1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before? Spoke at a funeral. Gave birth. Quit my career. Worked from home, and became a Stay at Home Mom (I NEVER imagined that!). Breastfed my baby. Got the crazy idea to have more than 2 kids eventually.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't think I made any last year. I'm still holding onto the 'No Plastic Bags' one from a couple of years ago! This year I'd like to continue to focus on being upfront and honest with how things make me feel, to worry less about being a people pleaser, and to let things go.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I did! It was an amazing experience. Also my friends: Lauren had baby Verity, Stephanie had baby Emmerson, Rachel had baby Dylan, Brittney had baby Olivia, and Elissa had baby Avery. Lots of babies over here!
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. My Best Bud Liz died suddenly of eclampsia late in her pregnancy. Her son, Evan Louis also died.
5. What countries did you visit? Sadly, this year we stayed in the USA.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013? My instinct is to say my best friend back, but I know that's not going to happen. Instead I would like to continue my goals of being upfront with my needs and feelings, and hopefully everyone in my life will appreciate and understand this 'new me'.
7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? February 19th and April 5th- the lowest and highest points!
9. What was your biggest failure? Continually beating myself up (in my mind) for every little thing I don't think I did well enough over the course of my 25-year friendship with Liz, mainly the last couple of months while we were pregnant. I'm learning that it's ok to be sad or mad or whatever, but it serves no purpose to play those events over or criticize myself now when nothing is going to change.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Not unless you count the stitches from giving birth!
11. What was the best thing you bought? Our house. It helped me in so many ways to close the 'old' chapter and start working on the new one. And it's a really cool house.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Louis- for being a wonderful husband to Liz, and for continuing to be a good friend to me.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I'm keeping that one to myself.
14. Where did most of your money go? To the new house we bought. After that, into savings for our upcoming bathroom remodel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting to eat sushi again after being pregnant.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013? 'Oh, Tonight' by Brandon Rhyder/Kasey Musgraves. I listened to it and Abby would flip around in my belly and she still likes to hear it today.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? sadder. I think this is the first time I've ever written that.
ii. thinner or fatter? Same as always- I gained 35 lbs, then lost 40
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer- changing jobs will do that sometimes!
18. Is there anything you wish you'd done more of? Working out
19. Is there anything you wish you'd done less of? Worrying about how much I'm not working out
20. Where will you be spending the Holidays? We spent Thanksgiving in Houston with Mom's family. My cousin also got married the same weekend. We took our first flight with Abigail down to Houston the weekend before Christmas, spent Christmas Day here at home, and had Bean's family Christmas the Saturday after. As for New Years- we will probably be asleep by 9pm!
21. Any athletic achievements? None. Unless you count the achievement of going to yoga and walking a few times. And quitting my physically demanding job.
22. Did you fall in love in 2013? There's this quote that comes to mind: "I never knew how much I loved your Dad until I saw how much he loved you". I think that about sums it up. Especially when Bean gets her laughing hysterically during their nightly bath time. Also, her official first word was 'Da Dee'. While pointing at him, no less.
23. How many one-night stands? maybe I should delete this question, because it hasn't happened and it never will!
24. What was your favorite TV program? Still addicted to reality tv. I still love Sister Wives, Long Island Medium, and I've gotten into a show about people leaving the FLDS- Breaking the Faith.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No, I don't have time for that.
26. What was the best book you read? Just Kids by Patti Smith. I've read it before but it really hit home for me this year. It's about her relationship with her friend/soul mate Robert Mapplethorpe. The book ends after he dies and the way she writes about it is just perfect.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Again, I know I'm so behind: Mumford and Sons
28. What did you want and get? A daughter! I'm so glad my instinct was right! The house of our dreams.
29. What did you want and not get? A private reading with Theresa Caputo.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? The Great Gatsby. It's the last movie I remember seeing in the theater. Also I watched Fast Times at Ridgemont High for the first time in all of it's 80's glory.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned the big 3-0 this year! It didn't feel as bad as I thought it would. I had an 80's skating party. I love that theme and it was pretty fun. Of course I am still sad that I didn't get to go to whatever awesome themed party Liz would have had, and I know we would have gone over every detail of the parties in advance and afterward.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If I had the time and space to work through my feelings and emotions about becoming a mom while also losing my best friend, career, and sense of self. I'm liking the changes I'm seeing in myself- I feel so much more peaceful and in control- and I think I had to have the tragedy to make me take action to get to this place. I wish there had been another way though.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013? I went from a work uniform to a stay at home mom uniform: tshirts and jeans. I try to find cuter versions of tops and jeans but I feel most comfortable in a hoodie, jeans, and Toms. Boring!
34. What kept you sane? Going to counseling. I should have started way sooner than I did.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Justin Timberlake. He's got it all.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? I was too busy worrying about my own junk to think about politics too much this year.
37. Who did you miss? Do I have to spell it out?
38. Who was the best new person you met? Our new friends Debbie and her son Neil. We met in our mommy & me yoga class and started hanging out weekly. We go walking, we go to the mall and eat Chick Fil-A and let the kids play. It's fun because Abigail and Neil are similar developmentally and Debbie and I are similar in our parenting.
39. Rate this year on a scale of 1-10: 3
1 comments:
WOW, Girl! I'm sure that was a difficult post to write .... Here's hoping that 2014 is MUCH better!
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