This year has been full of surprises, excitement, disappointments, friendship, family and love.
This has been my busiest year as far as blogging goes. I switched from Blogger to WordPress with a brand new design, attended two blogging conferences, met many wonderful bloggers, and started writing sponsored posts.
One of my personal goals in 2012, was to learn how to use my DSLR in manual mode. After taking a four week photography course in February, I never switched back to auto. I love learning about photography and capturing my kids faces with my camera.
Here is my attempt to pick my favorite posts and pictures from the year.
January
As Xander’s third birthday approached, I contemplated just how fast my little guys are growing and offered some advice to new moms. I also revealed Xander’s complete Superhero room. I was inspired by Mandy of a sorta fairytale to write this post on how I was and still am a band geek.
Favorite January Photo
Noah enjoyed hanging like a monkey and tasting the bars in front of our seats (gross!). What a crazy kid!
February
We celebrated Xander’s third birthday with a Very Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Bash. Later in the month, I shared my story and heartache of my mom’s struggle with bipolar depression and how she continues to shut us out of her life. At the end of the month, Noah learned how to pull to stand and crawl.
February Favorite Photos
I took this photo on a perfect afternoon the boys and I experienced with 64 degree weather in February.
On Xander’s birthday, I took the day off and we enjoyed a mommy and son date day. He looked so precious sleeping in the car.
March
Noah started pulling to stand, in the beginning of the month. I then struggled with little jaws who started biting while breastfeeding. I had a ton of fun co-hosting Toddle Along Tuesday with Melissa, as I shared my baby naming rules.
Favorite March Photo
The Cherry Blossoms arrived very early this year and I shared my Cherry Blossom photo montage from the past five years.
April
We started the month with a family vacation at home. I wrote a letter to my one year old on his birthday. We celebrated with family and friends with an owl themed party. There were plenty of adorable owl decorations and food. The rest of the month was filled with lots of spring adventures including a visit to Oxon Hill Farm, and the arrival of springtime flowers.
April Favorite Photos
My little one year old 
Love his big blue eyes 
May
Since spring began so early this year, we enjoyed an afternoon picking strawberries in early May. I enjoyed a day out with Noah at the Sheep and Wool Festival and a day out with Xander at the Smithsonian butterfly exhibit. I then lamented on my emotional struggle with weaning (Noah’s still not weaned) and celebrated being a boy mom on Mother’s Day. At the end of the month, I attended my first ever blogging conference Bloggy Boot Camp in Philadelphia.
May Favorite Photos
Cooling off on a warm spring day
Sight seeing in Philly
Strawberry picking
June
On June 6th, we celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary and I shared our wedding photos on the blog for the first time. Later in the month, I wrote about how we were engaged for only two weeks before getting hitched. Noah started walking and I captured his first big time steps on video. I also shared my ups and downs about being a mom of a three-year-old. At the end of the month, our kitty of 9 years unexpectedly became very sick and passed away.
June Favorite Photos
RIP sweet Emma
Family date night to celebrate our wedding anniversary
July
July was a super busy month on all fronts. Xander finally was fully potty trained! We celebrated Independence Day with a lobster feast and fireworks. We took a family road trip vacation to visit family, stopping at Rehobeth Beach and Sesame Place. Then I wrote perhaps my favorite post of the year about being present with your little ones.
Favorite July Photos
Precious brothers on July 4th
My happy place with my boys
August
While I was exploring NYC and having an incredible time at BlogHer12, Xander took over the blog and wrote a letter warning other BlogHers about the happenings at home. After I recovered from my trip, I shared the lessons I learned at the biggest blogging conference of the year. As fall approached, I began devising my fall mantel, posting tips for decorating a mantel throughout the seasons. We ended a fun summer month playing in a sunflower field.
August Favorite Photos
Through my lens at Times Square
McKee Besher’s Wildlife Management Area sunflower field of magic
September
We continued our summer baseball tour with a local game at the Potomac Nationals and short road trip to the Hagerstown Suns . I shared my infertility story with polycystic ovarian syndrome, as I began my first cycle on Clomid in hopes to get pregnant with baby #3. At the end of the month, we took a long road trip to visit family in New England. We started our trip off with a New England Patriots game. In Maine, we went apple picking with my parents. Then Grandpa Stavish took the boys fishing for the first time.
Favorite September Photos
Checking off a lifelong goal from the bucket list
Southern Maryland Flags Pond National Park
Fishing fun
October
In the beginning of the month, we wrapped up our baseball tour of the season with a local game with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. We then enjoyed a family fall day at Montpeiler Farm. The week after, I brought the boys to the local pumpkin patch, where I announced we were expecting another little pumpkin in June 2013! We ended the month with Halloween fun, including a trip to the Air and Scare Udar Hazy Space Center and Trick or Treating.
October Favorite Photos
Brothers sharing a secret in the backyard
Noah exploring the pumpkin patch
November
In early November, I started a new job working with adults. Unforutnately the start of a new job meant the end of a four day work week. Before I started my new schedule, the boys and I explored a few local state parks, including a nature walk at Smallwood State Park. I had my first OB appointment and baby #3 made his or her debut on Instagram with a first ultrasound picture. After a month of cloth diapering Noah, I wrote about my experience so far. As I continued to struggle with exhaustion and sickness of the first trimester, I wrote about my hobbies before and after kids.
November Favorite Photos
December
The magical month of December brought the Stavish house lots of joy, as we decorated for Christmas and celebrated Hanukkah. Thankfully I started getting my energy back, as I entered my second trimester and my baby bump appeared. Just last week, I shared my favorite Christmas moments and pictures of Christmas morning.
December Favorite Photos
14 week baby bump
He lives for Christmas
That wraps up a wonderful year! Happy New Year! So excited to see what 2013 has in store!
Linking up with Top 12 of 2012!
To special friends
