Two Years Ago, I Brought a Human Into This World.

The author holding her infant for the first time just after he was born

Today is my son’s second birthday. Aside from a few notes in his baby book and my journal, I’ve never really written about his birth. I’m now 15 weeks pregnant with his little sister. As I prepare to do it all again, I’m reflecting on the day two years ago when I first met the tiny, wrinkly baby who has become my sweet, spirited, fearless, open, curious, affectionate child.

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Paper Planner Review and New Habits for 2020

Puffin Planner and two of its inserts, a "How to Use This Planner" sheet and a sheet of stickers

A belated Happy New Year! We’re now three weeks into 2020, and I’m happy to say that I’m on my way to establishing some healthy new habits. I mentioned in my last post that I had purchased matching planners for myself and a friend, and now that I’ve been using my planner for a few weeks, I’d like to sing it’s praises — it’s working really well for me. (This is not a sponsored post and it contains no affiliate links, just my honest opinions).

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Celebrating 2019’s Wins and Planning for the New Year

Lush, flower-filled Irish countryside at dusk, with the coast in the distance

As I’ve written before, New Year’s Eve/Day is one of my favorite holidays because I love fresh starts and the optimism they bring. But before launching into listing all the ways we could do better in the coming year, I think it’s a good practice to remind ourselves of the things we did well this year. I tend to be rather hard on myself, and I often move on from my successes quickly while dwelling on my failures and shortcomings. The year’s end is a good time not only to think about how I might improve, but also to reflect on victories big and small.

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Reflections on the Past Decade

It’s hard to believe that it will be 2020 in just over a week. I still feel like the 90’s were 10 years ago. But the decade from 2010–2019 has been one of remarkable change for me. My life today looks virtually nothing like the life I was living on January 1, 2010.

Snapshot of the author and a friend
Me (left) at a friend’s wedding in January 2010
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