2012 marked five years of blogging for me. It was my first year where I took my writing outside of this space to new places like SheKnows, Childswork and Still Standing Magazine. Writing is healing and breathing and freeing for me and I couldn’t imagine doing anything less with those hours I squeeze into my day when children aren’t climbing on my head.
I love looking back each year on how things have changed and thought I would do again what I did last year, pull together a list of my favorites, one for each month.
January
The baby of the family– My thoughts on how my path of motherhood has changed as I parent the baby of the family.
February
Lost in translation- Sometimes I am funny or maybe just my kids are funny and my brain remembers the moments for long enough to actually write them down. The Little Mermaid will never be the same.
March
Sunset– Reflecting on the differences in each of my children and finding ways to honor them.
April
Both eyes– A lesson I needed in letting go and just enjoying a moment.
May
Right where I am– This may be one of my favorite things I wrote all year. I sat down and wrote it in a few minutes time and didn’t let myself pour over the words and edit. It captured exactly what I wanted it to, right where I was.
June
Outside of me– Making it through the first year of preschool. I survived, he survived and I may have learned more than he did.
July
Whisper– Okay I know I wrote this but I could read it over and over again, a reflection on how far we have come with Ashlyn, from birth to autism diagnosis to amazing teenager.
August
Glitter– Me time, the longest me time I have ever taken put into words, so that I can remember it actually happened.
September
The noise of life- This may have been one of my favorite writing moments of the year. I was given the honor of being published at Mamalode on my birthday and my words where shared and shared again until their site crashed from the traffic. There is no better birthday present then being contacted by the editor of a site you adore and being told “you broke our site but we couldn’t be happier.”
October
To the sky– A message to my daughter, on the anniversary of the day she left us.
November
We are un-playdateable– A tale of a playdate gone wrong and why we should probably just stay inside. Forever.
December
Jingle Flower– Hanging on to every second of childhood through the Christmas season.
Twelve months of posts cannot explain how grateful I am that every single one of you have taken the time to read my words. I truly can’t thank you enough and wish you the very best in the new year.
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I missed some of these so thank you for the recap!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful new year. xoxo
I entered the blogging world this past year so I can’t wait to read a lot of these that I missed. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you AnnMarie!
I love all of your work, and the 12 listed here are amazing. 🙂 xoxo
Your words are beautiful and heartfelt and meaningful, every time I read them Jessica. I am so glad you are spreading them out to more places. Happy New Year and here’s to more amazing in 2013! xo
I am honored to know you.
Truly.
Such a great retrospective summery! Really great articles, and I have to tell you that you look so adorable on that pic! And you have got pretty cool glasses as well;) cute pic
I loved all those posts too – thank you for sharing them with us. Happy New Year! xo
I love your writing. Love it. Thanks for sharing your talents – you rock!
Thanks so much, it’s been amazing to connect with you this year.
Lovely year in review.
You broke the Mamalode site? That is so cool!!!
I did, it was the first time I’ve had a post go viral and it was amazing :).
It was so great meeting you this year Jessica. Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family!
you. are. absolutely. beautiful. Xx
Happy Happy 2013
Aww, thank you so much, as are you, inside and out. xo and many wishes for a happy 2013.
What an amazing year! It has been such a gift to find you this year. A voice to mend my heart, to hold the thread when grief felt so alone. You are a gift, my dear. Thank you for your words. Sending you so much love for 2013. XO
I feel exactly the same about you Chrissy. I’m so glad we have connected and I hope I have been able to give you even a small amount of comfort you have given me. xo
I have read and retread whisper. You and Ashlyn are two of the most amazing women I know. She is the wonderful young lady because of a wonderful mother who believed in her daughter. May 2013 be a year of more laughter and whispers.
Thank you so much Kelly, truly can’t thank you enough.