As the title (blatantly) suggests, 2011 was The Year o’ Birthing. This is further showcased below, as almost every one of my answers is “my baby!” or “giving birth!” or “my cute baby!” and for that I’m sorry. Maybe next year something more interesting will happen (doubtful.)
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
I birthed a baby!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No-ish and no. I didn’t really make resolutions, but I did have some goals I wanted to achieve and I achieved exactly none of them. I have found I’m just not someone who responds well to people (even myself) telling me what to do. So, one day at a time, no pressure, I’m a delicate flower, etc.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
I’m pretty close to myself, so yes.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope.
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn’t have in 2011?
Last year I said I wanted a new kitchen. I’d still like this. Other than that, I’d like a piece of art. Like real adult art and shit. Also some new clothes.
7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?
April 20th. LG’s (and my dad’s!) birthday. I don’t think it will ever NOT amaze me that I was due in mid-May, my water broke April 17th, and LG held on until April 20th. Her timing, it’s impeccable.
8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?
Do you want to take a guess?
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don’t fail. Failure is for losers.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
*I hope she doesn’t talk about her birth again*
(Nope.)
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A plane ticket to Austin.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I always call Chris out for being wonderful and awesome, and that was no different this year, however, a special shout-out goes to LG for being the coolest baby. I really dig that chick.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Nobody’s. Cool people all around this year.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, probably.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Other than the obvious BABY!, I was very excited to attend The Blathering and meet some of my people from inside the computer.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
This stupid country song Chris likes to play over and over about a dad taking his daughter fishing. WEEP!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: A) happier or sadder? B) thinner or fatter? C) richer or poorer?
A) Happier.
B) Thinner! Fatter. (Ed. note: I just looked back through pictures from December 2010 and it appears I was actually skinnier than I am now. So! I look 5 months pregnant right now. Tremendous!)
C) Poorer. Daycare’s expensive.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish I’d gotten more spa treatments.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I wish I’d spent less time feeling like I should want to stay home with LG even though I know I don’t want to.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home, the three of us, watching 24 hours of A Christmas Story and eating ourselves silly.
21. Did you fall in love with 2011?
No. I mean, it was awesome, but it didn’t buy me diamonds or anything.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Homeland. Are you guys watching this? SO GOOD. Claire Danes, the Emmy is coming for you.
(P.S. Does anyone else wonder if the Showtime parties are at all awkward with Claire Danes and Mary Louise Parker both (likely) in attendance? “Oh, hey, about that Billy Crudup thing, yeah…”)
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Haters gon’ hate. No, I actually don’t hate anyone new this year. But hey, there’s always next year! 2012: The Year o’ Hate.
24. What was the best book you read?
Umm, I read two books this year. One was James Patterson. The other one was better. (Little Chapel on the River.)
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Always a day late, I’m loving Florence Welch.
26. What did you want and get?
I wanted a baby and I got one. I also wanted some other thing to work out and it did. (Vague, sorry.)
27. What did you want and not get?
A brand new wardrobe full of clothes that fit perfectly and don’t require me to hitch ’em up every three seconds.
28. What was your favorite film of 2011?
Did I…did I even watch a movie this year?
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We went to Sonoma for lunch and the champagnery afterwards. 28.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
ONE billion dollars. Yeah, same answer every year, but it’s true. You know what would be satisfying for NEXT year, though? If we could pay off Chris’s school loan and my car.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?
Jeggings and scarves make the lady.
32. What kept you sane?
Chris, for everything; LG, for when I got all stressed and needed to refocus; champagne, for everything; and Twitter, for parenting, especially during the #midnightfeedingclub. It was always nice to have another poor sap who was awake and feeding a baby at 3am.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Hotel sheets.
34. Who did you miss?
I missed LG every weekday from around 9am until I got home at 6pm.
But sometimes I got to take her to work with me and that was fun. We are very important business ladies, see?
(“Step into my office.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re fucking fired!”)
35. Who was the best new person you met?
You know who.
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
You’re doing everything perfectly right.
37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
“The party don’t start till I walk in.” — Ke$ha
YOUR BABY IS SO BEAUTIFUL.
I too wish I’d gotten more spa treatments in 2011. And I wish I’d taken a page from your book and drunk more Champagne.
Happy New Year!
I fell down this really unfortunate rabbit hole of Wu-Tang songs. Sorry I didn’t come through. But look at that baby go!
I want to eat her up. And you, too.
(Is that weird?)