So 2016 seems to have been a tough year for a lot of people. Whether you had personal heartache, were saddened by the events happening in our country and world or were dismayed and brokenhearted at the election results, I think most of us can say that we are ready for the calendar page to turn.
I’ve tried to re-frame our own year which certainly had it’s hard parts, but also to celebrate all the good that occurred. And as in last year’s 2015 review, you’ll get to see some of the visual representation of all our goodness from 2016. Thank you Instagram and Google Photos. And full disclosure (this may go without saying) but a certain someone stole the show in 2016. So glad you joined our family JPC.
January 2016
One of my favorite pics ever. From our Babymoon at Butterfly Gap Retreat. So sad to hear they’ve sold the property due to family illness, but hoping that another owner will reopen. This place holds a lot of special memories. Good thing we settled on a name for Bebe during our time here. If we’d only known what would transpire two weeks later.
February 2016
June Parker Cracraft came catapulting into our world on an early Saturday morning, February 13th at 1:57am. Stay tuned for more of her birth story as we approach her first birthday. (Seriously…birthday?!?!?!?!) 2 lbs 2 oz and 14. 3 inches of pure sweet and spiciness! Our lives haven’t been the same since! This is one of my favorite pics–3 days old here.
March 2016
This was one of the biggest milestones for me as a mother. On her 47th day of life, I got to nurse my sweet JP. Breastfeeding was something I really wanted to continue for as long as I could, so when our journey didn’t take near the path we had planned, I couldn’t have been more thrilled to be able to nurse June. And I’m proud to say we’re still going strong 10 months later! We also celebrated Easter together as a family.
April 2016
April 11th. Taking our girl home from the NICU. Zoom in and you can see the look of excitement and fear on the beau’s face. He was terrified of the drive home. Oxygen tank, monitor, and two folks who were oh so excited but oh so scared. What a mix of emotions. I’ll never forget that day.
May 2016
My 35th birthday. Our first date out after June came home. Thankful for amazing in-laws who have stepped up in so many ways that I can’t begin counting. And thankful for an amazing dinner at Distilled that night. Sweet Sweet Snuggles after we arrived home that night. Also very thrilled to celebrate my first Mother’s Day although it was somewhat bittersweet.
June 2016
These two. What a bond they have. I cannot imagine this year without this guy by my side. We celebrated his first Father’s Day and also what an incredible support he has been. He worked 4 nights a week while June was in the NICU (because we had decided that him picking up extra shifts was a good idea before the baby came). I also went back to work 4 days a week in late May and we celebrate and remembered my Mom on her birthday. Quite an emotional month–he really earned his keep in June. We had our first house guest as my Aunt Ruthie came to visit for a few days and some good friends stopped in from out of town! Also JP was able to come off oxygen this month! Yay for no more tubes!
July 2016
July brought our first big road trip as we went to Virginia to see my family. I will always treasure this sweet picture of my Grandma and June.
August 2016
June spent a lot of time with Gigi and Pops this summer once I went back to work. This was her first trip to the Disney Store and can we say someone has her Pops wrapped around her little finger?
September 2016
Big milestones for June this month–sitting forward in her stroller and sitting up (assisted). We spent a LOT of days getting out of the house when June first arrived home taking walks around our small town and enjoying time with the girls at the coffee shop. The summer was a bit hot, so we got out on the town quite a bit in the fall. June really enjoyed the ArtWalk, although she was asleep for most of it. She also started physical therapy this month, but like the rock star she is, only needed two sessions! We do lots of work at home with her and she’s continuing to make big strides! I also got to celebrate my favorite season with my favorite redhead!
October 2016
We took our first little vacation as a family of three. The beau and JP were able to tag along to a work conference in Atlanta, but first, we hit up June’s first Cincinnati Reds game. Although they lost, they lost to the Chicago Cubs so June got to see the World Series winners! How exciting! We also got to meet Aunt Tammy on the way to Atlanta and try out the pool at our hotel. October also brought starting solid foods, drinking from a sippy cup and enjoying Halloween.
November 2016
Turkey Turkey Turkey!!! Our little Turkey LOVED Thanksgiving at her Aunt Walene and Uncle Donnie‘s! It was her first big family gathering and she was quite the center of attention. She enjoyed turkey, sweet potatoes and peas herself! I also went with Mama to vote in this historic election.
December 2016
Holidays. How magical through the eyes of a child, right? June got to meet Santa, enjoyed lots of love from friends and family, tag along on Mama and Daddy’s Christmas date and we had a lot of quality time together–the BEST gift. June is sitting up on her own, army crawling and into EVERYTHING. We were grateful to get an overnight in Cincinnati to reflect on our year and set some goals for the upcoming one.
Truly as the year has come to a close, we are just so grateful for all the wonderful things brought our way through June Parker. We have a lovely, healthy girl, sweet puppy, wonderful partnership in our marriage, two great jobs and a house over our head.