1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Had a baby. That, my friends, should be enough, but I’m going to go ahead and count my faster mile time. I’ve never run that fast in my life. I can’t wait to do it again. Have another baby? Well, I think we’re done.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn’t make any since I was too busy being large and pregnant. For this next year, my intent is to try and keep at least two healthy habits with me at all times, no matter the curve balls life throws us. I also resolve to stretch way, way more.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Besides me, my friends Katie, Rene, Kate and Candace had babies. Scott’s cousins and their wives welcomed new babies, too.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Sadly, yes. Scott’s grandpa passed away in late September.
5. What places did you visit? Mexico
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? In a year that made us parents to Miss AG, there was nothing that could have possibly been lacking.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? February 28 (the day AG was born).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Well, I’d say going through the sort of labor and delivery I experienced, and surviving the months of PPD that followed, was a big achievement, but getting through all of that was really by the grace of those who loved us and cared for us and supported us. Getting back into shape and into all of my old clothes by October was pretty awesome. And budget-saving since I didn’t have to buy too many new clothes. Finally getting the sinus surgery was great, too, despite the hellish recovery.
9. What was your biggest failure? I lost my cool on a few occasions, over silly things, and I’m still working on that. Our end-of-the-year spending has been absolutely ridiculous and one of my biggest resolutions will be to knock that crap off.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Hello, stress fracture. This has been FOR THE BIRDS. Oh, and the postpartum depression that lingered into the summer was not at all fun.
11. What was the best thing you bought? We didn’t actually buy any of this, but these were services we used and paid for that made our lives immeasurably better: Our doula, house cleaners, midwives and nanny. Oh, and Peapod.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Scott. Now, forever and always. All of our family members who came in and pitched in to help us in so many ways – from when we first had AG and they brought food and help, to when the PPD was really bad and they’d come over for a few hours a day so I’d have someone else to talk to, someone else to help with AG while I slept. They also pitched in since Thanksgiving by watching AG every day while we went to work and set out to find a new nanny. In short, our families were amazing. AG is one lucky cookie.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I cannot at all handle reading about anyone abusing/harming children. I just cannot. I used to be able to read about such things with a certain amount of detachment, along the lines of, “Oh how horrible…” and now it’s difficult for me to go about the next second, let alone the day. Kids, while slightly insufferably and time-consuming, are a fucking blessing and a miracle. People who take that for granted should be hung by their toenails.
14. Where did most of your money go? AG!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Abigail Grace. I get excited about her just looking at her sleeping little self in passing from the nursery monitor. I am always excited about her.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011? “Roll Away Your Stone” by Mumford & Sons
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? So much happier. In a whole new way.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner. And thinner than I was when I first got pregnant. Although man I’m failing at warding off Cookie-Ass Expansion when I can’t just go for a quick run.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer. Or sweet Jesus. Granted this is by choice – we elected to have a nanny, which is more than double the cost of what most day cares about here charge, but it’s better for our schedules and needs. I just need to control my Target habit.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Running. Stupid foot. Also reading. I was better about it this year than last, but still pretty pathetic.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Snapping at my husband. Complaining in general. Missing too many Masses on Sundays. We were REALLY good about it when AG was littler but now that she’s on a regular nap schedule, 10 a.m. Mass has sort of bitten the dust. Need to pick a new time…
20. How did you spend Christmas in 2011? It was a whirlwind. We had four separate parties, including one we hosted. It was a wonderful 48 hours and we are clearly loved beyond measure. AG can now open her own toy store. We are being a little Grinchy and trickling out the toys. No 10-month-old needs that many new toys in one shot. We didn’t even end up giving her what we bought because by the time Christmas Day rolled around, she was the owner of at least 15 new toys.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011? YES. It’s a big ol’ cliche, but I love my daughter so much.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Up All Night. Modern Family. Parks and Recreation, no joke, saved me during the first few weeks of AG’s life. I really like New Girl more than I thought I would, and oh I love The Good Wife and Downton Abbey like mad.
23. What did you do for your birthday in 2011? It was our first night out after AG was born. Got my hair done by my sister-in-law and then went to our brother-in-law’s restaurant for dinner – Cafe des Architectes! You should go there.
24. What was the best book you read? I loved Tina Fey’s Bossypants so much I read it twice.
25. What did you want and get? A healthy, funny little kid. And to lose all of the baby weight and get back in shape.
26. What did you want and not get? Nothing. I’m no fool. We’re lucky folks.
27. What was your favorite film of this year? Oh God. I loved Bridesmaids so much. I do think it was something you had to see in the theatre. And maybe had been wracked with some post-baby depression to love it with the fervor that I do.
28. Did you make some new friends this year? My Facebook moms group has been awesome, as well as some new ladies I met through a good friend of mine who just got married. All of the groom’s friends’ wives are awesome women.
29.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Not a damn thing.
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? “I forgot I owned this!”
31. What kept you sane? Scott and Kate Shea. I don’t even bother erasing their names from year-to-year. I don’t intend to this year, either.
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Totally don’t care about what celebrities think/say/do.
33. What political issue stirred you the most? Anything having to do with equality issues for my gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered brothers and sisters. This remains my big one.
34. Who did you miss? I would have liked for my mom to have met Abigail. As an aside, when I first laid eyes on Abigail, I thought, “Good God. You look exactly like Cathy.” She doesn’t now, but she’s definitely got her fierce determination. Believing as I do, I sort of think that first encounter was my mom’s way of letting me know she knew.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. “It seems that all my bridges have been burned/But you say, “That’s exactly how this grace thing works”/It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart/But the welcome I receive at the restart.”
