My favorite blogging tradition

(Previous years: 2009, 2008, 2007.)

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
Got pregnant. Painted a room. Attended a French wedding.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I actually did make resolutions this year, and looking over them, I would say yes, I kept all five. And I'm very proud of myself for that. I don't think I'll make any for 2011, though. Dealing with the giant life change that's headed our way in just a few weeks should be daunting enough.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. Several in-person friends, not to mention quite a few bloggers.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
France.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Just, you know, a baby here on the outside instead of in my uterus. And maybe some disposable income.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 8, when we found out I was pregnant, and September 2, when we found out we were having a boy.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I would say managing to support Torsten in doing what he wanted for his career, i.e., leaving his job to start his own company. It was a huge change and a lot of risk, but he is so much happier and more fulfilled now, and so am I.

9. What was your biggest failure?
That's an interesting question. I guess this would be the flip side of my answer to the last question--sometimes letting the stress of being the sole breadwinner get to me. It has been an adjustment for sure.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, other than morning sickness.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
We bought almost nothing for ourselves this year, with our new budget in place, so I guess I would have to say all the baby stuff. Like, you know, the crib.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Like last year, I'm going to say Torsten here. He has absolutely blown me away with his incredible work on and dedication to his company, without sacrificing our marriage and quality time together as a result. He works so much, but when he's not working, he's very present, and he is very good at prioritizing so that the important non-work things, like childbirth class, still get done. He has been incredibly supportive and involved throughout this pregnancy despite the stress of work, and I can't wait to see what he's like as a dad.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Tea Party.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Our mortgage. Sigh.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I'll give you one guess.

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
This is embarrassing, but Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?
a) Happier
b) Fatter in the belly, thinner everywhere else
c) Poorer in terms of current cash flow, richer in terms of future income prospects

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Um. Earning money?

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Vomiting. But it was in the name of a very good cause, so I'm not complaining. Just saying that if/when I get pregnant again, I will have the fluid taken out of my lap-band the second the nausea hits, and hopefully that will help me avoid the miserable weeks of puking that accompanied the first trimester this time around.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
In our house here in Denver, just the two of us and the dog. It was very low-key and pretty much perfect. Even though I'm sure that next year's Christmas will be pretty much the exact opposite and yet equally perfect.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
More so with Torsten (and I am telling you, I don't know if it's the oxytocin or what, but since getting pregnant I just feel OVERWHELMED with love for him, like I can't even believe how much I love him, and I just want to grab him and squeeze him all the time because I love him so much), and for the first time with this baby.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
House. The Colbert Report.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.

24. What was the best book you read?
Huh. I am reading The Unhealthy Truth now, and that's been very interesting. I also really enjoyed The Help, like pretty much everyone else in the world.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Cee Lo Green. There, I said it. And yes, this is on the basis of his one profane song that I LOVE SO VERY MUCH.

26. What did you want and get?
Pregnant.

27. What did you want and not get?
A million dollars?

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Toy Story 3 was great. But, to be fair, I only saw like three or four movies all year.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was in DC on a business trip. Torsten was in Denver, so that was slightly grump-inducing, but my mom was in DC too, so that helped, and we had dinner at a friend's house, which was lovely. I turned 26.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I really can't think of anything. As I said last year about 2009, it was a great year exactly as it was.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Elastic panels figured heavily.

32. What kept you sane?
My husband, for sure.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I still love me some Barack Obama.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Let's see. Health care. Gay marriage. DADT. I'm sure there were more.

35. Who did you miss?
I'm going to steal last year's answer here: Most of my friends and family, since pretty much all of them live far away now.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
More Denver people. Including Emily and her family, and another Emily, and Artemisia (except I can't even remember if she and I first met this year or last year). And some of the couples in our childbirth class, and several other lovely people.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
Mostly things really do turn out fine. Not always, but often enough.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
For the first time ever, I actually have a response to this question, and it's because that Michael Buble song that I mentioned in question 16? It really reminds me of pregnancy:

"I promise you, kid, that I give so much more than I get/I just haven't met you yet/I might have to wait, I'll never give up/I guess it's half timing, and the other half's luck/Wherever you are, whenever it's right/You'll come out of nowhere and into my life/And I know that we can be so amazing/And, baby, your love is gonna change me/And now I can see every possibility."

Happy New Year, everybody!