2013

The annual Sundry year-in-review

1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?

had a baby and all the various things that accompany being a parent for the first time - what a roller coaster! 

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I did make a "to do" list and I accomplished several, if not most, of the items on said list.  

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

other than myself, a ton of people did and there were 4 of us that gave birth within three weeks of each other 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

no funerals in 2013, and that is enough to make it a pretty good year in my book

5. What countries did you visit?

just stayed here in the good ole US of A this year.  

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you didn't have in 2013?

this is a tough question, probably a better self-image.  After having the baby, things have been a  constant struggle of gaining and losing the same few lbs.  I still have anywhere from 10-20 lbs to go to get back to my pre-baby weight, which was a pretty happy body place for me. 

7. What dates from 2013 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

April 29-30, labor and delivery.  I definitely see that as a defining moment in my life. 

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Making it through the first month of Owen's life.  I was woefully unprepared for what being the mother of a newborn was really going to entail.  Also, the hormones.  Not cool. 

9. What was your biggest failure?

Hmm... I don't really see our breastfeeding journey as a failure but it was a struggle.  My biggest failure is probably failing to just put my damn phone down and quit scrolling through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I was hospitalized for dehydration in January.  Blech.  

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Probably the Rock N Play that I ordered when Owen was a couple days old.  It was so much easier than trying to hold him and sleep on the couch with the coffee table and pillows preventing me from dropping him.  

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Adam, definitely.  He was my rock throughout what turned out to be a difficult pregnancy and he has been the most patient and amazing father.  I also think we got pretty lucky with a very happy baby who likes to sleep.  Carry on with the good behavior, Owen! 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Appalled and depressed are strong words but probably Higgins dog.  We had a rough year at times, he had a tough time adjusting to Milo and the baby.  Overall though, he's wonderful with the baby and has really rehabilitated himself.  If only he'd quit being so curious and escaping our back yard!  

14. Where did most your money go?

A huge chunk went to the condo foreclosure settlements.  That sucked but we're so thankful that it's over now and we can move on with our lives.  Car payment, rent and having a baby sucked quite a bit of cash away too.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Having the baby!  Getting said baby out of my body! Being a mom!

16. What song will always remind you of 2013?

Clarity by Zedd.  It was getting pretty popular right before Owen was born and even made it as one of the only super upbeat songs on my labor playlist.  It was one of those rare songs that had staying power and they were still playing it fairly regularly on XM though the end of the year. 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a) happier, all of the life changes have been hard at times but mostly awesome and rewarding

b) I think I might weigh a little bit more than I did last year at this time, despite being 22 weeks pregnant.  BOOOOO.

c) richer, in life without a doubt.  Probably break even in the money department, despite me quitting my full-time job.  Adam had an unexpectedly awesome year at work. 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

traveled but that might always be my answer 

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

cry

20. How did you spend Christmas?

This was the year of starting new traditions: we went to church on Christmas Eve and then hosted an Open House afterward.  Christmas morning, we had my mom, father-in-law, dad and stepmom with us to open presents with Owen.  Dad and Eileen left after presents and we ate a fantastic Christmas lunch of brisket. Adam and I spent the entire day in our pajamas, which I hope can be a lasting tradition. 

21. Did you fall in love in 2013?

Duh!  How could I not fall in love with this little nugget?

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Same answer as last year, "House People", aka just about anything on HGTV.  Also, Dateline with Lester Holt (I love Lester a lot).

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No.

24. What was the best book you read?

I thoroughly enjoyed Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Spotify.  It's the best.  

26. What did you want and get?
A healthy baby.  Too many other possession-y things to count.  As usual, I am spoiled by my sweet husband.

27. What did you want and not get?
Probably nothing! 

28. What was your favorite film of 2013?
Argo was awesome

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
The big 3-2!  I taught my normal 6:00 a.m. class, hosted Owen's playgroup, spent Owen's afternoon nap on the couch just snuggling with him, we had a babysitter watch Owen and we went to a rockstar dinner at Stampede 66.  It was the start of the great Ice Storm in Dallas that night but we had a great time. 

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Again, probably nothing.  It was a banner year.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2013?
yoga pants and/or whatever else stretches and can fit.  Womp womp womp. 

32. What kept you sane?
teaching yoga, friends that have been there done that with babies that told me things would get better

33. What political issue stirred you the most?
exactly the same as last year

I have a list but most of it can be attributed to so-called "Christians" who use their "religion" to judge other people for their actions.
-Men who talk about abortion.  My thoughts are as such:  You have no uterus, you have no say.  I also don't understand why America constantly needs to argue an issue that is between a woman, her doctor, her beliefs and potentially her sexual partner.
-Anyone who is against gay marriage.  What harm does it cause to you?  Live and let live.
-Assault weapons.  I have yet to hear a good argument about why anyone needs one of these other than maybe our military.  Deer don't need to be shot with a semi-automatic rifle. 

for all three things, I continue to wait for someone to make a valid and/or sane argument as to why I should change my mind.

34. Who did you miss?
my Grandmother, she would have loved to meet Owen.

35. Who was the best new person you met?
do you really have to ask?

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.

Absolutely it was "this too shall pass" just when I thought I couldn't take one more night of broken sleep, Owen figured out how to sleep all night long.  Just when I hit a breaking point with basically everything parenting related, we magically figured it out.