Twenty Eighteen - Review, Reflect and Appreciate

Well here we are again, my most favourite time of year. A clean slate with a fresh outlook and big ambition. I'm so proud to say we smashed our 2018 goals. I'll pretend I don't have 11 unfinished blog posts from last year and focus on what we did accomplish. What better way to reflect than some questions and intentions for the year ahead. It has taken me 5 days to complete this post #newbornlife but here it is and I'll let y'all get on with it...

1 If you had to describe your 2018 in three words, what would they be?

Love, Family, Sacrifice

2 What, or who, are you most thankful for? 

My beautiful family of FIVE. My heart could burst it is so full. I am so so proud of the big sisters the girls are and my gorgeous new son. I am thankful everyday for them and that they are mine.

 

3 What new things did you discover about yourself?

That my fear of rejection is still very real and that I question my own instinct before questioning other people - definitely something I need to work on this year.

4 What single achievement are you most proud of?

Besides the obvious of bringing our third cherub into the world. We finally traded in our house deposit holidays and bought our first family home.

Our settlement went through on Book week parade day hence the girls costumes. Side note - let me know if you would like a post about these costumes, the girls LOVED them and they were super budget friendly.

5 What was the best news you received?

It was probably GIVING this news to Adam... I was SO proud I managed to keep my lips sealed until he got home from work. I really wanted to share this moment with him in person. We had been trying a while and had started to get a little disheartened. (He is definitely worth the wait!)

Also when we told the girls about the baby. It was such an exciting time. You can watch their reactions here (via youtube)

6 What was your favourite place that you visited in 2018?

This was the first year we haven't done an overseas holiday! It was one of our "sacrifices" for the year to trade in the holiday for a house. We did a few trips up and down the coast. My favourite would be when we went down to the gold coast in October for Imali''s cheer comp, we took it as an opportunity to see family and friends and to also have our baby sprinkle. It was amazing seeing everyone but so hard to leave. Especially now my godson Archie is born and is so close in age to Vance.

Imali's cheer team competed in Aussie Gold International cheer championship... and they WON!! (proud mummy moment - pic of Imali with her coach!)

7 Which of your personal qualities turned out to be the most helpful this year?

My ability to let things go

8 Who was your number one go-to person that you could always rely on?

Adam my amazing husband. He is my rock. He truly loves me unconditionally and is my biggest supporter. He saves my sanity every day. He has never once let me down.

 

9 Which new skills did you learn?

Patience - its never been my virtue but I definitely learnt you just have to ride it out and sometimes shortcuts aren't worth it!

10 What one event are you going to tell your grandchildren about?

The importance of sacrificing for your future self. We moved 1000km, and saved all our pennies for our house deposit and whilst it was hard not buying all the pretty things, it was so worth it to see that sold sign and own our own little slice of Australia.

11 If someone wrote a book about your year, what genre would it be?

Most probably a self help guide how to achieve 5 years worth of things in one year or less haha!!

12 What was the most important lesson you learnt in 2018?

It's my reoccurring lesson - to always trust my instinct! Im hoping my 2019 reflection has this under new skill learnt!

13 Which mental block(s) did you overcome?

Some things you can not control, or change no matter how hard you try.

 

14 What five people did you most enjoy spending time with?

I'm going to say outside of my little fam bam as thats obvious.

Nat, Nica and Bek - My three amigo's who get me through everything

Lauren - my Macktown rock - girl you save me

My mum - when I had Vance she cooked, she entertained the girls, helped where ever and whenever she could, I am so grateful!

Five of my fav females.

15 What was your biggest break-through moment career-wise?

I survived the year working from home without going insane from lack of Adult interaction

16 How did your relationship to your family evolve?

My love multiplied for all of them when we added this little guy.

 

Its so beautiful how when you have a child, your love grows for everyone in your family (even though you thought that it wasn't possible to love them anymore than you already do) Your heart just grows, the world somehow makes more sense and you cant work out how you lived without them. I would have 10 more babies if money was infinite.

17 What was the best compliment that you received this year?

I can't think of one specific compliment but the compliments off those who know me best.  My kids telling me I'm the best mum ever. My best friends telling me they think I'm a good mother or would trust me to parent their children. My husband telling me that I am a good wife parent or friend. My parents telling me they're proud of the person I am. My boss (when I was working) telling me I'm an asset to his business. It's so easy to judge someone you don't know or make an assumption thats not true. Its those who truley know me - I value their opinions most.

18 What advice would you give your early-2018 self if you could?

It will all work out, release the stress. Trust in yourself.

19 How did your overall outlook on life evolve?

That we CAN have it all. We have always marched to the beat of our drum. We have always got to where we want. Yet I've always questioned our journey, worried we would make the wrong decision etc. But now I know WE GOT THIS.

20 What do you deserve a pat on the back for?

Surviving the year haha! It wasnt all rainbows and sunshine it was hard! I was pregnant for most of it, with Adam away every other week, without my nearest and dearest, having to juggle everything myself with the kids and hospital appointments all whilst working full time and saving all our pennies.

BUT I DID IT!

2019 LETS GET EXCITED

1 What do you want the overarching theme for your 2019 to be?

Last years motto was #gettingitdone (which we did), this years will be #wegotthis.

2 What do you want to see, discover, explore?

Normally this question would be filled with travel aspirations etc but this year

I'm probably most consumed with parenting 3 little humans (solo for half the year when Adams at work) I want to be the best mum I can - and I want to ENJOY them. Its so easy to get caught up in life that I want to slow down and enjoy the little things because these three are everything.

3 Who do you want to spend more time with in 2019?

My beautiful godson and his family - I want our families to have our first vacay's together. Our friends and family (derr). I also want to make some more friendships here as I have been so busy looking after the family I havent set myself up and found our tribe yet.

4 What skills do you want to learn, improve or master?

I really want to master feeling content with where we are at and not always looking for the next thing for us, I really want to slow down and find my inner zen (haha Nat). I also want to save as much as possible especially once I return to work.

5 How do you want to remember the year 2019 when you look back on it 20 years from now?

I have a feeling this year is going to be very rememberable anyways, being our first year with Vance etc. But obviously to achieve everything I've said above and to grow into my best self and know I tried my hardest to be the best mother/wife/friend/person I can be.

Thanks for reading guys, this was a big post, so congrats if you made it this far. I'm just making up for lost time I guess. Writing is so therapeutic for me so I really want to become more consistent with my posts. I am so excited for this year and can not wait to see what it brings and hopefully share it all with you guys. Please let me know what you want, whether its more creative posts, budget savvy posts, (hopefully) weight loss journey, parenting hacks/lessons or just life updates.

Here's a pic of us ringing in the new year as a family of five and the biggest bags under my eyes ever because Vance hated sleep at that stage haha