Dear 2012,

photo by Emily Snitzer 

Dear 2012,

You will always be one of my most cherished years, I'm sure of it. You were beautiful, you were challenging, you were the year I really came into my own as a mama. I don't think I'll ever figure it out all the way (in fact, I'm sure- I have a sneaking suspicion no one ever really does), but this year I grew right along with Henry and just as he is no longer a baby, I am no longer such a brand new mother. We figured it out, we made sense of our everydays, and now here we are, looking back over the past year with the biggest of smiles. Happiness. Pure joy. You were also a year I fell a little more in love with life. I'm not sure what it was- more time to spend on creative endeavors, realizing much more about myself, or maybe just taking a whole afternoons to laze in the sun with my little man- but I've never felt more lucky to feel so alive. It's been a year of love, such sweet, sweet love. Hank and his kind heart, always understanding me and accepting me, always going along with my funny ideas. This year he's been so patient and kind. And it's not like he's ever been anything but, but this past year I got to see him really grow into his role as a father and it was a beautiful, beautiful thing. I got to spend so many more days with my family, laughing and stopping for a second every so often and saying, "we are so lucky." And then the days, my everyday, every moment with my littlest love, the sweetest Henry who in 2012 became a toddler and a small person with his own demands and wants and a voice (oh, that voice!). This year has shown so much more of his joyous, boyish, funny spirit, and all of this time I get to spend with him? Heaven.

So 2012 thank you. I've grown, I've learned, I've fallen, I've gotten back up. I've smiled, I've cried, I've danced around in our living room to silly music with my family, laughing hard and harder. You were a good one, a year of continuances, a year of new beginnings, and a promise of a whole lot more to come. I can't wait to see what's next!

xoxo