1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Sold a house, hot yoga, shared a personal story for three nights in front of a crowd of strangers, taught kickboxing and bootcamp classes regularly througout pregnancy, taught prenatal belly dance classes. (Typing this out now makes me feel like 2011 wasn’t my year of trying new things. Note to resolve to do more new stuff in 2012.)
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Oh god, I did not. I did not keep any. Early in the year I won a contest at the gym where I taught where the prize $500 at a very chic clothing boutique here in the city. So chic that $500 bought me 3 things. ON SALE. Excited about my new purchases I resolved to get dressed and either do my hair or wear make-up 4 out of 7 days of the week. I lasted until March. Pregnancy did not help one bit – especially not when I work in an environment where I can show up un-showered, sans fards, in the same clothes two days in a row and no one says anything. At least not to my face.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Why yes. I gave birth to a clone of the Robot.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.
5. What countries did you visit?
We did zero travel last year. Between trying to sell the house and then actually doing it, the frenzy to find a new house that followed, expecting No.2…there was no time to get away.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More new experiences (see number 1). Less stress.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
February 11 – the fateful day the Robot took off work and my MIL offered to watch the Samurai so that the Robot and I could go on a date. Also known as the day we did it twice in one day, the only two times that month and lo! conceived No.2.
March 3 – the fateful day I gave into my suspicions that I might possibly be pregnant, stopped at Walgreens on my way home from the gym, ran straight upstairs, peed on a stick, saw two lines, immediately texted my girlfriend with a photo and the following words, “OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG.”
October 27 – HAPPY BIRTHDAY No.2
Other important dates – the day we sold our house, the day we moved out, the day our offer was accepted on our new home.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Er…Making a baby? Clearly 2011 is year of the baby.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Getting wrapped up in dramas that I shouldn’t have. Particularly those that involved the separation of my parents. DRA-MA.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only pregnancy related. Had some mega round ligament pain that stopped me from running and then wicked carpal tunnel in the third trimester.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The services of a doula.
12. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, bills, moving expenses, medical bills.
13. What did you get really excited about?
Moving! Decorating! OMG. The house sat on the market nearly a year before we sold and as much as I liked our first home, I was so ready to move. We were quickly running out of room and I was itching to make a new space for our growing family. Also the arrival No.2. Obviously. My second chance at an intervention free VBAC. HAH!
14. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Three Little Birds – I can’t even tell you how many times this popped up on Pandora when listening to the Samurai’s preferred musical selections. I kind of felt like it was there just to remind me that I should chill out.
15. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? Thinner or fatter? Richer or poorer?
Happier and sadder. Can I be both? Fatter. But only temporarily. I actually weigh the same but, you know…things aren’t really where they should be. Richer or poorer? The same I guess.
16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Travel. Sleep.
17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying.
18. How did you spend Christmas?
Morning at our house with the kids, then my immediate family for breakfast and then my in-laws for dinner.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
The Walking Dead
20. What were your favorite books of the year?
I am ashamed to say I didn’t read a single book last year. I can’t believe I just typed that.
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
Florence and the Machine. Feist. Sarah Jarosz.
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
I don’t have any.
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 29 and my family came to our house for dinner. We had barbecue. It was delicious.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Full time fancy which eventually degraded to yoga pants which took an upswing to the summer of the casual cotton dress into trouser maternity jeans and a cute top back to yoga pants and then pretty much full time pj’s for the last 9 weeks.
26. What kept you sane?
My husband. God bless the Robot this last year.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Every little thing is gonna be alright.
I absolutely LOVE this! Thank you for posting this! I laughed out loud in parts and definitely felt your pain in other parts. Chin up – 2012 is going to be great!!!