Well, friends, it’s here. New Year’s Eve. The day we kiss goodbye to another calendar year, look forward to what’s next, and look back on where we’ve come over the past 365 days.

2016, for me, was a hell of a year. It was a year of change. I stepped away from my career in TV news and put myself, and my family, first. It was also a year of the unexpected. We are expecting our third child, as you may know–a development that, while wonderful, was also completely unplanned.

I don’t have anything eloquent to say about 2016 and its lessons, other than I sit here tonight (at 8:30pm in my jammies on New Years Eve–oooooh yeah, baby) wholly changed, yet utterly grateful. I discovered the beauty in the struggle, and found strength from following my heart. For you, I wish the same, in 2017 and beyond.

Thank you so, so much for being here on this journey with me. I wish you and your loved ones peace. May you also find your strength this year.

These pictures are from our rockin’ New Years Eve, spent at the movie theater arcade, the pizza place, the ice cream shop and our driveway for a short fireworks display. (Hint: Fireworks and toddlers, maybe not the best mix.)