'Cause Baby You're a Firework!

Okay, so one of the blogs I try to pay attention to is 29 and Holding by RN Mama - I think she's hilarious.  Anyhoo, she does a year-end questionnaire to sort of recap big/interesting/small/funny/etc. moments that happened in the previous year.  I think it's a pretty cool idea so I'm going to answer the same questions.  Don't worry, I have her explicit permission :)

1. What did you do in 2010 that you had never done before?


Well, the biggest thing by far that comes to mind is that I had a baby!  I KNOW, right? Isla Marie in all her 1 pound 1.8 ounce glory was born at 25 weeks +1 day gestation - I wasn't set to meet her until February 1, 2011, but maybe she wanted to make the list? 

This is my heart

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolution, and will you make more next year?
Hmmm...this is a tough one since I didn't do a year-end questionnaire last year.  I think I vaguely remember having the goal of getting my house more organized and, unfortunately, I failed miserably in that area.  ARGH.  For the sake of our little girl (when she can come home - hopefully soon!) though, Luke and I have been forced to get more organized this year.  So, I'll still leave "Get House In Order" this year, but add above that as my first priority:  "Be the best mom I can be and try not to freak out too much when Isla first comes home." 


3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
See answer to question #1 :) 


4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my cousin Billy of cancer.  He was a wonderful singer and loving person.


5. What countries did you visit? 
Wal-Mart...does that count?  It's at least GOTTA count between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Other than that, none :( Although Scotland and Italy are on my radar. 


6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Hmmm....I know this sounds kind of silly, but I want a Wii so that I can stream movies from Netflix.


7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010, the day my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer;
Tuesday, October 12, 2010, the day I first learned Isla (then known simply as future coolest baby ever!) was having trouble in the womb and might have to be born early; and,
Wednesday, October 20, 2010, the day my little angel was born.




I love you dad

 8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Okay, the theme for this list should simply be "The Year of Isla"


9. What was your biggest failure?
Not working hard to stay in shape.


10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No...unless you call the wickedly weird rash I had on my forearms for two weeks in December caused by the multiple daily hand/arm washings in the NICU and illness - I now have "special" soap. It's probably a placebo, but it works!


11. What was the best thing you bought?
 Mermaid painting for Isla's room - purchased it in Maine.  GORGEOUS. 


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Isla!!!  On so many levels and in so many ways, it's hard to describe.  As always, you can check out her amazing progress at her Caringbridge site. 


WORLD CHAMPION

 13. Whose behavior made you appalled or depressed?
I'm invoking my right to remain silent.


14. Where did most of your money go this year?
Medical bills and preparations for Isla's homecoming.


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I'll give you a hint....starts with an "I" and ends in a "sla"


16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
"Hey Soul Sister" by Train.  I love that song and must have put it on every CD I burned this year. 


17. Compared to this time last year are you (a) happier or sadder; (b) thinner or fatter; (c) richer or poorer?
(a) I'm happier this time than last year, but definitely more overwhelmed.  (b) I'm also fatter *sigh* and I can't blame that all on my gorgeous child.  I only gained around 15 pounds with her before the Great Evacuation of October 20, 2010.  I've lost that already, but am still bigger :( To remedy matters however, I stared P90X with my sister - we'll see how that goes.  So far so good, although I'm pretty sure I broke my right hamstring :) That might be a little dramatic, but it's pulled for sure. (c) Yikes....well, I guess I'm "richer" in the sense that we've paid off a lot of debt in the last year. 


18. What do you wish you had done more of?
Gone to the lake more with my hubby or taken a trip when we had the chance.


19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinate in just about every area of life.


20. How did you spend Christmas?
Family gathering at my parents' house - then cuddled with Isla in the NICU.


21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Yes, with my daughter.  And, SHOCKINGLY, stayed in love with my husband :)


22. What was your favorite TV program?
Tie between Archer and The League


23. Do you hate someone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a pretty strong word - not sure anyone deserves that emotion.  At least none that I know personally.  There are quite a few that I dislike, but those seem to be the same as the year before. 


24. What was the best book you read?
I'd have to say a tie between two books that are absolutely nothing alike:
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason; and, Half-Baked: The Story of My Nerves, My Newborn, and How We Both Learned to Breathe by Alexa Stevenson.


25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The song "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" by Stars.  It's not as morbid as the title suggests :)


26. What did you want and get?
There really wasn't a whole lot that I wanted except for my pregnancy to go well and for my baby to be healthy.  Well, the pregnancy didn't go well in the sense that our little honey was born WAY too early.  And the latter caused her a whole lot of complications, but she's doing so darn well - and so healthy under the circumstances that I'm going to answer this questions with "Yes, I have a beautiful and amazing daughter."


27. What did you want and not get?
Nothing comes to mind.


28. What was your favorite film of the year?
Hmmmm, unfortunately my vice is going to movies so I saw a lot.  So many, that I probably can't really remember all of them.  Umm, my favorite experience (but definitely NOT favorite movie) was going to see Avatar in 3D with my dad.  I think the last movie I saw with him in the theatre was probably The Little Mermaid when I was 9.  The most recent movies that I can remember enjoying were "Morning Glory," "The King's Speech," "True Grit."


29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
Sadly, I can't really remember what I did on my birthday.  Well, my birthday was on a Tuesday and I was pregnant.  So it's safe to say I worked and didn't drink :) I absolutely remember the beautiful hand-made wooden box Luke made for me on my birthday.  It's absolutely beautiful!  I use it for special things; i.e.: Isla's ultrasounds, her little blood pressure cuff, etc.


30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Keeping Isla in my tummy until the end of the year.  That's pretty obvious.  Otherwise, being completely out of debt (school loans, home loan, etc.).


31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Pregnancy pants.


32. What kept you sane?
So much stress that I was forced to cope.


33. What celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Rugby standout Sonny Bill Williams


34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Tea Party Movement - I know, not really an "issue" per se.


35. Who did you miss?
My friends from college and a few of the people I used to work with.  I will always miss my grandparents.


36. Who was the best new person you met?
All of Isla's amazing doctors and nurses at Sanford Health.  And Jess, another mother I met in the NICU.  She and her family are wonderful people!


37. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2010.
You're stronger than you think you are.


38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"'Cause baby you're a firework!"  Isn't Katy Perry adorable?  I confess I don't really "get" the whole Russel Brand thing.