I did this yearly wrap-up last year I'm back to do it again for 2008. If you'd like to do it too, let me know, and I'll link to your post
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I sat in a dimly lit room, holding my husband's hand, while we heard our son's heartbeat for the first time. Also, hey, I threw up on myself, which was a never-thought-I'd-experience first.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I made a whole slew of resolutions (here), but it would embarrass me and my mother if I told you just how few I kept. I do promise to lose the weight in 2009, once and for all.3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Two of Mike's cousins and a handful of very good friends.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No, thankfully.
5. What countries did you visit? None! We fail at world travel!
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A defined waist.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? June 10. When I took my first positive pregnancy test. October 10. The big reveal sonogram, when we saw our son's very impressive boy parts.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Naming our son, which was an achievement I didn't think would ever happen, I'm not kidding even a little bit.
9. What was your biggest failure? I look at that dusty resolution list and cringe. There's so much I didn't even attempt.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Hey, so the other night I had to catch my breath before getting out of bed to pee because my back hurt that badly. I don't know if you consider pregnancy an "injury" but YOU SHOULD.
12. What was the best thing you bought? I absolutely loved this purchase but guess who hasn't gotten to wear it yet since she got knocked up about 15 seconds after forking over the money for it? Go on, guess.
13. Whose behavior merited celebration? The 63 million people who elected Barack Obama as president.
14. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Oh, who needs that kind of buzz kill in the middle of a yearly wrap-up questionnaire?
15. Where did most of your money go? Bills, which makes me want to kick my nine-year-old self for pretending to pay bills and write checks as a weird, screwed-up idea of fun.
16. What did you get really, really, really excited about? We're having a baby!
17. What song will always remind you of 2008? "Nothing Like You & I" by the Perishers
18. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Happier; much, much fatter; poorer
19. What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish I had read more, cleaned more, written more, learned more, traveled more, laughed more ... in short, a helluva lot more.
20. What do you wish you’d done less of? Vomit. I know that's disgusting, but I'm keeping it real.
21. How did you spend Christmas? With Mike, Molly, my mom, Mike's parents, his sister, her husband and our nephew.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes, with my son.
23. What was your favorite TV program? Top Chef
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No, there's no time for any of that.
25. What was the best book you read? I won't say "Twilight" and you're welcome for that. I read "Pride & Prejudice" (finally) and loved it once I got past the first 10-20 pages.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Missy Higgins
27. What did you want and get? A baby, and he'll be here oh-so-soon.
28. What did you want and not get? To get thin and in shape. Nothing like pregnancy to thwart all your get-tiny goals.
29. What was your favorite film of this year? Sadly, nothing is coming to mind. (I haven't seen a few yet that I hope will be great, such as Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, Frost/Nixon)
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? We had a big dinner at my favorite (now closed) Mexican restaurant and then went to a nearby bar.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A debt fairy to wipe all of ours away with a flip of her wrist.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? "What is going to fit me today? This should be interesting."
33. What kept you sane? Mike, Zofran, bad TV, this site
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Eh, pass.
35. What political issue stirred you the most? The election was pretty stirring, I have to say. I think the issue of gay marriage is becoming more and more important to me as the time draws closer for me to have my own child. Basic civil rights are being denied to millions of people. I just can't stomach it anymore, to be honest.
36. Who did you miss? All of my family and friends who aren't near me.
37. Who was the best new person you met? Elizabeth, Katie, Raven and all of the other incredible women at BlogHer. Also, all of the new babies born this year in our circle.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. I learned a lot about what a person, and a couple, is capable of with a little faith. I learned that pregnancy and parenthood, although common in many ways, is deeply personal and profound and miraculous and shouldn't be judged or criticized by someone on the outside looking in. I learned that you cannot live your life in a constant state of reaction to other people. You must take control of yourself and your choices, and you should stand tall and accountable for every decision you make. I learned that kindness is underrated and love is rarely as unconditional as it must be.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. This is the absolute opposite of what my year was like, but when else am I going to be able to use these lyrics in a post on this site:
"I know you scared baby
They don't know what we doin'
Let's both get undressed right here
Keep it up then I swear
I'mma give it to you non-stop
And I don't care who's watchin"
From the eloquent "Make Love in this Club" by Usher. Perhaps it's been far too long since I've been drunk, but I can't recall a night I was ever drunk enough as to be oblivious to people getting naked and having sex beside me on the dance floor. It's possible I was downing the wrong tequila all those years, I suppose. How can I really add more to this yearly recap than what Usher just said for us, though. So, on that note, here's to a wondrous and exciting 2009, and here's to never typing "I'mma" again ever in my life, so help me.