I've been doing this for a few years: 2010 , 2009
The questions I use are found many places, but I found them from Sundry.
I'd love to hear about your years too!
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Parent a toddler, spend an entire year outside of an office or classroom (well, since I was 3 years old at least). Celebrated my husband's college graduation. Celebrated my daughter's first birthday and my nephew's 7th. Took baby music & swimming lessons.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I worked on all of them. I successfully got back to running- I ran a 5k this December. We still use cloth diapers, but I don't think I can claim 50% usage for the whole year. And I've definitely improved my listening skills, though I imagine that's a long-term kind of thing.
I have new resolutions planned for the coming year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! This was the year several friends had second children, my best friend's baby was born on Lydia's birthday, some friends had twin boys and some neighbor/friends had their first baby.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.
5. What countries did you visit?
None! The only other state I've visited this year was California. My travel record is downright pathetic and I am absolutely fine with it. We have big plans for travel with Lydia is a little older, but for now we love it right here.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn't have in 2011?
More patience.
7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?
August 13th- Wil's graduation day. May 5th- Lydia's first birthday & my friend's son's birthday.
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
While I always wish for more patience, I do have more patience than I thought I did and that and my occasional bursts of parenting creativity feel like huge achievements.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Controlling my temper.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not especially, plenty of little colds, but nothing bad.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new-to-me laptop. Lydia's Christmas presents.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Wil's. My family's. Those people who paid off the K-Mart layaways for kids across the country.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Republican presidential candidate clowns.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and other general life upkeep.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Lydia. Really getting to know our neighborhood. Finally running a 5k again.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
"Proud to be me", "Walking to the zoo", pretty much all the Signing Time songs...
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
Happier/Sadder: probably about as happy, maybe a little happier?
Fatter/Thinner: neither, but that is about to change for the thinner
Richer/Poorer: a little poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Sleeping, relaxing & enjoying
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time on the internet...
20. How did you spend Christmas?
We were home with our family. Santa stopped here and then really went crazy at the grandparents' house! We had raclette for Christmas Eve dinner at our house and spent Christmas Day at the grandparents'.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
All the time.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
I finally discovered Parks & Rec in the spring and then we watched Doc Martin this fall.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
What is this? Middle school?
24. What was the best book you read?
Cutting for Stone
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
As a rule, I am not a music discoverer. If it isn't on OPB or Baby Signing Time, it didn't happen musically.
26. What did you want and get?
A healthy, happy, growing toddler, my husband to have his degree in hand, to finish the 5k in a reasonable amount of time, a decent computer.
27. What did you want and not get?
Effortless weight-loss. A butler. More sleep.
28. What was your favorite film of 2011?
Hm, I'm not sure. But I was excited to see two movies in the theater this year- The Help and Bridesmaids (neither of which is in the running for favorite).
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33 on the 30th. I had a nice day with Lydia & Wil, they sent me off for a massage and Wil & I went to dinner with some of our closest, oldest friends while Lydia had a blast with Grandma & Grandpa.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A sunnier early summer? More exercise? I'm quite satisfied overall...
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?
Limping along...
32. What kept you sane?
Yoga, running, nap time.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Gay marriage, health care
34. Who did you miss?
Geographically distant friends & family
35. Who was the best new person you met?
I have been so fortunate in 2011 to get to know some fabulous people. The first to come to mind are Liz & Simon and Ashleigh & Lucy- what wonderful additions to my and Lydia's year! We are sad that Ashleigh & Lucy had to move this month!
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Life is sweet & full, fuller of joy and sorrow than we can imagine.
Also, mistakes will be made.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
18 Months
Lydia turned 18 months on November 5. I suppose it is time to start counting her age in half years instead of months (except to other parents of toddlers, as the difference between an 18 month old and a 22 month old can be pretty staggering, but to outsiders they're both about a year and a half).
Her official weight is 27 pounds and her height is 34 inches (I think they got her height wrong, but I haven't attempted my own measurement yet). That means she's grown 14.5 inches and gained over 18 pounds (only 8 ounces in the last three months though) in 18 months. She's still at the top of the growth charts and doing wonderfully all around. She has about 35 words and about 50 signs and more words are popping up every day. She says a few things in two word combinations (Mama! Up!). It is so neat to learn sign language along with her and to see her use sign to get her point across really clearly.
Lydia's been absolutely delightful to hang out with lately. She loves leaf piles and puddles, the local dogs, chickens and, perhaps most of all, cats. She'd be over the moon if we had a neighborhood horse. Reading books continues to be a huge hit, especially lift-the-flap books. (She's also sleeping better these days! Huzzah!)
The long autumn we've had in the Northwest has allowed for lots of crisp, clear days at our neighborhood parks and we have taken full advantage. Music class, story time, parks, playmates and the occasional music performance, trip to the pool or day at OMSI fill our time lately. We continue to feel incredibly lucky to have an awesome group of nearby toddlers, so there's almost always someone at the park or ready to meet us somewhere or come by to play.
We had a fun family trip to California in October, visiting friends and enjoying the warm sunshine. Lydia's a pretty good traveler, though her parents aren't planning any long flights for the next two or three years!
Her official weight is 27 pounds and her height is 34 inches (I think they got her height wrong, but I haven't attempted my own measurement yet). That means she's grown 14.5 inches and gained over 18 pounds (only 8 ounces in the last three months though) in 18 months. She's still at the top of the growth charts and doing wonderfully all around. She has about 35 words and about 50 signs and more words are popping up every day. She says a few things in two word combinations (Mama! Up!). It is so neat to learn sign language along with her and to see her use sign to get her point across really clearly.
Lydia's been absolutely delightful to hang out with lately. She loves leaf piles and puddles, the local dogs, chickens and, perhaps most of all, cats. She'd be over the moon if we had a neighborhood horse. Reading books continues to be a huge hit, especially lift-the-flap books. (She's also sleeping better these days! Huzzah!)
The long autumn we've had in the Northwest has allowed for lots of crisp, clear days at our neighborhood parks and we have taken full advantage. Music class, story time, parks, playmates and the occasional music performance, trip to the pool or day at OMSI fill our time lately. We continue to feel incredibly lucky to have an awesome group of nearby toddlers, so there's almost always someone at the park or ready to meet us somewhere or come by to play.
We had a fun family trip to California in October, visiting friends and enjoying the warm sunshine. Lydia's a pretty good traveler, though her parents aren't planning any long flights for the next two or three years!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Halloween
Halloween with a child in the family (and not just a tiny almost-6 month old like last year- though she was a very cute baby bear) is fun on a whole new level for us.
We celebrated by attending two toddler Halloween parties and then went trick or treating with Lydia's cousin Calvin in Grandma & Grandpa's neighborhood.
My sweet little duck
She was very pleased with her reflection in the mirror!
We celebrated by attending two toddler Halloween parties and then went trick or treating with Lydia's cousin Calvin in Grandma & Grandpa's neighborhood.
My sweet little duck
She was very pleased with her reflection in the mirror!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Graduation Day
On August 13th, 18 years to the month after he started college, my husband got his bachelor's of science degree.
He started college at the College of Santa Fe and his collegiate career took him through several majors at Santa Fe, a year and a half at Reed (as a math major, arguably his most successful college years- no degree, but he did get a wife...) and then off and on at Portland State University for the last decade or so.
He's the first in his family to graduate from college. His hard work and determination have been impressive. He has worked full time for the last decade, all the while taking one class at a time. He's found the time, energy and discipline to write essays and programs and do his studying after a long day of office work. He's managed to be a loving, present, supportive husband and father over the last 15 months while also wrapping up his last 4 classes (he got an A on his capstone project- and on nearly every other class in the last 7 or 8 years!). It has not been easy for him or for us. He has given up a great deal of his time with friends, plenty of sleep, leisure time and made career decisions partly based on his educational goals. We've made joint sacrifices of time and money. He hasn't cut corners. He has worked hard and long and carefully. He didn't opt for a general degree to save himself a year or two, he completed the degree he wanted (though I did talk him out of the film minor). He has more than earned the letters after his name.
Congratulations Wil! Lydia and I are so proud & happy.
He started college at the College of Santa Fe and his collegiate career took him through several majors at Santa Fe, a year and a half at Reed (as a math major, arguably his most successful college years- no degree, but he did get a wife...) and then off and on at Portland State University for the last decade or so.
He's the first in his family to graduate from college. His hard work and determination have been impressive. He has worked full time for the last decade, all the while taking one class at a time. He's found the time, energy and discipline to write essays and programs and do his studying after a long day of office work. He's managed to be a loving, present, supportive husband and father over the last 15 months while also wrapping up his last 4 classes (he got an A on his capstone project- and on nearly every other class in the last 7 or 8 years!). It has not been easy for him or for us. He has given up a great deal of his time with friends, plenty of sleep, leisure time and made career decisions partly based on his educational goals. We've made joint sacrifices of time and money. He hasn't cut corners. He has worked hard and long and carefully. He didn't opt for a general degree to save himself a year or two, he completed the degree he wanted (though I did talk him out of the film minor). He has more than earned the letters after his name.
Congratulations Wil! Lydia and I are so proud & happy.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
14 Months
Lydia is 14 months old today. She walks & runs, she can climb and dance too.
She says dog, duck, mama, dada and cat. I think she might have said 'car' today.
We've done a little sign language with her and she knows the signs for milk, eat, more, fish, bird, and all done (and, of course, she waves hi & bye-bye).
She's been sleeping much better in the last month or so, which is fantastic. Most days she still takes two naps, but I think she'll probably move to only one nap a day by the end of the summer. It is exciting to watch her grow up! She loves to bring us books to read. Right now her favorite book is called "Sara's Potty". It is a lift-the-flap book and she loves it so much because she gets to shake her head 'No!' when it asks if a zebra (or a giraffe or a sheep) sits on the potty.
We've been spending our days at neighborhood parks, going for walks, visiting friends, hanging out on the deck with bubbles and reading stories. Well, and doing laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning etc... Lydia helps with the laundry and grocery shopping and also enjoys washing her hands every chance she gets.
Wil, on the other hand, is spending his days working and trying to finish up his final project for his degree- graduation is just over a month away! We're excited to have "Dada" finished with school so he can hang around with us more and get a little more sleep :-)
Dada does bath time with Lydia, always with plenty of toys and splashing. They water the garden and our new tree together. They like to go for walks as well, often to the park. Lydia likes to ride on Dada's shoulders and tries to stick her fingers in his ears or steal his hat for a game of peekaboo!
We celebrated the 4th of July at a local park with a little water fountain area. Miss Lydia enjoyed the fun!
She says dog, duck, mama, dada and cat. I think she might have said 'car' today.
We've done a little sign language with her and she knows the signs for milk, eat, more, fish, bird, and all done (and, of course, she waves hi & bye-bye).
She's been sleeping much better in the last month or so, which is fantastic. Most days she still takes two naps, but I think she'll probably move to only one nap a day by the end of the summer. It is exciting to watch her grow up! She loves to bring us books to read. Right now her favorite book is called "Sara's Potty". It is a lift-the-flap book and she loves it so much because she gets to shake her head 'No!' when it asks if a zebra (or a giraffe or a sheep) sits on the potty.
We've been spending our days at neighborhood parks, going for walks, visiting friends, hanging out on the deck with bubbles and reading stories. Well, and doing laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning etc... Lydia helps with the laundry and grocery shopping and also enjoys washing her hands every chance she gets.
Wil, on the other hand, is spending his days working and trying to finish up his final project for his degree- graduation is just over a month away! We're excited to have "Dada" finished with school so he can hang around with us more and get a little more sleep :-)
Dada does bath time with Lydia, always with plenty of toys and splashing. They water the garden and our new tree together. They like to go for walks as well, often to the park. Lydia likes to ride on Dada's shoulders and tries to stick her fingers in his ears or steal his hat for a game of peekaboo!
We celebrated the 4th of July at a local park with a little water fountain area. Miss Lydia enjoyed the fun!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
One Year
The last week was a whirlwind. Lydia's grandparents flew up for her birthday and Wil took a few days off work. We celebrated, dined out, went to swimming lessons and had all kinds of family get-togethers. By Sunday night all of us were pretty exhausted! I even celebrated Mother's Day by walking a 5K with Lydia (she opted to ride in the stroller as her walking skillz aren't quite up to 3.1 miles).
Lydia took her first steps on Easter Sunday to much applause. Last week, just in time for her first birthday and grandparent visit she was feeling up to showing off and stringing multiple steps together.
First steps
Two weeks later, she's practically speed-walking.
On her birthday we had a Cinco de Mayo lunch at Cha Cha Cha and then went to the shoe store for her very first official walker-baby shoes. We picked out this adorable pair. We did not pick them as a tribute to Portlandia, but the connection was impossible to miss. We ended her birthday with a multi-generational trip to the park and some birthday cake. I thought for a while that I would make her a no-sugar, organic first birthday cake and while normally she does eat an incredibly healthy diet (and we mostly do too), we ended up giving her the polar opposite- ice cream cake! She had just a little, but she LOVED it (and we did too) (and also, calcium!).
If birthdays aren't the time for treats when does that time come? Right?
Even with all the sugar, she went to bed happily and I spent extra time gazing down at my beautiful, sleeping one-year-old, absolutely amazed at how fast the year had gone by.
A sleeping photo would be ideal here, wouldn't it? I should take some. I don't take them these days because the last thing I want to do after bedtime is wake her up! Oh, but I love that little girl and her wonderful smile.
Lydia took her first steps on Easter Sunday to much applause. Last week, just in time for her first birthday and grandparent visit she was feeling up to showing off and stringing multiple steps together.
First steps
Two weeks later, she's practically speed-walking.On her birthday we had a Cinco de Mayo lunch at Cha Cha Cha and then went to the shoe store for her very first official walker-baby shoes. We picked out this adorable pair. We did not pick them as a tribute to Portlandia, but the connection was impossible to miss. We ended her birthday with a multi-generational trip to the park and some birthday cake. I thought for a while that I would make her a no-sugar, organic first birthday cake and while normally she does eat an incredibly healthy diet (and we mostly do too), we ended up giving her the polar opposite- ice cream cake! She had just a little, but she LOVED it (and we did too) (and also, calcium!).
If birthdays aren't the time for treats when does that time come? Right?
Even with all the sugar, she went to bed happily and I spent extra time gazing down at my beautiful, sleeping one-year-old, absolutely amazed at how fast the year had gone by.
A sleeping photo would be ideal here, wouldn't it? I should take some. I don't take them these days because the last thing I want to do after bedtime is wake her up! Oh, but I love that little girl and her wonderful smile.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I emailed the sender of the apostrophe-catastrophe email. It appears my first email had no effect. Within days the sender sent another email with lots of apostrophe errors. I resorted to sending her a link to Bob the Angry Flower.
I haven't contacted my elementary school about the poorly phrased fund-raising letter. That one is more important as I am significantly more interested in the school's image. However, I also want to take the time to write a good note to them and as yet I have not opted to carve out the time.
On the other hand, I did find the time to make this Best Baked Spinach, which I am looking forward to eating for dinner tonight.
Last week I made these crackers in honor of Passover and because I love dessert. They blew my mind. If you can think of any good reason I should make more of them please let me know, I am looking for excuses.
Also, have you read The Help? I just finished it yesterday and would love to talk about it!
I haven't contacted my elementary school about the poorly phrased fund-raising letter. That one is more important as I am significantly more interested in the school's image. However, I also want to take the time to write a good note to them and as yet I have not opted to carve out the time.
On the other hand, I did find the time to make this Best Baked Spinach, which I am looking forward to eating for dinner tonight.
Last week I made these crackers in honor of Passover and because I love dessert. They blew my mind. If you can think of any good reason I should make more of them please let me know, I am looking for excuses.
Also, have you read The Help? I just finished it yesterday and would love to talk about it!
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