The Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2005 that you hadn't done before?
Gave birth, changed diapers, breastfed, etc…
2. Did anyone close to you give birth? Me, my sister in law Stephanee, my friend Meredith, Cousin Danene
3. Did anyone close to you die? No, thank God.
4. Did you travel? Where did you go? Best memory while traveling? If you can count road trips: Babies R Us, and the 951. Getting stuck in Del Mar races traffic- I was 15 miles from home, and it took me over two hours to get there. Oh, did I mention I had a hungry, wet, screaming baby in the back seat? Good times.
5. Best thing you bought? Baby Sense 2 Sleep Monitor
6. Where did most of your money go?
Diapers, baby stuff, bills, bills, bills!
7. What do you wish you had done more of? Sleep.
8. What do you wish you had done less of? Worry.
9. What kept you sane? My wonderful husband. My wonderful mother. My wonderful friends.
10. What drove you mad?
Having a messy house, having no time, things undone.
11. What made you celebrate? Every day with Isaiah was a celebration- the little milestones, his first smile, first laugh, his first word, first sign, first Christmas… Finding out Marissa is pregnant.
12. What made you sad? Seeing my dad in the hospital for a month and thinking we were going to lose him.
13. How was your birthday this year? Great. Sushi with family and friends- one I wouldn’t mind repeating!
14. What political issue stirred you the most this year? Didn’t pay much attention… but I was a little bit disappointed in Bush- I feel like he caved in to the liberals.
15. Were you in love in 2005? Yes… with my two guys.
16. What would you like to have in 2006 that you didn't have this year? A getaway vacation. Oh how I missed our vacations!
17. What date from 2005 will be etched in your memory and why? January 27th, the day our son was born, because it was one of the best days of my life.
18. What song will remind you of 2005?
R. Kelly’s Trapped in a Closet. Hilarious. Laugh out loud fun.
19. Compared to this time last year are you happier? At this moment, tenfold! I was 9 months pregnant at this time last year… a huge swollen whale with hives!
20. Biggest achievement this year? Breastfeeding the whole year, learning motherhood.
21. Biggest disappointment this year?
Oprah, what has happened to her?
22. What is the one thing that would have made you more satisfied? A closer relationship with God.
23. Best new person you met this year?
Meredith- what an awesome friend and mother!
24. A valuable life lesson you learnt this year?
To forgive others is to free yourself.
25. How was your health in 2005? Relatively good. I did go through “new mommy body”: water retention, hormonal imbalance, hemorroids and hair-loss (thank God those things are over). I only got sick in December for 3 weeks straight (strep).
26. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for this year? No resolutions. Just goals.
27. What countries did you visit? Tahiti, Mexico, Belize, all the places we’ve ever been through pictures of past vacations. Plus, lots of places on the discovery channel! Oh how I miss our vacations!
28. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? A more intimate relationship with Christ, vacations, an SUV, landscaping in the backyard, nice clothes, sanity, a clean house, a maid, a regular babysitter.
29. Did you suffer hardship in 2005?
Yes. The most was with my dad’s sudden illness.
30. Whose behavior merited celebration? Hmmm… my dad’s for having incredible faith and for being a fighter, my husband’s for being an incredible father and soulmate, mine for being the best mom I knew how to be, Isaiah’s for being the cutest, sweetest, most delightful baby EVER.
31. What behavior made you appalled and depressed? That a baby can seriously poop 11 times in one day... that a baby can projectile spit, vomit and poop 5 feet across a roon. Also, some guy at the hospital parking lot (see previous blog- "lecturing strangers on manners").
32. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Every new thing Isaiah did…the first time Isaiah said Mama.
33. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, but a little flabbier too…does that make sense? Love that extra loose skin on the belly. Good times.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, but definitely not monetarily.
34. How did you spend New Year's? In the best possible way- surrounded by friends and family, oh and eating lots of guilty food.
35. How many one-night stands? None. AS IF!
36. What was your favorite TV program?
LOST, the best show on TV.
37. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don’t hate, just strongly dislike.
38. What was the best book you read? There are a couple of good ones… Belly Laughs was hilarious, the most exciting was Drowning Ruth, the most fascinating A million little pieces, my favorite children story was the Wolf’s Chicken Stew, and let’s not forget “What to expect the first year”.
39. What was your greatest musical discovery? That after hearing “The Farmer in the Dell” five million times, 5 days later it still plays in your head …high ho the dairy oh…
40. What did you want and get? 8 lb Oreck Vacuum
41. What did you want and not get? A huge diamond, time to sleep, time for myself, a shopping spree, the winning lotto ticket.
42. What was your favorite film that you watched this year?
I really liked Finding Neverland and Phantom of the Opera. Both from pay per view.
43. What one experience do you never want to repeat from this year?Visiting a loved one in a bad situation at the hospital.
44. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? Whahaha! I call it, "The harried new mom look"…let’s see, not a stitch of makeup, black nursing tank tops with occasional spit up stains, comfortable holey sweats with occasional spit up stains, flip flops. I went from cute underwear to huge big mama underwear. Clothes that were either too big or too small… yeah it was pretty horrific. If I had the money to buy all new clothes I’d throw ALL my old ones in a huge bonfire on Moonlight Beach and do a victory dance around it.
45. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Not really into celebrities...but Jenny McCarthy’s books on motherhood made me laugh out loud. Oh, and Orlando Bloom certainly is cute.
46. Who did you miss? My old co-workers. Working – the paychecks, the social scene.
47. Quote that sums up your year: “Motherhood has really changed me. My dad almost dying changed me too. It puts things in perspective. It puts value on people and time spent with them. Suddenly material things don't seem to matter. Perfection is something I don't strive to achieve anymore. My house is always a mess but my baby and my husband are loved. I may look like crap, but I am having fun. I eat ice cream everyday, and it tastes damn good!” from Mind of a New Mom June 21.
48. Was 2005 a good year for you? Absolutely.
49. What was your favorite moment of the year?It’s hard to pick just one… Christmas morning was pretty darn special.
50. What was your least favorite moment of the year? Isaiah falling out of his stroller. A thump and a cry are the worst 2 sounds a mother can hear.
51. Where were you when 2005 began? Jay and Marissa’s house in Menifee, house sitting.
52. Who were you with? Dave and Peanut.
53. Do you have a new year's resolution for 2006? Here are a few of my goals: Find a home church and attend. Stay in shape and tone down. Vacation more. Be more organized.
54. What was your favorite month of 2005? December
55. What was your favorite song in 2005?
Sung to the tune of Happy Birthday:
We love you so much,
We love you so much,
We love you Isaiah,
We love you so much.
56. What was your favorite record from 2005?
Record – what’s that?
57. How many concerts did you see in 2005?
Many- of Isaiah banging piano keys.
58. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2005? Whahahaha. That’s a good one. About 5 glasses of wine spread across the whole year.
59. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2005? Yes and they were damn good. The best was the Epidural and a close second was the Vicodin.
60. How many people did you sleep with in 2005? One.
61. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Let my guard down for one second, and see my son get hurt because I was careless.
62. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2005? The Bare Minerals foundation works for EVERY skin type. LIARS!
63. Did you treat somebody badly in 2005? Not intentionally.
64. Did somebody treat you badly in 2005?
That one guy in the parking lot. See #31.
65. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2005? Valentines Day. I got sprayed with “showers of love” from both ends of my son. Twice in the same day.
66. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 and change something, what would it be? Nothing, life is a journey, everything must unfold as it does.
67. What are you most looking forward to in 2006? Vacations with my family. More of the world unfolding through new eyes. Lots of laughter. Being pregnant again (God willing).

*feel free to copy and blog/email this yourself! I want to see your answers!