Does anyone else feel like January and February are the longest months of the year? I am exhausted daily and can't seem to catch up. Between school and the kids schedules I feel like I am drowning. We've had a lot of decisions to make recently that have the possibility of changing our life drastically. I think we settled on a decision though, even though it is scary.

We have three kids, and I absolutely adore them. They’re 7, 6, and almost 10 months old. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted four kids. But after having two, everything felt overwhelming. My mental health took a hit, and I struggled to keep up with the endless chores that seemed to multiply overnight. On top of that, trying to keep up with my schoolwork was almost impossible and pushed my mental health even further to the brink.

It's the end of the year and I am starting to get reflective and think about the past year. Looking ahead to the new year feels a bit cliche, but there’s something undeniably fresh about this time of year. The break we've created with the holidays all being at the end of the year makes it feel like a clean cut where we are suddenly met with something sparkly and new.

Have you ever sat down and realized that all of your family rituals are exhausting? Never intentional or calming. I had this realization recently, that everything felt like autopilot constantly. Feeding the baby: Not intentional, chaotic, and rushed while also feeding the other two. Feeding myself: Not intentional, squeezed into whatever spare moment I can find. Not peaceful or relaxing.

Nap time has quickly become one of my favorite moments to photograph. There’s something so precious about those sleepy, peaceful moments with Nyx. I’m doing my best to soak in every bit of this sweet baby stage—it’s going by too fast! We had a fun outing at the mall recently! With a set budget in hand, we let the kids shop for Christmas gifts for Cheyne and me (and for my birthday, too).

What positive events have taken place in your life over the past year? Here are some positive events and achievements that have happened to me over the past year: Changing my degree to Digital Media, a step toward my passions. Improving grades after limiting social media usage and healing mentally. Spending quality time with my kids and balancing family life with personal growth.