2015 was an especially amazing year for my family and I and I can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store for us!
This year, we welcomed the newest addition to our family, Parker Jennifer, born September 24 and clocking in at a precious little 6 pounds, 14 ounces and 19 inches long.
Time changed for us in 2015. I now know the value of every minute, how many tasks can be completed in 5 minutes or less, and how to stretch tasks across hours to completion. Even in the time it took me to write this sentence, I have gotten up twice to lure a three-year-old out of her sleeping sister’s room.
My world now is writing a blog with one hand and catching spit up with the other. It is a world where my right ear is being screamed into by a fussy baby, my left ear is listening for whatever trouble my three-nager is getting into in the other room, and inside my head I’m chatting with the Lord, saying “If you’re trying to tell me something, you’re going to have to speak up.”
More days are spent in PJs, and fewer loads of laundry actually get done, but everyday in my world is bursting at the seams with joy. It is a sticky, bright, exhausting, silly, loud and sassy world, but I love the heck out of it.
I love that I can name every My Little Pony, I love when Parker smiles at the ceiling fan, I love Maisy’s excellent one-liners, I love coming home to Justin washing the bottles without needing to be asked. I’ve never been happier than at 7:30 a.m. each morning, when I get to wake each family member up with kisses because I missed them when I slept.
Each day I thrive in my role of wife and mother. Caring for my family has truly been everything I ever wanted for myself in life. But each day I wake up and I have a moment of “and what”. These moments pop up in the quiet hours as both children are sleeping and Justin is still at work; when the chores are all done and there’s nothing on TV and the house is still and empty. A fleeting moment instantly disregarded as I start planning everything for the next day: “Ally Pippin: wife, mother and what?”
Who am I when I’m not playing these privileged roles for my family? What is next for me? For the first time in my life I’ve found myself exactly where I always wanted to be—loving on a family of my own. But my life before this point has always been one of reaching and learning and failing, pushing towards this future, my present, that was always just over whatever hill I was climbing. What do I do now that I’ve reached the top?
As the new year is only a few days old, I—like many others around the world—am reflecting on what I want this year to be about. I’m looking back at the steps I took to get to the start of 2016 and I’m realizing all the dreams and goals I’ve dropped along the way. I don’t know what my dreams look like now or if I’d even recognize them if I saw them; I don’t know how to get where I need to be or where to even begin, but I know I’m ready to learn again, to reach again for something I’ve always wanted and never realized it, to do something GREAT. This year I want to make myself happen.
I’m so excited to be blogging with you for another year! How are you going to #make2016great? Share with me in the comments or on social media, we all could use a little encouragement!
Ally Jean Blog 