2017: A Year in Review

2017 has been a defining year for us: the year that we became parents. It's almost like all of the time before Eli was a whole different life. Pre-kiddo life was sweet, but life is even sweeter now.  Being a mama is the best thing ever. As I reflect on the year, I love looking back at the 17 Things I Was Excited for in 2017, and seeing how we've accomplished all I hoped to. Some of you may stop by this corner of the web more often than others, so whether you're new here or read regularly, here's a recap of our year: complete with highlights, posts, and fun photos. Cheers to you, 2017- you were the best year yet!

January

In January, this blog marked its second birthday! I celebrated by sharing my Two Year Blogging Anniversary post. I wrote my last letter to our unborn baby, and shared my 32 week bump date. We also took our maternity photos on a 70 degree January day! They made me feel beautiful, even though I was pretty big at that point.

February 

February was all about finishing up the nursery and getting it ready for our sweet Baby K! I shared my final bump date at 36 weeks, wrote and shared my Christian Labor Playlist, and literally shared our Gender Neutral Nursery Reveal the DAY BEFORE Eli decided to join the world on February 23rd :) Crazy! I'm still in love with our finished product, and the best part is the sweet little boy who calls it his room.

March

Our Baby K was always supposed to be a March baby (due March 5th), but he came ten days early! In March, I wrote and shared his birth story! Eli attended his first parade on St. Patrick's Day. We also took his newborn photos, and adjusted to being brand new parents to our sweet baby boy.

When it comes to labor, people always say that once you hold your baby in your arms, nothing else matters and you kind of forget the rest. I didn't really believe them, but it's true. Even after 17 hours, I remember thinking, "That wasn't so bad. I'd do it again." And I would. Today I'm sharing Eli's Birth Story on the blog (#linkinprofile). Head on over to check it out. You are prized and precious, Eli. We love you so much, no matter what, and always will. 💕👶🏽😘

A post shared by Kelsie Kleinmeyer (@currentlykelsie) on Mar 8, 2017 at 7:22am PST

April

April brought a fun trip to the zoo and Eli's first Easter. I starting working out again and training for my first half marathon. I also wrote and shared my 10 Tips for Surviving the First 6 Weeks with a Baby, and Eli started sleeping through the night! Woo!

Took our little "E-lion" to the Zoo today! The little monkey slept almost the entire time 🙈🦁👶🏽#BabyKisHere

A post shared by Kelsie Kleinmeyer (@currentlykelsie) on Apr 14, 2017 at 12:32pm PDT

May

May brought the end of my maternity leave, but then I was able to go right into the summer time before having to go to work! I wrote Shower Gifts New Moms Really Want (and Need), and shared our Secrets to Thrifty Travel.  I enjoyed my first Mother's Day with my sweet boy, and planned our summer trips! 

June

In June, we took our little man on his first vacations, plane ride, and road trip! He visited the ocean and was basically a champ on all of our adventures! I wrote a First: A Letter to Eli, shared some DIY Newborn Photo Shoot Tips, and had a blast in Florida and Colorado. We loved the Florida Keys and Everglades, and it was fun celebrating Aaron's first Father's Day while in the mountains! 

July

In July, we celebrated Eli's first Fourth of July! We also squeezed in another family trip- this time to gorgeous Seattle! A highlight was meeting Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain at the Royals game while on our trip. They even signed Eli's onesie and my jersey! I wrote about my Oxygen Mask Mentality, and said Goodbye to My 27th Year. Eli and I also made it through ten days alone while Aaron was in Italy, and we took our first round of family photos. It was a busy month!

August

In August, my six-month maternity leave ended as I returned back to school. Guys, it was hard. But after a while, I fell into a good routine (more on that in October).  Between working and being a mama, I didn't find a lot of time to blog, but I did share my Travel Bucket List and a sweet piece to Eli called "I Carried You". 

The first day of year seven looked a lot different than the others have. I woke up an hour earlier to feed my baby, get us both ready, and drop him at daycare before arriving to work (early🙌🏼) in the pouring rain. I had to deal with pumping and balancing my mama guilt with the joy of seeing the wonderful students who fill my room with laughter and sarcasm. It's going to look different, but it's still good and I get to come home to my two amazing boys each day. 💕 Happy school year, teacher friends! 🍎

A post shared by Kelsie Kleinmeyer (@currentlykelsie) on Aug 16, 2017 at 3:05pm PDT

September

In September, I picked up my training for the Kansas City Half Marathon, enjoyed sweet time with church friends, and made it out to Starlight for a little girls night fun! Again, the blog didn't get much love, but I did share a Fourth House-iversary post. I can't believe we've already been in our home for four plus years! Time flies! 

October

October was a big month for us! We had parent teacher conferences, two weddings (one out of town with Aaron being a groomsmen), Eli's Baptism, Fall Fest, a Half Marathon, and Eli's first Halloween! Phew. I wrote about How to Survive and Thrive as a Working Mom, and followed up on my initial 9 Reasons I'm Afraid to Have a Baby post with What Being a Mom is Really Like.  I'm already signed up for my next half! 

November

In November, we celebrated Aaron's birthday while leading music for a weekend trip at Clearwater Cove YoungLife Camp. We had a great first Thanksgiving with little man, and I didn't blog at all because we had so much going on. Just after Thanksgiving, we took our next round of family photos. I love them!

December

And here it is the last day of December- I can hardly believe it! I shared Our Winter Family Photos and a 2017 Holiday Home Tour. We enjoyed some fun Christmas parties with friends, and Aaron was a groomsmen in a wedding of two of our sweet friends. Aaron and I also had a little parents-only getaway to the Napa Valley area. Eli's first Christmas was AMAZING! He was so funny, cute, and excited, and it truly brought new life to things I've done for years and years. Being off for 12 days with him and Aaron has been incredible, and it's going to be hard to go back.

Cheers to 2018 and all that it will bring! I pray that it finds you healthy, happy, and oh so loved. Thanks for sticking around this year and loving on us in this new season. We hope you'll join us next year for all of our new adventures! 

Currently,

Kelsie