32

Every year on my birthday, I spend some time reflecting on the last year and assessing key takeaways from what it’s brought me. I’m turning 32 on Sunday, so it’s about that time again! Last year’s post was one of my favorites as it had been an especially hard year, and I grew a lot during that period. I also thought I’d share some of my favorite images from the last year as a little trip down memory lane so be sure to scroll down to take a peek at those.

I spent most of my time as a 31-year-old pregnant which has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. That being said, it’s easy to forget those first five months when I was so desperate to have a baby, that it was all-consuming. Despite how difficult that period was, it also taught me some lessons that I’m beyond grateful for today.

For this year’s celebrations, we’re taking it pretty easy. I was going to have a party at our house but ended up emailing everyone to cancel earlier this week. I’m just not up for hosting a bunch of people right now… Sounds pretty much like my worst nightmare! My dad is coming down for a lobster roll lunch and I’m hoping we get a nice beach day and maybe a dinner with friends, but besides that I’m content just relaxing and staying cool.

In the meantime, here are some of the most important things I’ve learned since my last birthday:

1. Giving in to the universe

It sounds cheesy, but being a control freak for my entire life, letting go to a higher power has never been my strong suit. When I did, for the first time maybe ever in my life, it made a huge difference. At the end of September, we decided to “stop trying” for the first time in 18 months, and I was pregnant within a matter of weeks (Read more about my journey here). People had told me that this might happen, but it was still a shock to actually experience it.

Once I actually got pregnant, I knew that I had to leave it up to the universe as to what would happen. I was terrified of having another miscarriage, but there was literally nothing I could do about it. Giving in and trusting in that process was something new for me, but it worked!

2. The importance of rest

My first trimester was painful. I was nauseous 24/7 and so tired that I could hardly move for weeks on end. I had no choice but to spend most of my down time resting and relaxing… either reading a book or doing some serious binge-watching. I’ve never been one to enjoy tuning out like that, but after a few weeks, I let the guilt fade away, and focused on recouping my body so that I’d have energy for work.

That lesson has stuck with me throughout my entire pregnancy and has actually made me more productive because I don’t feel as frazzled and overworked.

3. Rising Above

In the last year, I’ve seen a rise in hateful comments from readers. It’s to be expected in what I do, but when it first started I had a really hard time with it. When one lovely lady said that I would be a terrible mother, I really lost it. Criticism on my outfits or decor choices are easy to digest, but when people shot me down as a parent, before I even had a baby, it was too much for me to handle… Plus hormones, you know? I had to do some serious soul searching.

In the end, I’ve decided to stop reading GOMI which is where most of it lives, and that has made a huge difference. If readers email me directly or comment on my blog/Instagram with criticism, I read and try to always respond. I believe that all of us can learn from each other, and sometimes I don’t see problems until they’re brought up. As always, I just ask that they’re expressed in a kind way.

At the end of the day, I can never make everyone happy, but I’m in a place now where I’m proud of the content I’m producing, and know that I’m doing my best work. That feels good!