My Year That Was - 2013 ♥

Today is the last day of 2013, can you believe it? No, neither can I. It's true what they say, time really does fly when you're having fun and I really do think 2013 has been my best year yet. So many wonderful things have happened to me this year and I am both grateful and amazed by them all. This post is reflective, pin-pointing a highlight from each month of 2013, something which touched me and really stood out in my mind and also revealing what I have learnt from this year.

January

January wasn't a very exciting month for me, I was heavily pregnant awaiting the arrival of my baby boy and my busy getting things organised and ready for his birth. I guess the highlight of January was being pregnant and carrying a healthy baby boy who I was so excited to meet, hold and see what he looked like!

February

This was the month that I met the love of my life, my beautiful little angel Tyler Lee came into my life on February 16th after thirty-one long hours in labour, you can read his birth story here. I actually think that February may have been the best moment in my life, to become a mother is the most amazing, joyous thing that has ever happened to me. My baby boy is my world, I love him more than life itself and I thank God for him everyday.

March

My birthday month and this was my first as a mother. I spent a lovely day shopping and having lunch with my fiance before heading home to a lovely dinner and a cosy night cuddled up on the couch, yes I'm officially old. The day after my birthday was my first Mother's Day also so it was a very exciting weekend indeed. I got two gorgeous Pandora charms to remember these precious days, a peace charm for my birthday and a mother and son charm for my first Mother's Day ever. March also brought baby's first St. Patrick's Day and Easter where I dressed him up in adorable outfits. March 27th saw the creation of my little blog Dolly Dowsie which has since turned into a big passion in my life. March had a lot of highlights for me!

April

Another quiet month for me which I spent minding my baby boy, writing letters and becoming good friends with great people. My baby boy met his grandfather (my father) and his babsia (my fiance's mother) for the first time in April and I was delighted that he was able to meet them as they live on the other side of the world and the other on an island next to France.

May

My baby boy was christened on the 4th of May. You can read about his christening here. I was so proud of my little angel on his special day and he looked so beautiful in his christening gown which I also wore for my christening, he went vintage for the occasion! 

June

My fiance and I took our baby boy to Fota Gardens for the first time, a beautiful place close to our home. The sun was shining and the weather was perfect, this was the best weather we had for years, the Irish summer had well and truly improved, usually it only lasts a day!

July

My fiance and I went on holiday to Crete, Greece and had a fantastic time. To relax on the beach, falling asleep on a deck chair, soaking up the sun after some Smirnoff Ice and a delicious lunch was absolute Heaven! I still miss the warm water and the views of the beautiful island. I was glad to visit a new place and I fell in love with it.

August

I met my best friend for the first time, my lovely Cheryl and her gorgeous baby girl Amelia, who we joke is Tyler Lee's girlfriend, they look so cute together! Cheryl is one of the kindest people I have ever met in my life, we have so much in common and a similar way of thinking, she's my soul sister and I'm honoured to have a friend like her in my life.

September

This month the gorgeous weather continued in Ireland and my fiance and I took our baby boy to some great places around our county, namely Barryscourt Castle and Fota Wildlife Park. On September 24th my fiance and I celebrated our two year anniversary and also this day marked six years since we first laid eyes on each other - romantic!

October

This month brought mine and Tyler Lee's first holiday together. We visited Cheryl and Amelia in Co. Wexford, my first trip down to that part of the country and it was great. The babies had their first Halloween while we were down there and Tyler Lee went on a swing for the first time, his little face lighting up as he flew high into the air is etched into my mind forever.

November

My fiance graduated as a legal executive. I was and still am so proud of him as he now continues on his studies to become a solicitor. After his graduation we went to Pandamamas, a Chinese restaurant in our city where the food was fabulous! I was very impressed as this was my first time there, I'll be back!

December

On December 7th I attended my first ever bloggers meet up which was in my city and it was fabulous to meet other bloggers.This month we also had baby's first Christmas and it was wonderful, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect festive season. I got the best gift I will ever have in February when he arrived into my life but I was still spoilt on Christmas Day when I opened my gifts. If every Christmas is like this one we have many joyous times to come.

So those were my highlights of 2013, it's funny what stays in your mind. 2013 has taught me -

How to be a mother

That it's okay to be myself

To stop living in the past

Who is important

Who my true friends are

What my passions in life are

What I want and how to get it

How to set goals and achieve them

That sometimes I need help and need to accept it

How to do everything with one hand

How to bake

I will now begin working through my Bucket List 2014, wish me luck in crossing everything off my list! I would like to wish you all, my darling readers a very Happy New Year! Lets hope that 2014 is our best year yet, if it's any way as good as 2013 it shall be amazing!