busy bee over the last 12 months and it's been great reflecting on the last year.
What has been your favourite part of the past year?
A new baby girl, a new house that is stunning by the way, and the most awesome cake ever! Wow what a year of changes, this is a fab linky glad you started it, happy 2016, may you have loads more wonderful adventures xx
ReplyDeleteThe year flew by for me too - I don't know where the time is going! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteWow, what a year! Lots of big moments - I hope 2016 is even better. And having just moved myself, I am impressed you did it all with two kids. I still have so many boxes to unpack :) #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteWhat a Fantastic year you have had, I hope 2016 will just as great for you. #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely year! I don't make resolutions either (and, actually, I always hate New Year - I hate the reminder of how fast time passes and the fact that Christmas is over!) #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteAh, what a lovely year you've had! It's always a bit anxiety inducing seeing in a new year but I'm sure this year will be just as good for you. PS. That cake is immense! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteGorgeous roundup and what a year! Hope 2016 brings you lots of happiness too! Xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. Sounds like a wonderful year and I hope this one is just as wonderful for you. #bestandworst xx
ReplyDeleteSeems like a pretty good year to me! I wish I could remember enough of my year to write a round up. I just feel like I've been pregnant the whole year!!
ReplyDeleteAaaah, you've had an amazing year! You've certainly crammed a lot in! Best of luck for the coming year, and the blog going from strength to strength! The year for me has been quite tough, children wise... The eldest has just turned 3, and the other one is 2 in a few weeks, so they've both been at that really difficult tantrummy stage at the same time!! But in between, there has still been those lovely moments of 'I love you so much I could eat you, and I'm so proud!' but it has been difficult. I'm hoping with the eldest off to preschool this year, that things might be a bit easier!
ReplyDelete#bestandworst
Sounds like you had a very exciting year which must have been amazing - if a bit hard work? Hope that 2016 brings you everything you could wish for and allows you to sit back and enjoy the results of all your hard work.
ReplyDeleteDawn x
Thank you for hosting. #bestandworst
I'm seeing more and more people not making new year resolutions which is comforting since I decided not to this year too. I feel the same: reflect, refresh and go. ;) It was nice to hear about your great 2015 and I hope that you 2016 is equally as enjoyable, if not better. :) #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteSounds like a busy year. Glad you enjoyed it and well done for remembering it so well. I can't even remember what I did yesterday lol never mind the rest.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting #bestandworst
What a great round up and sounds like a lovely year! The years seem to fly by with children don't they! Thanks for hosting lovely #bestandworst xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely roundup of wonderful times of year 2015! Seems a busy year for you, having a baby and then moving house, which also happened to us 2 yrs ago. However, the bonus of it was having to enjoy Christmas in the new home, isn't it? Lovely post and gorgeous photos too! Have a lovely 2016! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteWhat a huge year with so much in it! I love looking back and remembering everything that has happened in a year and this is one that you can certainly find lots to treasure :-) Thanks for hosting #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteWow some big events happened, here is to another great year X #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post sounds like you had a super busy time thanks for hosting #bestandworst hope 2016 is just as good X
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful year! Hope your first day back was ok, you looked fab in your uniform. I hope 2016 is as exciting and brings you as much happiness. :) #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful year! Hope your first day back was ok, you looked fab in your uniform. I hope 2016 is as exciting and brings you as much happiness. :) #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteA new house and a new baby-sounds like a great year! Hope 2016 is another good one. #BestandWorst
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful 2015 for you! Love all the photos and you look absolutely fabulous! I too make goals instead of resolutions. I have made some very serious goals about my health and life in general for this year. Thanks so much for hostessing! 💌Trista
ReplyDeleteHappy new year and thanks for hosting. This time last year I was pregnant and just coming through the awful sickness stage. When you rule ipa awful lot can happen in a year... It goes too fast though x #bestandworst The Little Book of Sick
ReplyDeleteThis time last year I was just coming out of the awful sickness stage of pregnancy. A lot has happened in a year and it was lovely to read your review. X #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteThis linky is fab so thank you so much for running it with Sarah.
ReplyDeleteYour year sounds like it was a great one. I hope your return to work goes ok. It's such a tough thing to gear up for.
Love
Vix x
#bestandworst
I love it when people lay it all out like this and you realise how great life has been to you over the last year. Yours really does looks blessed and its nice that you have had so many huge things happen.
ReplyDeleteHopefully this year, whilst different, will still bring lots of lovely things and joyful times!
I think the highlight for me was going to Italy with the fam, it was a gorgeous week! x
#bestandworst
What an amazing year. And that is a totally awesome cake!
ReplyDeleteI love all the things you have been up to in 2015. I think it's great that you found your family home too. I'm like you and like to try and keep my brain active. Blogging has been great therapy for me and I hope that 2016 brings me great opportunities. Congratulation on your daughter. I know it's very late lol #bedtandworst
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have had quite the amazing year! I hope 2016 brings you more wonderful things, I love joining the linky and meeting so many fabulous bloggers, thanks for hosting! #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome year! You really have fitted in so much and so many HUGE moments. I can't imagine how your unpacking is going.... Ours is still on the slow side as we keep trying to decorate then unpack.... so have a study and spare room wig quite a few unpacked boxes! All the best for 2016 X
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a fabulous year and I hope things go really well for you in the coming months. It must be hard preparing to go back to work after s long and I imagine it is a anxious time. Angela
ReplyDeleteWow, what a year you've had! New house and new baby! Ours hasn't been quite so hectic but my highlight/biggest achievement has to be starting and growing my blog. Thanks for sharing x #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteHappy New year lovely lady! Looks like you've had a great year - here's to an even better one :) #bestandworst
ReplyDeleteNadia - ScandiMummy x