New Year's meme.
As per Zo's request.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Had a miscarriage. Went to San Francisco (thanks for the awesome second wedding Kristen). Took a baby to Mardi Gras. Got paid to make cake.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t really make any last year. This year the only one I’m concerned about is making sure we don’t compare #2 to Ethan too much. I don’t want to be all these expectations on him/her to be like Ethan. I think that’s one reason Jeff doesn’t get along with Brandon’s parents very well. I think this will be easier if #2 is a girl, but either way, it’s something I will have to tell myself.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Brent (one of Brandon’s work friends) and his wife had a boy in January; we’re going to the birthday party next weekend. Brandon’s band friend Joey LaHatte had a baby girl, and his crazy friend Jessica from A&M had a boy.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Seriously this question will just be USA forever. I did go to California though, besides just Louisiana and Texas again.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Healthy new baby. A potty-trained Ethan would be nice too. J
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I’ll remember the miscarriage, Jen’s announcement and Kristen’s wedding, but the exact dates kind of escape me. I’ll remember Ethan’s first birthday party, which was on May 3, but I doubt I’ll remember that next year.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being pretty good at the cake decorating thing. Breastfeeding for a year; I cried when I decided to give it up since it meant Ethan was a little more grown up.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not doing anything about the library thing.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had the miscarriage in July. I was mostly disappointed that I wasn’t pregnant anymore. I got pregnant the first month we decided to try again, and I was only 6 weeks along. I went to the doctor and they couldn’t find the pregnancy on the ultrasound. They sent me to get blood tests done and that night I started bleeding. It just felt like a normal period. I hadn’t had any pregnancy symptoms (a clue something was wrong) so it didn’t quite feel real yet. About a month ago, I had some bleeding with this pregnancy and was seriously freaked out about it. This was when I was 9 weeks, had been dealing with the morning sickness, had told everyone, had seen the pregnancy on the ultrasound, and was generally in love with the baby already. I started bleeding a little bit, with no pain on Tuesday evening. I called my doctor and she said some light bleeding in the first trimester is okay, but to come in the next day. So that night, I prayed, cried and worried until I could call her office. They had an appointment around noon. At about 10 a.m. I called Brandon at work and told him I couldn’t wait anymore. We went to my doctor’s office and they let us come in right away. Everything turned out to be fine with the baby; she said there was some blood behind the placenta that was working itself out (maybe from implantation or something). We were thankful and relieved. This pregnancy seems harder than with Ethan (nausea, etc.), but will totally be worth it.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Cake classes and cake decorating stuff. It was fun doing stuff for just me. Here are some pics of the latest.
Thanksgiving cake for Brandon's office lunch.
Christmas cupcakes I made for a kid's birthday at daycare.
Shelli's graduation cake.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Brandon is seriously awesome about being understanding of the hormonal pregnant lady. He’s sort of fourth on the list now, but he’s great about it. Also my doctor and her office were great about seeing us right away. Also, she’s a new doctor, though it’s the same practice. My old one quit to spend more time with her family right after the miscarriage.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Some of the older kids at story time don’t act as well as they should or their parents should make them; but I hesitate to say anything as my kid isn’t that old yet.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Just regular bills; food.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I get excited about Ethan learning new things. He knows most of his letters now, though he can only say a few of them. I don’t know why he’s so interested in letters (Sesame Street maybe?), but he loves them. O is his favorite and one of the letters he can say. He’ll point out Os everywhere we go. I got excited about going to San Francisco and seeing everybody at the wedding.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
“Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Bear.” It’s the first song on a CD of kid music I got at the dollar store. Ethan loves it. If you ever ride in our car, you will definitely hear it too.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Pretty much the same level of happy.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter; at least I can blame it on being pregnant now. J
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer, stupid economy.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reading. Crafting.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Sleeping. I’ve been taking a nap when Ethan does pretty much since the beginning of this pregnancy. I’d like to use the time to do stuff, but when I don’t take a nap, I feel kind of crappy.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
We actually stayed at home with no guests for Christmas. Brandon’s parents came the Saturday after, and mine came for New Year’s. We wrapped presents for Ethan on Christmas Eve while watching A Christmas Story. On Christmas Day, we went to church, had pancakes for lunch after we got back, opened presents after Ethan’s nap, and had turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and rolls for dinner.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I’m in love with the idea of the new baby, though I don’t really know his/her personality yet.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
We love Big Bang Theory. It’s hilarious and has an awesome theme song that Ethan dances to. I also liked Eli Stone and Pushing Daisies, but it looks like both are being cancelled.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What was the best book you read?
I really liked The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne. It’s a great smart romance novel. You can tell when the characters are speaking another language even when it’s all written in English just by the way she orders the words. I would even suggest it to Kristen, even though I know you don’t have any love for the genre. :)
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I still love Jason Mraz. I haven’t discovered anything new.
27. What did you want and get?
Being pregnant.
28. What did you want and not get?
A fancy stand mixer. In the scheme of what we need to spend money on, it’s low on the list.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think we may have only seen one movie in the theater this year, so Dark Knight it is.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Twenty-seven. I didn’t really remember what we did. Brandon remembers that we were fighting with Wal-Mart to give him the advertised deal on his PS3.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having more girlfriends/mom friends to talk to.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Jeans and t-shirts, and now maternity. Not much of a style.
33. What kept you sane?
Brandon and Ethan.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Can’t think of anybody new.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
I did vote this year, but I wasn’t stirred too much.
36. Who did you miss?
The Clique, Breanne, my family.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Miss Linda, Ethan’s Gymboree teacher. She’s the best.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
Put your baby/toddler on a nap schedule. I will definitely try doing this earlier with #2. Ethan is so easy to put down for a nap now. I used to rock him and all sorts of other stuff that took a long time. Now after he eats lunch, I put him in his crib and I’m done.