2014: Looking Back and Looking Forward

Is that sappy enough for ya??

Instead of letting the Facebook algorithm decide what was most memorable/interesting/exciting/newsworthy about this past year, I'm going to follow the lead of a friend of mine and fellow Navy wife, Liz Roscoe, who posted a retrospective over at her blog, "Ramblings of a Sailor's Lady."

http://ramblingsofasailorslady.blogspot.com/2014/12/2014-recap-and-onward-to-2015.html.

I wouldn't say I attach a huge amount of significance to New Year's - I mean, dates are pretty arbitrary (just try predicting when Chanukah will be next year relative to the Julian calendar!) and time passes no matter what date it is - but this was my first full year as a mother, so that deserves a bit of reflection in itself.

So here goes:

2014 Recap

1.     What did you do in 2014 that you've never done before?

- Pretty much anything related to raising/feeding/sleep training/accomplishing everyday activities with a baby.    

- Hired a babysitter (that's kind of part&parcel with the above, but it merits its own mention because it feels SUPER GROWN-UP)

2. Did you keep your New Years Resolutions & will you make any this year?

I was so sleep-deprived and foggy at New Year's last year...if I made any resolutions I sure as heck didn't write them down or keep track!

2015's goals are:

- Set aside time every week to sew.  Doesn't matter what, just get in that craft room and MAKE STUFF.

- Be more present for my baby girl.  Get off the computer, get off my phone, get off my butt and play, read, sing, explore with her.

- Get a job as a children's librarian!!  I think I have a really good shot at one and I really want it to work out.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Lots of people!  Some of them had their second, third or even fourth kid!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Robin Williams's death felt like a personal loss, even though it wasn't. Other than my very own 18-year-old cat who I rescued as a kitten on my high school campus, my family and friends are all doing okay.

5. What countries did you visit?

We were going to go to Canada over Thanksgiving but had to cancel because Eamon got a horrible stomach bug. So, no other countries visited this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2015 that you didn't have in 2014?

More time. Time for myself to rejuvenate and recharge. More sleep (though the lack thereof is largely my fault at this point).

7. What date from 2014 will be etched in your mind & why? 

May 10th. That was my first night "out on the town" for which Eamon was on solo baby duty, getting Ziva fed and bathed and to bed on his own.  It was a personal milestone for me as well as for him, and an important step in our parenting journey.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?  

I applied for and got a job I wasn't able to accept.  I got hired as a children's librarian with the DC public libraries, and even though I didn't end up taking it, it was very validating and I was proud of myself. 

9. What was your biggest failure?

There were a lot of times I felt like I failed as a parent, but really, I was doing okay.

10. Did you suffer injury or illness? 

No, but the first time my baby girl got hurt because of me, I cried longer and harder than she did.

11.  What was the best thing you bought?

Oddly enough, a serger.  It's something I got just for myself (i.e. not for the baby or having to do with the baby) and it represents my goal of doing more sewing, perhaps even more complicated sewing, and learning a new skill.

12. Whose behavior is worthy of celebration?

I'm going to say the Pope.  I'm as far from religious as they come, but he has impressed me over and over again with his humility, charity, generosity of spirit and message of reconciliation.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled?

Just about every Republican politician in this country.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Baby clothes. I'm a sucker for clothes as it is, but having a baby to buy for is just dangerous.

15. What did you get really, really, excited about? 

I get really, really excited about a lot of things. But the film of "Into the Woods" was probably what I was most anticipating this year, and it didn't disappoint!

16. What song will always remind you of 2014?

The lullaby "Close Your Eyes," which my mom wrote the tune for many years ago, based on a children's book we loved.  She and my brother recorded a CD of songs for Ziva, and that song is on it - I don't know how many times I've played that CD in the car and sung it to her at night.

17. Compared to 2013 were you ___________ in 2014a. Happier or sadder?  Happier - I wasn't pregnant anymore!
b. Thinner or fatter?  Thinner, but I have come to terms with the fact that I will probably not lose the last 10 pounds to get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight ;-)
c. Richer or poorer? Strictly speaking, poorer, since I only worked very part-time, but I'd say getting to be home with my baby girl has been pretty enriching.

18. What do you wish you had done more of? 

Slept.

19. What do you wish you had done less of?
Noodling around on my phone when I could have been playing with Ziva  I mean, she is very content to keep herself occupied, and sometimes it's good for her to do that, but she needs the best of me right now.

20. How did you spend the winter holidays? (Ed. note - this originally just said "Christmas" and that seemed unfair.)

We celebrated Chanukah at home, making latkes, lighting candles and singing blessings, and it was really sweet to see my daughter really starting to notice what was going on.  I sing to her all the time so I think she just enjoyed hearing my voice, and of course what 15-month-old isn't fascinated by candles??  But it's a tradition I hope will become as meaningful for her as it is for me.  On Christmas, Eamon had duty, so I went to see "Into the Woods" with a friend while her husband and two daughters played with Ziva, and then we all went to her mom's for Christmas dinner.  It was terrific!

21. What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you this past year?

Sitting in the library storytime circle, "flying" Ziva over my head and having her spew a spectacular fountain of spit-up that covered me from chin to crotch. Not our finest hour.

22.  Did you fall in love in 2014?

Yes, with my husband, all over again, watching him blossom into his role as daddy.

23.  What was your favorite restaurant?  

We didn't really eat out very much, but Bella Luna in Suquamish makes a damn good pizza.

24. What was your favorite TV program?

Ongoing: "Downton Abbey" and "Call the Midwife."

New: "Forever."

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate in 2014?

I do my best not to hate people, but I make no bones about hating their actions, or their prejudices, or their ignorance.  I have zero tolerance for bigots, bullies and bozos.

26. What was the best book that you read?

I...um...didn't read any book much longer than a board book.  True story.  And I call myself a librarian.

27.  What was your greatest musical discovery?

A Swedish composer named Dag Wiren, whose Opus 11, Serenade for String Orchestra, I heard on Classical KING FM 98.1 and just adored.

28.  What did you want & get in 2014? 

I wanted my baby girl to be healthy and happy, and although she has her moments, she is, in weather parlance, "mostly sunny" and in excellent health.

29. What did you want & not get in 2014? A dog. Some day!

30. What was your favorite movie of 2014?

"Into the Woods" was awesome, but I actually enjoyed "Saving Mr. Banks" more than I thought I would.

31. What did you do for your birthday & how old did you turn?

I turned 32 in 2014.  I was in Los Angeles for the Fall Baby Bash - Mom's is Sept. 27th, Ziva's is the 30th, Mom's sweetie's is Oct. 5th and mine's on the 16th.  We met up with my friend Rose at Pickwick Bowl, ate junk food and passed the baby around while everyone bowled. We had a blast!

32. What's one thing that would've made 2014 more satisfying? 

More sex.

33. How would you describe your fashion in 2014? 

"IDGAF."  Like DKNY except with fewer f***s given.

34.  What kept you sane? 

Facebook, parent/child activities, yoga, and puzzles.

35. What celebrity/public figure did you admire the most?  Barack Obama.  I don't know how he hasn't just gone crazy from everything he has to put up with.

36. What political issue fired you up the most? 

Guns...no pun intended.  Becoming a mom has really brought this whole thing into focus for me. It's absolutely shameful that nothing is being done to curb gun violence and gun crimes.

37. Who did you miss? 

So many people!  I just don't live that close to most of my friends and family, and although I made it down to LA several times, it's still hard.

38. Who was the best new person you met?  

Sean Decatur, the new president of my alma mater, Kenyon College. I got to meet him briefly at my 10th (!!!!) reunion and then later at an alumni event in Seattle.  He's a good guy, he loves the Beatles, and he seems to really understand Kenyon's ethos and how to help it continue to do what it does best.

39.  Tell us a lesson 2014 taught you:

Parenting and being in the Navy are very similar. You can never really make plans, you are subject to the whims of children, and there are no sick days.