2018
i moved
i adopted my loki bear
i fell in love with my favorite man
i went to nyc, tennessee, west virginia, vegas and california
i got 3 more tattoos
i’m starting a new job soon
i’m so grateful
2019
i bought my own car
i started a new job that quickly made me miserable & i left, which was the most relief i’ve ever felt
i am getting ready to pursue a career in dog grooming & i will be good at it
i started going to the gym to work out for the first time in my life
we went to nyc for ryan’s first time & vegas for our second time together for our good friend’s birthday
we quit smoking almost a month and a half ago cold turkey with no intent of picking up another cigarette
we started doing hello fresh and i’m finally learning how to cook like an adult
we are renting a whole house of our own
we’ve build a life we love
i am more grateful
2020
graduated grooming school
had my wisdom teeth out and have to have surgery again because it got infected. being sedated during a pandemic required me having to go to a surgery center alone and ryan could not be in the building
survived a pandemic without getting covid, was furloughed for 2 months
went to north carolina and nolli got to see the beach for the first time
went to las vegas for a 3rd time in a row
got my first reptile- green bean the female veiled chameleon
transferred to a new salon (east liberty petsmart) & moved out to my dads childhood home
2022
found out i was pregnant
lost porter
moved back in with ryan
found out we were having a girl
went to cali for our friends wedding, ryan broke his hand while there and had to have surgery when we came home
my best friends showered me and baby with so much love at the most beautiful baby shower
went to erie with ryan for a day trip
walked dogs up until 8 months pregnant
gave birth to the most perfect baby girl imaginable & introduced her to my favorite people
ryan’s mom came to stay with us for a week & i got to spend a lot of quality time with her
got to spend the holidays together as a family
currently on the couch with the pups, ryan and the babe. ready and excited for the new year. i am most grateful
2023
got engaged to my love of my life
witnessed my baby grow into a silly, smart toddler
breastfed this whole year
explored DC for the first time
celebrated my first mother’s day with my baby & mom
went to wonderworks fest with my baby, brother, future sister-in-law and cousin
went to OBX for our first family summer vacation
watched an air show with my dad
saw Post Malone live
celebrated Rylee’s first birthday with all our loved ones
did all the fall things
started meds for my OCD
spent the holidays with my family & it was so wholesome
lost my uncle, he is already so missed. my heart is broken for my father and brother
2024
my dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer/ he went thru surgery successfully and was given an ostomy bag
i started trichotillomania specific ocd therapy and loved my therapist (i “graduated” with a whole new toolbox to utilize!) it was so nice to have someone that truly understood what i battle
went to quincy, illinois and met my fiancés dads side of the family for the first time
got my first part-time job since being a sahm, garden center at lowe’s!
planted a cut flower box garden by seed and had successful blooms until october!! also made my outdoor space very pretty
went to columbus for a weekend trip for father’s day weekend
hosted my family for a 4th of july cookout
found out my father had stage 4 bladder cancer and was able to take him to several chemo appointments where, in hind-sight, i’m so thankful to have spent that 1-on-1 time with him..
went on my first “girls trip” to cuyahoga falls, oh with my two best friends and went on several hikes in beautiful weather
celebrated my daughters second birthday and watched her become a whole person! she has full conversations with us now and i am still impressed with her everyday.
found out i’m expecting baby #2! and was able to tell my dad the news before he declined cognitively
my dad came home from a 10 day stay in the hospital for hospice care where he passed with my mum, brother & i at his side. i am beyond heart broken but grateful he is not suffering anymore. i will miss him for the rest of my life.
all in all, i’m relieved this year is over but also very sad that this was the last one i’d ever get to have my father present
2025
found out baby number two is a boy!
had a celebration of life party for my father with loved ones
went to dutchwonderland with my best friend and daughter for their easter celebration
gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby, jameson thomas mcdonald in june.
had my second season of planting a cut flower garden. planted a little late, but gorgeous outcomes. brought many pollinators to my yard.
ryan and i had our 7th anniversary together!
my daughter became the best big sister, turned 3, successfully potty trained, and was a beautiful flower girl for my sister-in-law’s wedding. i was honored to be a bridesmaid for the first time too!
that brought us to oregon, my first time to the PNW. i got to see 2 waterfalls and drive spontaneously to the coast where we watched elk peacefully roam on a quiet morning
went to niagara falls with nikole where we went to every viewing point on the US side. saw a fox and a double rainbow over the falls on a cold, rainy morning
spooky season with my babies was so fun and kept us busy. i hosted an intimate thanksgiving and celebrated we christmas with a lot of family. i got to see a ton of cousins. some of which are from my dad’s side of the family and our kids even got to meet and play. my baby cousins are all grown too and seeing them with my children was so cool and sweet.
i went to the eye doctor and dentist this year! which sounds silly but those are big accomplishments. i unfortunately had to have a tooth pulled two days ago and my son has had a fever for 24+ hours, so it’s a bit of a rough ending to this year. but above all, i am grateful. hoping for good health and a lot of happiness coming in the new year!
