2017 – A Year in Review

Although 2017 ended with some sadness, overall it was one of the best years of my life. I thought I’d write a recap of the year and also post some goals I have for 2018.

I am not one for resolutions – for the past few years it’s been the same – to send more mail to my friends. It seems that all we ever receive are either bills or spam, so it’s a great feeling when you get a handwritten card or note from a friend. Last year we sent out a lot – baby shower invites, thank you cards, Christmas cards. It feels like we’re single-handedly keeping the USPS in business!

Anyhow, as I mentioned, 2017 was an excellent year. In February, the most amazing man I’ve ever known asked me to be his wife. He proposed in the nursery and it was unforgettable and very sweet. In March we had the most epic baby shower! I am so happy that so many friends and family were able to share that special day with us. We were truly blessed and it was a wonderful day. John got me an early birthday present and took me to see one of my favorite artists, John Mayer, in April. He put on such an amazing show! It’s hard to beat May, because that is when we received the best gift ever – our beautiful daughter Rosslyn was born. Although our birth plan didn’t exactly go as we would’ve liked, we are happy that both Rosslyn and I generally had a complication free and healthy delivery. (Side note – I can’t believe she will be 8 months old this month – where does time go?!) In June, I married the love of my life in a small civil ceremony. It was just us, plus my Mom, Dad and Rosslyn. I never thought I would get married, but it’s truly amazing how finding the right partner can change everything. I am so lucky to have met John and I am thankful for all he does for our family. We also celebrated my birthday and had a fabulous dinner at Carbone, which was our first night out as parents. We are so grateful that my parents are able to babysit every now and then.

The next few months feel like a blur – we were in full on survival mode! As first time parents, there was a lot of learning and sleepless nights. I think we’ve kind of got the hang of things now. In July, I decided to resign from my job and become a full time stay-at-home Mom. What a change!! My career was challenging at times, but nothing could’ve prepared me for this; however, I love every minute of it and cherish the time I get to spend with our little girl. 

The month of October is definitely one that we all wish we could forget. It was a difficult time here in Las Vegas, but this city persevered and came together like I’ve never seen and became a community. It’s unfortunate that it took such a horrible event to bring everyone together, but it made me proud. This month also made me realize that my anxiety was getting out of control and I sought help. I am happy to say that it is under control and I feel pretty good.

The holidays were a fantastic time for us. It was wonderful to experience everything with Rosslyn for the first time. I am determined to start some family traditions that she can enjoy as she grows up. We went to the Moapa Valley Corn Maze (you can read my review of that experience here). We prepared and hosted an awesome Thanksgiving meal at our house that we purchased from Sprouts. In December, we spent time with friends and family, going to Ethel M’s Cactus Garden to see the lights, Rosslyn met Santa for the first time, and we had family photos taken to celebrate her half birthday and Christmas. 

Our Christmas was amazing! We shared Christmas Eve with my parents, having a wonderful dinner of prime rib (again from Sprouts!) and exchanging gifts. It was exciting to watch Rosslyn’s face light up as we opened her gifts. She now has a ton of books and educational toys, as well as a walker. She officially started crawling and we’re baby proofing the house to keep her safe. John surprised me by giving me a fire pit, which I had wanted for awhile. On New Year’s Eve we built our first fire and drank mulled wine in the backyard. We made our own cheeseboard and charcuterie then snacked throughout the evening, until we were surprised by my parents who wanted to ring in 2018 with us. We watched the fireworks from our backyard with a champagne toast and it was the perfect ending to the year and a great way to start anew. 

Since 2017 was so rough on my body, I am going to focus on taking better care of myself this year. I am going to get more rest (ha!) and going to try and slow down and appreciate every moment I have with my family and friends. The unexpected loss of Moose was a good reminder that time is fleeting and that we need to appreciate the time we have with each other. I am going to spoil everyone that I can (including the dogs) with love, hugs and kisses. I also want to spend more time with friends, whether it’s just grabbing a drink or seeing a movie.  As silly as it may sound, I would also like to try at least 5 new restaurants this year. John and I have a never ending list of places we want to go and hopefully we can knock out a few of those in 2018.

How about you? What are your resolutions or goals for this year? Comment below and let me know!