T W E N T Y - S E V E N

Today I am another year older! I can't believe that I'm now 27 (what?!) and that I have been so fortunate to have had such a lovely and wonderful year bring me to this birthday. So much has changed since this time last year, and it will be so different this time next year. It's been 365 days full of sweetness, joy, challenges, tears, fun, and anticipation. I think this year is going to be just as fabulous if not more so. To celebrate turning 27, I put together a list of 26 things that highlighted being 26-years-old.

1. I experienced my first year of motherhood.
2. Husband and I celebrated three years of marriage.
3. We became homeowners.
4. In May we modeled for the V9 Issue of Southern Weddings Magazine.
5. We attended the V9 Launch Party for the magazine in Raleigh, NC.
6. I chopped all of my hair off (accidentally). It's slowly growing back.
7. I celebrated my first Mother's Day.
8. I fell in love with all things velvet. I'm still falling.
9. Husband and I had an anniversary photo session to celebrate our marriage.
10. We have been DIY'ing and renovating our new home.
11. I launched my small business, Twine & Cotton.
12. I tried a whole handful of new Starbucks drinks.
13. I no longer got to sleep in on the weekends #parenthood
14. We dressed up as a Starbucks family for Halloween #gofigure
15. We celebrated Thanksgiving at the beach with family. 
16. Finished watching Parenthood (reunion season, please!), caught up with my favorite Gilmore Girls, and fell hard for West Wing.
17. I tried honing my design style, and I'm closer, but still working on it.
18. My hardest part of being 26 was losing my sweet Grandmom.
19. All of my baby's firsts and milestones. Let's be honest, she pretty much made my 26th year :)
20. I have become more comfortable with my body. #mombod
21. I felt God more tangibly in my life, which I attribute to parenthood and having even a small inkling of the love He feels for us/His children through the love I feel for my daughter.
22. I championed breastfeeding and weaning, not without their challenges though.
23. I sewed lots and lots of pillow covers.
24. Husband and I tried planting pumpkins (too late in the year), and it failed miserably. This year!
25. I learned how to make candles.
26. Husband and I played putt-putt once, and I lost....even after smack talking the entire time...
27. AND one to grow on...I figured out how to do everything with a baby on my hip :)

p.s. You can find me dining on Mexican cuisine (bring me all the queso!) and eating ice cream cake tonight :)