12 photos for 2012

if you've been following me for a while, you know i did this in 2010 and 2011. it's one of my favorite posts to write! 

january

we started off the year with a trip to duluth meet my good friend dani's new bundle of joy, gino! it was a fun weekend of baby snuggles, shopping, and hanging out. can't believe gino turns 1 tomorrow! 

february

we were able to escape the cold minnesota winter for a lovely florida vacation, once again. it was azalea's first plane trip. we had lots of fun soaking up the sun with my parents and introducing our girl to the ocean. can't wait to go back down again this winter!

march

in (what felt like) the blink of an eye, azalea turned 1. we had a party with friends and family, and azalea enjoyed her first bites of cake. 

april

i got the opportunity to travel to vancouver for a conference for work, so we turned it into a mini vacation for thatcher and me. it is one of the most beautiful places i've ever been. i would love to go back someday and spend more time there. azalea had a fun few days at her grandparents'. we also celebrated easter in april. 

may

it was a big spring for travel for us. in may, we took a trip to ny and nj. my dad's whole family lives in nj and many of them hadn't met azalea yet. the days exploring nyc with my little family are among my favorite memories with azalea so far. azalea was also baptized on mother's day. 

june

june is always a really busy month for us. thatcher turned the big 3-0. we celebrated 5 years of marriage. and we had father's day in there too.

july

i was sick on my 28th birthday, which was a bummer, but i made up for it with a fun trip to my best friend's family's cabin a couple days later. it was such a difference from taking 3 month old azalea last year. i also got a promotion at work.

august

in august, azalea and i took a trip up to brainerd for a roomie weekend. it was so good to catch up with my girls! august was also our annual trip to the mn state fair (a summer favorite of mine!) 

september

september was the second mn blogger get together, at the paint pub! i can't even tell you how happy it makes me that my little internet hobby led me to this awesome group of girls. azalea also turned 18 months in september. hard to believe she will be 2 in just 3 months! 

october

we got a little crazy and took a road trip to colorado with azalea. i was so glad that azalea was able to meet her great grandparents. azalea wore my pumpkin costume for halloween! we were thrown the major curveball of my dad's cancer diagnosis. 

november

i considered this azalea's "first" thanksgiving since thatcher was really sick last year and we didn't end up celebrating. we went to my parents' and thatchers' parents and it was a fun, calorie-filled day :)

december

my favorite month of the year! we had a great month filled with pretty snow, baking, shopping, christmas moving watching, and celebrating with family. 

despite some serious downs this year, i'm so very grateful for everything i have in my life, especially the love of my friends and family that makes every day worth living. i hope you have a safe and happy new year!