Better late than never... So. Let me see if I can sum up.
I did NaNo this year... and only fell short by about 7000 words (I'm going to blame sickness and travel for not winning this year. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it). It was awesome, and I will probably participate again in 2010. 'Nuff said.
Had a very awesome (but completely crazy and also full of drama on pretty much every front) trip home for Christmas and New Years. Did not visit half the people we intended to, but visited a few we weren't planning to, so I guess it worked out. Brianna had a great time and now has way too many toys that make noise.
I got to hold my first ever nephew! When he was only a few hours old! And it was awesome. I am an Aunt. A *real* aunt, no matter what other people might tell you about. And that's all I have to say about that, as well.
I made a ton of New Years resolutions. Sadly, most of them aren't blog appropriate quite yet. Suffice it to say, not much has changed (resolution-wise) since this time last year. Except I've given up on the losing weight thing - my goal is to not gain a ridiculous amount of weight this year. I figure that one's more attainable, lol.
Brianna will be a year old in a couple of weeks. Blows my mind. She's walking (running), chattering up a storm (there's words in there, but we don't understand them yet), and generally finding every bit of trouble she can to get into. She is very good at getting into trouble :-)
And that's really all I have to say for the moment. I will really try to get online and update a little more frequently, but I got a half-dozen Lego video games for Christmas, so I'm not sure how well that will actually go ;-)
News, and New Years First off, news. I'm still pregnant. For some reason, about a half dozen people have felt the need to ask me if I've had the baby yet... and the answer is no. I still have, at least in theory, 3-4 more weeks. But. I'll let you know when I do.
The baby is doing good... Christmas Eve ultrasound showed the baby weighing in at around 6 pounds 10 ounces, which puts the projected final baby weight around 8.5 pounds. Which is awesome. So no plans for an early baby due to size at this point.
I was told, long long ago when I first was pregnant (seriously, it seems like years or something), that morning sickness can return in the third trimester. And I was like, oh whatever, I guess that would suck... but since I was never really super sick in the beginning, i didn't think about it much. Until this morning. When I've been thinking about it a lot. While trying to keep down my breakfast. So far, I'm winning, but the long and short of it is I feel like crap at the moment, and trying to find a position to sit/lay in that doesn't make me want to hurl, and yet still allows me to work on my computer (I'm working from home today, so computer access is important)... is challenging. Half of my brain thinks I should eat something more, to see if it calms my stomach down, and the other half doesn't want to see what frosted miniwheats look like two hours after you eat them.
Pleasant thought, I know. Brought to you by a grumpy pregnant woman. :-) Edit: apparently, clementines are my new cure for morning sickness. Who would have guessed?
So on to New Years. My goals for this year:
Lose weight. Actually, this one is a gimmie, since I'll be shedding 8.5 pounds of baby plus associated fluids and whatnot at the end of the month. But seriously, it would be nice to be back down to my pre-baby-after-Disney-Cruise weight by the end of the year. (at current count, that would put me losing about 50 pounds, but maybe a little more, since I'll probably gain another five or so before I can start losing any).
To eat healthier, and spend less money eating out. Although I realize that this will be difficult for the next two months, anything is better than nothing. Seriously.
To take advice and criticism better, especially in regards to parenting. Just because someone else does it differently does not make me a bad mommy (even if that someone else is my mom).
Not to change my standards just because the going gets tough. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for convenience. But if I say, "I want to eat healthier, and spend less money eating out", I can't cave and run to McDonald's every night for dinner becasue I''m tired and it's easier than cooking something at home (McDonald's could help this situation by not putting crack in their chicken nuggets, so I wouldn't be so addicted to them).
To be better about taking pictures. I'll have a lot this year with documenting, and pictures will be important. :-)
To be better at blogging/journaling in some form. So I don't forget everything.
I'm sure there are more, but this'll do for now. :-)
You say it won't happen again So it's a new year. Yay for that. And I made resolutions and stuff, which aren't really important at this point, but the basis of all of them was to keep on keeping on... and to take better care of me.
I'm not sure what all is going to happen this year, but I know it's going to be crazy. And weird. And scary. Like last year, but more so. And hopefully a little less drama (no really, I mean it).
Nothing I say will wash it away I'm standing in the pouring rain You say it won't happen again You're manic, manic There is a chemical in your brain It's pouring sunshine and rage You can never know what to expect You're manic, manic
I hear you say, that I'm totally a mess So I absolutely hate New Years resolutions. Because I make the same ones every year. You know: keep the house cleaner, lose weight, eat healthier, be a nicer person in general... And by January 15th (if I'm lucky) I've managed to screw them all up to such a point that I give up. This I suppose, is the quintessential problem with being a perfectionist... I'm not perfect.
So I didn't make any this year.
But now I have a better plan. Instead of resolutions, which are made once a year (usually when the house is still full of Christmas candy and such), and are easy to screw up... I'm just going to try and start good habits. And if I screw up a couple of days in between... I don't need to "catch back up", only jump back in where I left off.
New Years Meme thingy 1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? I moved to Texas? And started school at a private school... went to an Evanescence concert... bought a house.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? So... I think I was too busy with moving and stuff to think about New Years resolutions. I might make some this year... haven't decided yet.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My boss... I guess that counts.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit? Mexico, Grand Caymen
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? 26 hour days. More time to spend with friends. And the ability to be zen.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? September 1st. We closed on our house.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Bought a house. :-)
9. What was your biggest failure? not sure...
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I got sick a couple of times, but nothing truely serious.
11. What was the best thing you bought? A banjo. But it wasn't for me.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Chad, who has been (as always) very awesome. And understanding. And stuff.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? no one specific?
14. Where did most of your money go? away. I have no idea where. Probably into the house.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Having friends.
16. What song will always remind you of 2006? Good Enough -- Evanescence
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: i. happier or sadder? Happier, I guess. Less apprehensive, anyway. ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner, I think. iii. richer or poorer? Richer. By a lot.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Being zen.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worrying about everything in the world that I can't change.
20. How will you be spending did you spend Christmas? Running across the SouthEast trying to see/visit everyone before heading back to Texas.
22. Did you fall in love in 2006? I love my husband, I love my house, I love my dogs (even when I don't), and yes (as much as I bitch about it) I love Houston.
23. Did your heart break in 2006? Nothing Earth Shattering, but I had a few rough patches.
24. What was your favorite TV program? Still CSI... the original one.
25. Where were you when 2006 began? Southaven.
26. Who were you with? Chad, Brian, Chad's family.
27. Where will you be when 2006 ends? Southaven.
28. Who will you be with when 2006 ends? Chad, Brian, Chad's family.
29. What was the best book you read? hmmm... Probably "Falcon at the Portal" by Elizabeth Peters.
30. What was your greatest musical discovery? Em's music collection ;-)
31. What did you want and get? a laser printer, friends in Texas, a house, china dishes, a china cabinet, to see Evanescence in concert.
32. What did you want and not get? world peace, a trip to the moon, more house guests ;-)
33. What was your favorite film of this year? Either Stranger than Fiction or Superman... I liked both.
34. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I think I went out to eat with Chad, but I don't really remember. I turned 24.
35. How many different states did you travel to in 2006? 7.
36. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? somewhere between "Goth Chick computer geek" and "Rice girl"
37. What kept you sane? Chad.
38. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? haven't really kept up. Probably Christian Bale, or Angelina Jolie.
39. What political issue stirred you the most? tried to avoid politics.
40. How many concerts did you see in 2006? Only 1, Evanescence.
41. Did you have a favorite concert in 2006? Evanescence.
42. Who was the best new person you met? Alex & Em.
43. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year? not really.
44. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2006? like I'd tell you.
45. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006: ummm... no idea.
46. What are your plans for 2007? work hard at school, get more done to the house, be zen.
47. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: There's more than one answer to these questions pointing me in crooked line The less I seek my source for some definitive The closer I am to fine.
This is my brain..... in part, at least.
