2015: A year in review

31 December 2015

Of all the posts I’ve written on this blog (more than 1,200 over the last seven years!), the ones I most love to look back on are these year in review posts. John, too. Seeing all of these beloved memories and people in one place laid out so neatly never fails to make me feel like helium is filling me up inside!

I am really grateful for this year, and know it will be one I’ll always look back on with joy. Here are a few of the highlights of the year on Em for Marvelous and in our lives!

january-2015

We started off the year by celebrating Christmas with my family in Connecticut over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend! The highlight was roasting marshmallows over the smoldering coals of our beloved childhood playground. We slowly added several new pieces to our home over the year, starting with this pretty vintage rug. Best of all, we celebrated our ten-year dativersary by recreating our first date: ice skating!

february-2015

We got our annual dose of snow in February, which meant, much to his chagrin, John’s year once again included shoveling. I wrote about our strategy for replacing paper towels (one of the small things that made me happiest this year!) and preparing financially for a baby.

march-2015

March was a great, full mix of some of my favorite things! John and I flew to NYC for an extended weekend so I could do a speaking thing for work and we both could visit with his family. We got to worship at Hillsong. Then we squeezed in a camping trip with friends, I flew to Austin and Houston for work, and I hosted a baby shower for Nancy! I also posted a few of my thoughts on camping.

april-2015

We really maxed out our travel budget in 2015, which both at the time and in hindsight, I am grateful for! We visited Savannah and Beaufort, SC over Easter weekend. We also planted a blueberry bush in our yard, and finally ordered our wedding album!

may-2015

Another month, another weekend trip, this time to Wilmington and Bald Head Island! My Dad also came to visit, we did projects around the house, picked strawberries, went to an outdoor concert and a Bulls game, and I traveled to Charlottesville and Charleston for work. I also wrote about my water drinking game, which is still holding strong! AND, we found out I was pregnant!

june-2015

Good golly, June! The highlight was without a doubt our trip to France – our first trip to Europe, and one I covered in five posts (Paris, Versailles, Provence, Cassis, and the Côte d’Azur). I also flew to Connecticut to see my family and help my parents clean out our attic, my younger sister came to visit us, and I traveled to Richmond and Kentucky for work!

july-2015

In July we threw a baby shower for Natalie and Joe in NYC, and got to tell the Thomas side of the family our happy news! I also spent the next week working remotely and hanging out with my Mom in Connecticut, which was really wonderful.

august-2015

We had one of our best weeks ever in Maine in August, where, among other things, we got to tell my side of the family our news! At the end of the month we took a weekend trip to Greenville, and found out we are having a baby girl! I also wrote about deciding to have children (one of the most popular posts of the year) and our car fund. Also took my first bump photo at 18 weeks! :)

september-2015

In September we flew to Nashville to visit my younger sister, and we did a lot of good eating :) Also took another bump photo on one of our runs – 22 weeks! I wrote a post about the best way to reheat pizza, and if you haven’t tried that tip yet, you are missing out.

october-2015

In October we headed to the mountains for a weekend trip with John’s parents and aunts. Took another bump photo (26 weeks!), made some biscuits at our church’s Fair booth, traveled to Charleston for work, my Mom and Dad came to visit, hosted the third annual pumpkin and soup party, shared nursery plans, and posted a third trimester update!

november-2015

Bump’s getting bigger (33 weeks here!). I was lucky enough to have three baby showers in November, one of which we traveled to Connecticut for and one for which my Mom and sisters flew into NC. We celebrated Thanksgiving with dear friends and finally pulled the trigger on new dining room chairs!

december-2015

And finally, December. We were so happy to host John’s family for Christmas at our home, something I’m considering a little gift from our baby girl since it wouldn’t have happened without her due date aligning!

Friends, thank you for reading. I just love y’all – sharing with you, hearing from you, getting your opinions, and seeing what you’re up to. It is a joy to write here, and I can’t wait to see all the adventures 2016 will hold!

2014 year in review
2013 year in review
2012 year in review

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Alyssa
December 31, 2015 11:42 am

Happy New Year, dear friends!!

December 31, 2015 12:32 pm

What a marvelous year! Thankful to have spent so much of it with you! :)

Emily
December 31, 2015 2:47 pm

Sounds like a great year Em!! I borrowed your tradition and looked back at our google calendar and wrote up a year in review for my husband, which I gave to him in a letter on Christmas morning. What are your tips for remembering moments in the years that always seem to fly by?

Also, would love to hear about what you’ve done to prepare for the baby – I have one due in May! and see the nursery ;) know you’re going to shine in this next phase!

Em
December 31, 2015 2:59 pm

Hi Emily! I LOVE that idea – that letter will be something to treasure! Instagram actually helps us remember a lot of the moments, big and small – I love it as a way of recording the beautiful things that happened to us!

The nursery will definitely be on the blog at some point in the new year, though probably not until after our little arrives – ha! And as for preparing, what specifically would you like to hear about? Happy to share!! I did post a third trimester update here that might answer a few questions: https://emformarvelous.com/third-trimester-update/

December 31, 2015 3:03 pm

What a special year my friend! I cannot wait to see what 2016 has in store for your family and the addition of Baby Girl Thomas :) Sending you love!

Tom
January 1, 2016 12:01 pm

Happy New Year, cuz, to you, John and Blueberry!

Natalie
January 1, 2016 12:14 pm

What a great year! And 2016 will surely be another great one with so many new firsts!

Lisa Santacroce
January 1, 2016 2:34 pm

Happy New Year Emily. I have enjoyed reading your blog and look forward to reading many more – especially when your sweet baby is born.

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Jaime
January 13, 2022 11:29 am

Hi Emily, I clicked over to this post from your 2021 Year in Review and have a randomly specific question for you! How was it traveling to France early in your pregnancy? My husband and I are talking about starting our family this year and also are hoping to travel out of the country – a much delayed trip due to Covid. We want to be wise and thoughtful with the timing of these things, granted it will be a bit out of our control. I know everybody is different, just curious about your experience!