2013 in review

This year, in a nutshell.

Love.

Everybody wins.

What were your highlights of 2013?

• I survived the transition into being a stay-at-home mom to two .
• Very briefly, I had bangs.
• I started babysitting my niece and nephew every afternoon.
• My brother almost pled guilty to murder for a minor moving violation in traffic court.
• I entered the second decade of my 20s.
• Ethan started kindergarten, homeschool style.
• I let Noah buy a motorcycle in exchange for a beach trip.
• I cruised to the Bahamas.
• My lil'est turned 1.

The rugrats.

My favorite hairdo of the year.

Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions? Will you make more?

I don't remember if I made any, so...yes. I kept them all. This year I want to resolve to not eat like a fatsy buns.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

My good friend Elizabeth had baby Lydia in July.

Did anyone close to you die?

A number of pet fish died in my proximity.

What countries did you visit?

I was in Nassau for approximately 20 minutes.

What would you like to have in 2014 that you didn't have in 2013?

Time to myself. A bigger living room. Vegetable plants that actually thrive. 

What dates from 2013 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

This question implies I have brain space left for numbers of any kind.

What was your biggest achievement of this year?

Hmm...creatively speaking, finishing the two quilts I started for the boys in 2012. That's like a full 70 square feet of achievement.

The smaller and far less difficult of the two quilts.

What was your biggest failure?

Probably gaining back the 12 pounds I lost after giving birth last December. Seeing as I only gained 12 pounds during the pregnancy (gestational diabetes ftw!), it's like I've been pregnant all year, weight wise.

What's the best thing you ate?

That's difficult to answer; see the previous question.

What's the best thing you bought?

Noah bought me a vintage Singer sewing machine that has revolutionized my career as a sewist. There's nothing I can do to make that sentence sound less ridiculous.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

That sewing machine. The possibility of obtaining more space, house-wise.

What do you wish you'd done more of?

Blogging. This has been an excellent year, but I haven't documented much of it. I've been too busy/tired/content/breastfeeding to post as regularly as I want, and to flesh out the blog as a creative space for myself.

Compared to this time last year are you a) richer or poorer? b) happier or sadder? c) thinner or fatter?

a) richer

b) happier

c) fatter

Did you fall in love in 2013?

Yes, with my second son. I mean, I was there already when he was born last December, but the more time I get to spend with Oliver, the more I love him. 

What was your favorite TV program?

Call the Midwife. Watch it, I tell you!

How did you spend Christmas?

With our families, who we are fortunate enough to live close to.

What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I turned 20-10 this year, and I spent time reminiscing about my 20s with Noah, who has been my companion throughout.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2013?

"Find pants that don't constantly reveal your crack and post-baby bulge."

What kept you sane?

My church family/zoloft.

Tell me a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.

Don't waste time doing things that merely fill space. Only surround yourself with people and things that have meaning to you. You'll be happier that way.

I made our costumes this year.

I was one happy pirate.