It’s the final morning of 2023. I just pulled myself out of bed to make coffee and sit in the window for just a few minutes before the first Nanit notification buzzes — Hudson usually rises early but rolls and plays with pacifiers for a while, thankfully.
This year has been a big one.
It got even bigger this final quarter — my belly is reminding me!
My dream of having two close together was not in my wildest thoughts a possibility, much less an unplanned possibility. I have always been dubbed the “planner” — not for just family trips or as the designated friend who makes the dinner reservation, however. My key to making the most of each jam-packed day is planning every facet. It sounds neurotic, but it is essential. The route to work, the to-do lists, the dinner game plan that must double as Instagram story entertainment for thousands each night, Hudson’s schedule and packing list for daycare each morning… And, when it came to becoming a mom in the first place, we had to plan diligently to make our first baby a reality, too! Yet here we are, with one bubbly boy in my arms and a period that never came after breastfeeding — baby sister will be joining this summer.
So, our plan now? Embrace the speed, welcome the chaos, and stay on course in as many facets of life as we can control!
I recognize, as a new year approaches, we might look back and think, “Was it that remarkable? Was it that memorable?” Some years will inevitably feel flat. Or blurry. Or simply sub-par. That’s life, though. Life should be long enough to welcome the peaks and valleys and otherwise, on occasion, the straight, worn paths between them.
2023 was a major in our case. We were met with new life — our precious Hudson Lane and his sister-to-be. We were surrounded by a village of family with unmatched simchas and memories. We experienced such beauty, both around and outside of this country. We filled our home with laughter and colorful toys and countless diapers. We officially gained a sister-to-be, my brother’s fiancé Leora. We held (and still hold) onto our Judaism for dear life as too many Jews and Israelis have lost their own lives. I completed another year of almost a decade at DCA, where I am proud to work each day. I was challenged by my Caramelized capacity with a baby and, as a result, invited a new perspective to the chapters of this space and brand. I still said “yes” instead of “no” too often, but I got better. And I have no choice in 2024 but to get much better at saying “no” to commitments, distractions, and unnecessary plans!
This year ahead will be messier, but not in a muddled way. My hope is that it will be beautifully full. My word for 2024 is abundant. It will be plentiful, with probably more than I can handle. As I shared earlier this year: Your hands will always be full — Just fill them with the right things.
Happy New Year to you. Sending you love and motivation in this year ahead.
Cara
