Happy New Year!

We're back from a relaxing family-visiting vacation down South, where we shared a house with six kids and eight adults. Took lots of naps, got a lot more exercise, generally feel healthier and more sane than before we left. I was happy having a house full of people to bake for. Among other things, I made pumpkin cinnamon rolls for Christmas breakfast and hush puppies to accompany the deep-fried turkey we had the night before we left.

For the first time ever, K successfully sat through church on Christmas Eve. He was very unhappy after a few minutes and whispered to me, "We're going to stay here the WHOLE TIME?" But he soldiered on (without whining! A Christmas miracle!) and was rewarded when all the kids were given glowsticks during the candle-lighting part of the service. It was also the first year he totally got Christmas and the whole Santa thing, and was very excited about it. He left a note for Santa in his stocking at home to let him know we were on vacation. He more or less ignored the actual Santa present, a big yellow bulldozer that was exactly what he asked for and cost way more than I'd normally spend on a toy for him, but loved the puzzles, spinning light, and electronic reading-pen system that he got from family members.

During the weeks leading up to Christmas, I tried to convince K that the point wasn't to get presents, it was to be with the people you love. I also drilled into him that whether he liked a present or not, he was to smile and say thank you because someone cared enough to give it to him. He wasn't entirely on board until Christmas Eve, when he told me about a movie he had just seen on TV. According to K, it was called "How Elmo Stealed Christmas," and in it mean green Elmo learned how to love people because of Christmas. "Because the important part of Christmas," K informed me, "is loving people."

And now, the 2010 recap that I stole from Ana. Last year was such a blur that I had to look back through my blog archives to remember anything that happened. Unfortunately, I didn't post regularly over the past year, so I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting. 

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Sold our house. Which is something I hope not to do again for at least a few decades.
Participated in an official town commission.
Successfully decorated a cake.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't write any down, which means they don't exist. Here are my goals for 2011.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My sister-in-law, who added TWO children to her family this year! And many other friends and acquaintances.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. People close to people close to me did.

5. What countries did you visit?
My passport didn't see any action this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Two healthy kids. And non-neutral paint on the walls.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
K's third birthday. The end of June, when the doctor confirmed I was pregnant again. Mid-August, when we closed on our new house. Mid-November, when we sold the old house. The end of November, when we attended a friend's funeral. K's first Christmas when he actually knew what was going on.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
It was my first full year of working as an attorney, along with all the real estate and pregnancy stuff and keeping up with my family. I'd say just getting through the year and remaining healthy and happy and sane was an achievement.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't really dwell on failure. But one thing I'm a little disappointed about is that I realized toward the end of my tenure on the town commission that I didn't have any real power to change anything. I put in a lot of work and dared to disagree and raise some important issues, so I wouldn't call it a failure. Some of the things I brought up were taken seriously and some changes were made. I wish I had pushed harder and enlisted more people on a key issue that remains a problem.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Shingles during pregnancy sucked! But it only lasted about a week and a half. I'm only listing it here because it's a recent memory and I still have the scars. Just a few minor things here and there.
 
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our new house!

12. Where did most of your money go?
Our new house!
 
13. What did you get really excited about?
Pregnancy is an obvious one. SELLING THE HOUSE, oh my god, I have never felt such a huge weight lift off me. Moving into our new place on our ideal block in our town. Our weekend getaway in New York City. And getting a stand mixer, which I have been wanting for years, as a housewarming present from JW.

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
The theme song to Peep and the Big Wide World? I don't listen to enough music these days.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

–
- happier or sadder? Just as happy, I think.
- thinner or fatter? About thirty pounds heavier!
- richer or poorer? Definitely poorer.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Left work early. Exercised. Listened to music. Danced. Hung out with CT -- in the past we've taken a trip together over the summer and spent New Year's together, but now that we're on opposite coasts it's not quite as easy. Blogged, now that I'm trying to look back at my year and failing to remember anything I didn't write down. Put pictures on our personal website, which I abandoned many months ago.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worked. (If it were possible to do less of it and still do my job properly.) Wasted time. Worried about house stuff, even though it was unavoidable. Ate sugar.

18. How did you spend Christmas? See above.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother. There weren't any shows I was all that excited about.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
I cannot believe I stopped keeping track of the books I read. Maybe I'll resolve to start doing that again in 2011.  I just read and loved the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley was great. I enjoyed How I Become A Famous Novelist by Steve Hely. Don't remember any more -- I got those off my online library card history.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?
JW and I went to see a Handel and Haydn Society all-Mozart concert and I loved it -- at least the part I stayed awake for. I want to take K to see a real orchestra some time this year.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
I think the only movies JW and I saw in the theater were "Up in the Air" and "Hot Tub Time Machine". I also saw "Tangled". All good.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I woke up too early, baked a delicious cake, and visited relatives who thought my delicious cake was too ugly to serve and then insisted on keeping the leftovers. I turned 32.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Selling the house BEFORE buying the new house. Would have saved us a whole lot of anxiety.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Starting to get more professional at work (and even occasionally accessorizing!), only slightly less of a slob on the weekends. Working on it for 2011.

26. What kept you sane?
My wonderful husband. The moments when I looked at K and couldn't believe how much I loved him. (As opposed to the moments when I longed to escape from the constant "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!")
 
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010. 
Hmm. That's a tough one. I consciously tried to worry less in 2010, and did pretty well at that even though our financial situation was precarious during all the real estate drama. In particular, I worked on breaking my habit of second-guessing my decisions. Most of the lessons I learned have to do with work. I guess one life lesson that applies to both work and other areas is that you should pursue the opportunity that sounds good to you, and worry later about how it will fit into your life because if it's valuable enough you will figure that out.