Goodbye, 2011.
So inbetween sips of prosecco as we await the countdown, I bring you:
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Got married!
Had a baby, and went through all the trappings associated with it. I realize I still need to go into detail sometime in a post about the birth. I'll f-lock it and post warnings for those not interested in the gory details.
...What happened to #2 on this list?...
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
In addition to myself, three friends from work, my next-door-neighbor, and my sister-in-law did. 2011 was a fruitful year!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. Thankfully!
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Honestly, the only thing I can think now that I need that I currently lack is a mortgage. Whether that's going to happen next year or not, I'm not certain.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? What were some major events of the year?
February 2 - married John. ^^
March 4 - my last day at work for 2011! (man, it feels weird to have not worked for so long.)
April 19 - Devin!
September 9 - my nephew Connor was born!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Recovering from the birth, and successfully navigating the waters of new-Mommyhood.
9. What was your biggest failure?
My hormones were crazy after the birth and the first three months were really hard on me (and others around me) emotionally. I don't consider that the failure, per se, but I know for a fact I lashed out more often than I wanted to at family members, and on occasion at John. Fortunately he has a short-term memory. :3
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had to be re-hospitalized overnight one week after the birth, because of complications with my C-section. (See, this is part of the fun stuff I didn't tell you guys in detail. :/)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Devin's rockabye swing at 2.5 months, and then his exerciser/jumper at 5.5 months. Best purchases of the year, hands down.
12. What is the best thing you were given?
Oh god, we were given so many things, by family and friends. I would have to say the best (and possibly most expensive) item was Devin's organic tempurpedic crib mattress, bought for us by one of John's sisters. Sooo comfy, and I'm sure it's the reason why he sleeps so well now.
13. What is the best thing you have given someone?
I think the Christmas gifts we picked out for our families this year were more thoughtful than before. This year we took the time to analyze what would make each of our family members the happiest. And it worked!
14. Where did most of your money go?
To a little squalling bundle of joy. ;)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Making my own organic, homemade babyfood! I'll share some recipes later on!
16. What songs will always remind you of 2011?
Nursery rhymes, the jumper song, the Wiggles, and the theme to the Teletubbies.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) fitter? Noooo.
c) richer or poorer? It's hard to say. On the one hand I was laid off, but on the other I received severance and unemployment...I almost want to say I about came out even.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about exercise.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
We spent Christmas again with John's family. It was quite a full house, this time!
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Many times over. ;)
22. This was the Year Of?
DEVIN.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Besides Dexter, which is one of the only shows John & I watch religiously, I became a fan of Phineas & Ferb. But mostly Devin & I would watch excerpts of Finding Nemo. He giggles every time the clownfish appear. :p
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope!
25. What was the best book you read?
The Hunger Games.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Rediscovering old music on my harddrive (i.e. Goldfrapp's "Black Cherry" for one.)
27. What did you want and get?
Devin, safe and healthy. Also, I became a wife. :)
28. What did you want and not get?
Honestly, I really wouldn't say I was lacking anything this year.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Completely random, but...Source Code.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Thirty-eight, and we didn't do much since I was 7 months pregnant.
31. What would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I'd had a leeeetle more sleep.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Lounging.
33. What kept you sane?
Working on jewelry projects, cooking, and meeting up with my mommy-friends and their babies...and finding out no I'm not alone in this.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
...None.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Occupy protests.
36. Who did you miss?
Truthfully, I missed my parents when I wasn't seeing them. Now that I'm one myself, I have a better understanding of the sacrifices they made for me.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
My son. :)
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Life is like a diaper; sometimes it's all clear, and sometimes it's full of crap. And when crap happens, you have to just roll up your sleeves and buckle down and get to work cleaning it up again, because it sure as hell isn't going to clean itself.
Also, thank god for diaper pails. 8D
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Got married!
Had a baby, and went through all the trappings associated with it. I realize I still need to go into detail sometime in a post about the birth. I'll f-lock it and post warnings for those not interested in the gory details.
...What happened to #2 on this list?...
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
In addition to myself, three friends from work, my next-door-neighbor, and my sister-in-law did. 2011 was a fruitful year!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. Thankfully!
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Honestly, the only thing I can think now that I need that I currently lack is a mortgage. Whether that's going to happen next year or not, I'm not certain.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? What were some major events of the year?
February 2 - married John. ^^
March 4 - my last day at work for 2011! (man, it feels weird to have not worked for so long.)
April 19 - Devin!
September 9 - my nephew Connor was born!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Recovering from the birth, and successfully navigating the waters of new-Mommyhood.
9. What was your biggest failure?
My hormones were crazy after the birth and the first three months were really hard on me (and others around me) emotionally. I don't consider that the failure, per se, but I know for a fact I lashed out more often than I wanted to at family members, and on occasion at John. Fortunately he has a short-term memory. :3
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had to be re-hospitalized overnight one week after the birth, because of complications with my C-section. (See, this is part of the fun stuff I didn't tell you guys in detail. :/)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Devin's rockabye swing at 2.5 months, and then his exerciser/jumper at 5.5 months. Best purchases of the year, hands down.
12. What is the best thing you were given?
Oh god, we were given so many things, by family and friends. I would have to say the best (and possibly most expensive) item was Devin's organic tempurpedic crib mattress, bought for us by one of John's sisters. Sooo comfy, and I'm sure it's the reason why he sleeps so well now.
13. What is the best thing you have given someone?
I think the Christmas gifts we picked out for our families this year were more thoughtful than before. This year we took the time to analyze what would make each of our family members the happiest. And it worked!
14. Where did most of your money go?
To a little squalling bundle of joy. ;)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Making my own organic, homemade babyfood! I'll share some recipes later on!
16. What songs will always remind you of 2011?
Nursery rhymes, the jumper song, the Wiggles, and the theme to the Teletubbies.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) fitter? Noooo.
c) richer or poorer? It's hard to say. On the one hand I was laid off, but on the other I received severance and unemployment...I almost want to say I about came out even.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying about exercise.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
We spent Christmas again with John's family. It was quite a full house, this time!
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Many times over. ;)
22. This was the Year Of?
DEVIN.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
Besides Dexter, which is one of the only shows John & I watch religiously, I became a fan of Phineas & Ferb. But mostly Devin & I would watch excerpts of Finding Nemo. He giggles every time the clownfish appear. :p
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope!
25. What was the best book you read?
The Hunger Games.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Rediscovering old music on my harddrive (i.e. Goldfrapp's "Black Cherry" for one.)
27. What did you want and get?
Devin, safe and healthy. Also, I became a wife. :)
28. What did you want and not get?
Honestly, I really wouldn't say I was lacking anything this year.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Completely random, but...Source Code.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Thirty-eight, and we didn't do much since I was 7 months pregnant.
31. What would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I'd had a leeeetle more sleep.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Lounging.
33. What kept you sane?
Working on jewelry projects, cooking, and meeting up with my mommy-friends and their babies...and finding out no I'm not alone in this.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
...None.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Occupy protests.
36. Who did you miss?
Truthfully, I missed my parents when I wasn't seeing them. Now that I'm one myself, I have a better understanding of the sacrifices they made for me.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
My son. :)
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Life is like a diaper; sometimes it's all clear, and sometimes it's full of crap. And when crap happens, you have to just roll up your sleeves and buckle down and get to work cleaning it up again, because it sure as hell isn't going to clean itself.
Also, thank god for diaper pails. 8D