2008 in review

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
 Gave birth to a baby with NO PAIN MEDICATION!!!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Well, let's see, here's last year's resolutions:

• Only gain half as much weight (or less) during this pregnancy as I did with Alex. I gained 35 pounds with Max, vs 60 pounds with Alex. I'd say I did ok on this resolution
  
• Loose the pregnancy weight by the end of the year. All but 3 pounds of Max's pregnancy weight is gone. So again, did ok.
  
• Finally finish Alex's first year photo book Finished it at Shutterfly, but did not print it. I may end up doing a handmade scrapbook instead for both boys.
  
• Be more active as a family.  We spend way too much time downstairs in front of the TV watching Star Trek re-runs.  I want us to get OUT and do SOMETHING together as a family at least once a week.  Even if it's just a picnic at the park on a Sunday afternoon. We actually did do this, almost every week we go out and have a "Family day"
  
• Stick to our "total money makeover".  Be gazelle intense.  DO NOT ACCUMULATE MORE DEBT!  Hmmm, no such luck. We had some unexpected expenses that couldn't be avoided and then there were the new windows, which I like to look at as an investment. We have been better about sticking to our monthly cash budget however.

I will definitely be making 2009 resolutions

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, ME!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. John's mother, John's grandmother, John's aunt and John's dog-brother
5. What countries did you visit?
Stayed in the good ole USofA this year
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Better control of our finances
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
four days:  The day Max was born June 18th, The day Max almost dies June 19th, the day we brought Max home from the hospital and both my boys fell asleep in my arms for the first time June 24th and the day Diane passed away September 13th
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Having Max and potty training Alex
9. What was your biggest failure?
We did not stay on a budget this year, in fact, we managed to accumulate additional bills. We did pay off some debt, but got right back in shortly after... boo.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I stayed healthy this year
11. What was the best thing you bought?
The Garmin
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Alex, who has settled down quite a bit AND is very nearly potty trained!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
  I'm looking at YOU California. |prop 8|
14. Where did most of your money go?
A big chunk to new windows, another chunk to taxes and some to funeral expenses.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Having Max
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I kissed a girl because it's one of Alex's favorite songs to dance to
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
I'm thinner, only because I'm no longer pregnant c) richer or poorer?
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
exercising
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
eating
20. How did you spend Christmas? Building up the Santa myth for Alex and family get togethers

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Fell in love with my little family even more.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Nova Science Now
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Not really
24. What was the best book you read?
I read some books, but none of them all that great.  Sadly, my diet books were probably the best books I've read this year
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Didn't have one

26. What did you want and get?
New windows for our house
27. What did you want and not get?  A new furnace and humidifier  

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I liked The Dark Knight, Hancock, Iron Man and Tropic Thunder
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31 this year. My grandma was in town so we celebrated a little with her and a little with John's family.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Getting completely out of debt.  
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Fashion concept?  HA! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
32. What kept you sane?
My marriage, my mom's group, my family
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I couldn't help it, even though I was a Hillary supporter, after the primary I got on the Obama wagon, big time.  

34. What political issue stirred you the most? Um....THE ELECTION!  

35. Who did you miss?
Diane
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Max
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
It is possible, though sometimes very difficult, to find something positive in every situation.  Though it doesn't necessarily make that situation ok, or happy or really any better, it is worth looking to the positive, it is worth trying to find something to learn from the situation, to make your sacrifice or loss not to have been in vain. 
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
As crazy a year as this was for us, it seems the only constant was our marriage.  Our relationship got us through some really tough times, and I feel like, right now, we are stronger together than ever.  So, it might be sappy, but I'm going with a love song:

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE (Billy Joel)

I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are