Yearly survey
Ok. Here's my yearly survey, which I know I've done every year for years, but damn if I can find past years.
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I had a baby while squatting on a stool beside our bed in our tiny loft. I nursed for 8 months (and don't plan on stopping anytime soon). I learned how to care for a baby. I fell in love with a baby! I didn't get drunk once (except for maybe a little).
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did! And I will! I am a resolution kind of girl in a goal oriented kind of family.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My new friends from birth class! My mom friends here on LJ (hi!). Jenn C, a few of my clients, Joe (or, well, Vanessa!). It was a baby making kind of year, vastly because I opened us up to making new friends with baby makers.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nancy. At the risk of sounding like a total bitch, I am ok with this.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just back and forth all over the US of A.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Sleep. A house with ROOMS!
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 15, 2010. The day Niko was born. That pretty much overshadows all other days, ever.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Baby making.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Keeping my temper consistent at 3am.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I hemorrhaged pretty badly after Niko's birth, which felt very punk rock. I also had a small tear that doesn't count for much since it didn't even need stitches. My toe hurts, as usual. I catch every cold in the book since I had a baby and get no sleep. Aside from all of this I have to state that I feel very healthy!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Midwife services. Citizen's Jeans with a mid-rise. The cowl neck sweater that Niko plays peek-a-boo with, while laughing hilariously.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband! He was so amazing during the end of my pregnancy, when he kept the whole world at bay. My blood pressure was dicy unless I was in a state of semi-constant meditation during those weeks and he was the one who made that possible. I honestly think that my home birth would have been compromised without his help.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
In my personal life? No one, really.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Maternity leave! I saved a bunch of money and then watched it drain, slowly. The biggest chunks went in form of cash to the weekly farmer's market.
15. What were you really, really, really excited about?
Baby making!
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Believe it or not, Niko was born to Amy Winehouse singing her remake of Valerie. I had made this whole labor mix with amazing songs to be born to, and that mix was 6 hours long. The Valerie song was just a random song that I like. I never dreamed he'd be born to it.
Honestly, I wouldn't even know that that was the song that happened to be on when he was born. No one remembers properly, but the computer told us and so it goes.
The whole mix, in general, will remind me of this year. I still listen to it all the time.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? About the same!
b) Fatter or Thinner? Well, much thinner. Compared to 2 years ago? About the same. I lost all the baby weight fast.
c) Richer or poorer? We are definitely poorer! But no poorer than our projections told us we would be… which is good, I guess.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
You know what's funny? Having a baby has made me much less lazy. I go on walks constantly. I go out to lunch and dinner with Niko all the time. I do wish that I had more time alone with Buster as a family, I guess. Actual relaxing time. But? You know? For two people who work opposite schedules and have a baby we certainly make things work ok.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
3am temper tantrums. Sorry, family.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
We went down to the OC to visit with Buster's family. Niko is totally enamored with his 7 year old cousin!!
21. How many one-night stands?
Gosh, I can't remember the last time I had a one night stand. Or, actually, I can, and it was a long time ago.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I fell in love with Niko! I stayed in love with Buster.
23. What was your favourite TV programme?
At the end of my pregnancy, I became obsessed with Friday Night Lights. I would bounce hard on my birthing ball every time the Panthers played a game! When I was nursing a newborn 24/7, I watched Skins- which was awesome but I hope that Niko doesn't grow up calling everyone a tossing wanker as a result.
24. How will you see in the New Year?
Well, we had grand plans until Niko got a bad case of croup! He was so sick yesterday that we stayed in. But he started to feel a little better by the end of the day thanks to a massive steroid dose on the 30th… so he went to sleep around 9 or 10 and stayed asleep for a good 3 hours, which is AMAZING for him.
Buster and I lit several candles, opened holiday cards that had collected in our mailbox during time in the OC, ate leftover meatloaf and potatoes, drank fancy champagne, and reminisced about years passed. It was lovely! Except the neighbors were setting off cherry bombs on the roof and I kept thinking that Niko was falling out of the bed. Yikes!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, just the usual suspects. I feel more and more apathetic about hating them every year, too, but no less disgusted.
26. What was the best book you read?
I read a lot of trash when Niko was a little guy. And I can't remember a single sentence! The Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton biography was especially badly written and hilarious. I also read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series and couldn't put a damn one down. Also, at the beginning of the year I read the whole Sookie Stackhouse series. Trash, trash, beautiful trash. All of it.
I'm sure there were a few more books in there but most of them are about rearing babies and I usually put those down halfway through and regret that the books couldn't be summed up faster. I'm SO sick of a magazine layout in self-help books. Cut to the chase, already.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Junip! Owen Pallett. I'm sure there was lots more but those are the ones that stick out. We listen to rdio ALL THE TIME.
28. What did you want and get?
My baby boy. A home birth. My pre-pregnancy weight. A trip back east for my birthday.
29. What did you want and not get?
10 million dollars!
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Scott Pilgrim!!!!!!!!
Easy A
Babies
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I threw a temper tantrum at 5am and got out of bed to make coffee, saying to my son, OK YOU WANNA BE AWAKE! LET'S BE AWAKE. Then I went to work from 9-3. Then, I came home and took a nap while my husband took Niko for a long walk! At baby bedtime, I nursed the dude down and the sitters came over. Then we went to a lovely cocktail hour at Still where I sipped something delicious. After, we had a delicious dinner at Sitka and Spruce. Buster gave me the best present, ever, when he had me describe "my perfect day, 5 years from now. the ideal day in an ideal life." He recorded the long conversation, had it transcribed, and presented me the transcription for Christmas. It's an amazing read! And something that we can work on, together.
I turned 35 that day and can't believe I am that many years old!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I dunno. I guess it would have been cool if someone had said, "Look! Here's an amazing place to live! FOR FREEEEEE!"
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Pre Niko? Whale chic. After Niko? Puke covered. Dudes, my fashion has never been so bad. And I have never cared less.
34. What kept you sane?
My husband. Katie.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
This does not apply.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Fucking tea party. OMG and witches in my home state! That was HILARIOUS.
37. Who did you miss?
Everyone back east. Every single one.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I made so many new friends this year! My favorites are Ariel and Nicole. Mom friends!! Yay!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
You guys! Your parents worked SO fucking HARD to raise you. Appreciate them!
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
do do do do do do doo do do do do doodle loodle do do do do do do. di di do do do do do do huh uh uh uh uh.
also
do do do doo do do do do doo do do do doo doo do do.
and other such lullabies that I sing several times a day...
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
I had a baby while squatting on a stool beside our bed in our tiny loft. I nursed for 8 months (and don't plan on stopping anytime soon). I learned how to care for a baby. I fell in love with a baby! I didn't get drunk once (except for maybe a little).
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I did! And I will! I am a resolution kind of girl in a goal oriented kind of family.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My new friends from birth class! My mom friends here on LJ (hi!). Jenn C, a few of my clients, Joe (or, well, Vanessa!). It was a baby making kind of year, vastly because I opened us up to making new friends with baby makers.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nancy. At the risk of sounding like a total bitch, I am ok with this.
5. What countries did you visit?
Just back and forth all over the US of A.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Sleep. A house with ROOMS!
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 15, 2010. The day Niko was born. That pretty much overshadows all other days, ever.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Baby making.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Keeping my temper consistent at 3am.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I hemorrhaged pretty badly after Niko's birth, which felt very punk rock. I also had a small tear that doesn't count for much since it didn't even need stitches. My toe hurts, as usual. I catch every cold in the book since I had a baby and get no sleep. Aside from all of this I have to state that I feel very healthy!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Midwife services. Citizen's Jeans with a mid-rise. The cowl neck sweater that Niko plays peek-a-boo with, while laughing hilariously.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband! He was so amazing during the end of my pregnancy, when he kept the whole world at bay. My blood pressure was dicy unless I was in a state of semi-constant meditation during those weeks and he was the one who made that possible. I honestly think that my home birth would have been compromised without his help.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
In my personal life? No one, really.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Maternity leave! I saved a bunch of money and then watched it drain, slowly. The biggest chunks went in form of cash to the weekly farmer's market.
15. What were you really, really, really excited about?
Baby making!
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Believe it or not, Niko was born to Amy Winehouse singing her remake of Valerie. I had made this whole labor mix with amazing songs to be born to, and that mix was 6 hours long. The Valerie song was just a random song that I like. I never dreamed he'd be born to it.
Honestly, I wouldn't even know that that was the song that happened to be on when he was born. No one remembers properly, but the computer told us and so it goes.
The whole mix, in general, will remind me of this year. I still listen to it all the time.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or sadder? About the same!
b) Fatter or Thinner? Well, much thinner. Compared to 2 years ago? About the same. I lost all the baby weight fast.
c) Richer or poorer? We are definitely poorer! But no poorer than our projections told us we would be… which is good, I guess.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
You know what's funny? Having a baby has made me much less lazy. I go on walks constantly. I go out to lunch and dinner with Niko all the time. I do wish that I had more time alone with Buster as a family, I guess. Actual relaxing time. But? You know? For two people who work opposite schedules and have a baby we certainly make things work ok.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
3am temper tantrums. Sorry, family.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
We went down to the OC to visit with Buster's family. Niko is totally enamored with his 7 year old cousin!!
21. How many one-night stands?
Gosh, I can't remember the last time I had a one night stand. Or, actually, I can, and it was a long time ago.
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I fell in love with Niko! I stayed in love with Buster.
23. What was your favourite TV programme?
At the end of my pregnancy, I became obsessed with Friday Night Lights. I would bounce hard on my birthing ball every time the Panthers played a game! When I was nursing a newborn 24/7, I watched Skins- which was awesome but I hope that Niko doesn't grow up calling everyone a tossing wanker as a result.
24. How will you see in the New Year?
Well, we had grand plans until Niko got a bad case of croup! He was so sick yesterday that we stayed in. But he started to feel a little better by the end of the day thanks to a massive steroid dose on the 30th… so he went to sleep around 9 or 10 and stayed asleep for a good 3 hours, which is AMAZING for him.
Buster and I lit several candles, opened holiday cards that had collected in our mailbox during time in the OC, ate leftover meatloaf and potatoes, drank fancy champagne, and reminisced about years passed. It was lovely! Except the neighbors were setting off cherry bombs on the roof and I kept thinking that Niko was falling out of the bed. Yikes!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, just the usual suspects. I feel more and more apathetic about hating them every year, too, but no less disgusted.
26. What was the best book you read?
I read a lot of trash when Niko was a little guy. And I can't remember a single sentence! The Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton biography was especially badly written and hilarious. I also read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series and couldn't put a damn one down. Also, at the beginning of the year I read the whole Sookie Stackhouse series. Trash, trash, beautiful trash. All of it.
I'm sure there were a few more books in there but most of them are about rearing babies and I usually put those down halfway through and regret that the books couldn't be summed up faster. I'm SO sick of a magazine layout in self-help books. Cut to the chase, already.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Junip! Owen Pallett. I'm sure there was lots more but those are the ones that stick out. We listen to rdio ALL THE TIME.
28. What did you want and get?
My baby boy. A home birth. My pre-pregnancy weight. A trip back east for my birthday.
29. What did you want and not get?
10 million dollars!
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Scott Pilgrim!!!!!!!!
Easy A
Babies
31. What did you do on your birthday?
I threw a temper tantrum at 5am and got out of bed to make coffee, saying to my son, OK YOU WANNA BE AWAKE! LET'S BE AWAKE. Then I went to work from 9-3. Then, I came home and took a nap while my husband took Niko for a long walk! At baby bedtime, I nursed the dude down and the sitters came over. Then we went to a lovely cocktail hour at Still where I sipped something delicious. After, we had a delicious dinner at Sitka and Spruce. Buster gave me the best present, ever, when he had me describe "my perfect day, 5 years from now. the ideal day in an ideal life." He recorded the long conversation, had it transcribed, and presented me the transcription for Christmas. It's an amazing read! And something that we can work on, together.
I turned 35 that day and can't believe I am that many years old!
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I dunno. I guess it would have been cool if someone had said, "Look! Here's an amazing place to live! FOR FREEEEEE!"
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Pre Niko? Whale chic. After Niko? Puke covered. Dudes, my fashion has never been so bad. And I have never cared less.
34. What kept you sane?
My husband. Katie.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
This does not apply.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Fucking tea party. OMG and witches in my home state! That was HILARIOUS.
37. Who did you miss?
Everyone back east. Every single one.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I made so many new friends this year! My favorites are Ariel and Nicole. Mom friends!! Yay!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
You guys! Your parents worked SO fucking HARD to raise you. Appreciate them!
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
do do do do do do doo do do do do doodle loodle do do do do do do. di di do do do do do do huh uh uh uh uh.
also
do do do doo do do do do doo do do do doo doo do do.
and other such lullabies that I sing several times a day...