2012 Memory Lane

I got the idea to do this survey from one of the blogs I follow, OK Dani.  I mainly blog about my kiddo lately, but I thought it would be nice to blog about something else for a change. 

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before? Gave birth to my beautiful baby boy.  Completed year 1 of 2 of my fellowship.  Function surprisingly well despite chronic sleep deprivation.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't make resolutions.  I have short and long term goals that I make throughout the year.  I actually purposefully avoiding making new year's resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I had my first baby.  My uncle and his wife had a baby girl.  My aunt in Jamaica had a baby boy.  My male cousin in Jamaica had a baby girl.  A few of my co-workers and hubby's co-workers had babies.  A few of my blogging buds had babies.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Unfortunately, yes.  My maternal grandma died on Thanksgiving day (unexpected in Jamaica).  My husband's paternal grandmother and maternal grandfather died.  One of our friends (early 30s, had a baby this year) died a few months ago.  It's been a challenging year when it came to losing family and friends.

5. Did you visit anywhere exciting? We rented a cabin over the summer for a few days with our little baby.  My mother was with us so she kept the baby while we hiked and went white water rafting.  We also hung out in the mountains of Highlands, NC for a few days too (later in the year).  We visited family in Florida for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It's always great seeing family.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? MORE SLEEP.  Balancing my life better.  More alone time with my husband. A real vacation (maybe with hubby alone--still trying to decide about that one).  Better diet.  An exercise routine.  I guess I want a lot, huh?

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? February 4--the date my little boy was born.  He came 8 days early but I was so happy to see my healthy bundle of joy (and energy).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Having my son!

9. What was your biggest mistake? Giving in to mommy guilt.  Not realizing earlier that many things in life (especially challenges) are seasonal.

 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No but I had a medical scare.  After my 6 week postpartum check up I was told I had cervical dysplasia (precancerous cells on pap smear).  A repeat was done a few months later which was completely normal.  Apparently, it's not completely uncommon for abnormal cells to show up on pap smear postpartum due to scar tissue from delivery.  When I first heard the news all I could think of was my baby being without his mommy (I know, I'm a bit dramatic).   Anyway, I'm very thankful it was nothing.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Besides the Baby Bjorn baby carrier that I toted my little one in for months, I would say the I-pad I bought for my grandma.  She can Facetime us, take pics, receive pics listen to her favorite radio stations and other music, play games, make videos.  She was very happy to receive it.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My baby boy and my baby daddy.  LOL.  My son is so awesome.  He's a joy.  He's sweet and smiley, cuddly and wiggly, giggly and a ball of energy.  I just love watching him achieve his milestones and explore his environment.  It amazes me that he behaves so well, especially in public.  I love that kid.  My husband has also been awesome.  I feel very blessed.  He's a great husband and a wonderful father.  I couldn't ask for more.

 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? A few news events were appalling. No one in my personal life.

14. Where did most of your money go in 2011? TAXES and educational debt.  Kidding.  Well, not really.  We bought a lot of baby stuff too.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? MY BABY and being the best mom I could be.  I was so excited about expanding our family and meeting the new addition.  I must say that all the excitement was not in vain.  He was so worth waiting for.  He's just lovely.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012? I unfortunately don't have one.  I was thinking really hard but couldn't come up with anything.

17. Compared to this time last year, you are: More comfortable because I'm not big and pregnant.  No longer nauseated because I'm not pregnant.  Not experiencing indigestion because I'm not pregnant.  More sleep deprived despite not being pregnant (thanks to my rugrat).  Still disorganized (pregnancy brain has turned into mommy brain).

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Sleep.  Spend time with my extended family.  Exercise.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying about everything (man, being a new mom makes an already neurotic person really crazy).

20. How did you spend Christmas? With my extended family in Orlando.  It was great celebrating baby K's first Christmas.  I am so thankful for all that I've been blessed with.

21. Did you fall in love in 2012? YES, with my baby boy.  It was instant.  I'm still in love.  I love looking in those big brown eyes of his :)

22. What was your favorite TV program? I don't usually watch TV but this year after we put baby K to bed, we've been watching Law and Order SVU and NCIS (old and new).  We hardly let the little guy watch TV but the few times it's on, it's on Nick Jr.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Nope!

24. What was the best book you read? Sadly, I don't usually read for leisure.  In the past the answer would be some school related book.  This time it's Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth, MD.

 

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? XM radio.

26. What did you want and get? A healthy little boy.  I also got joy and peace.  A new SUV.

27. What did you want and not get? Nothing really, I'm pretty content.  It feels good to be content.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 30, I can't remember.  My baby was 2 months old.  I was sleep deprived.

29. What’s one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I wouldn't change a thing, not even my losses and challenges.  Actually, that's not true.  It would have been better if I worried less.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012? The year started out with me being big and pregnant in my third trimester.  My go-to outfit were dresses (which looked like shirts on my pregnant body), tights and boots.  Immediately post pregnancy I was able to fit in my pre-pregnancy jeans but I wore bigger, baggier shirts.  The year ended with me wearing more dresses and skirts, colorful skinny pants, and more fitted shirts.

31. What kept you sane? Prayer and my faith.  My husband.  My family and their prayers.  Having a reliable loving caregiver for my child.  Having a flexible and understanding boss.

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? None really.

33. What political issue stirred you the most? I'm not very political.  And if I was, I probably wouldn't comment about my opinion on this blog or any other public forum.

34. Who do you miss the most? My mother.  I wish she lived in the US but I know she loves living in Jamaica.

35. Who was the best new person you met? My son, obviously.  My life will never be the same, which is good.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012? I have to do what's best for my family (which sometimes mean disappointing nonfamily members, seeming rude, reminding others of how valuable my time is, being less OCD, being more chill)

37. What are your new years resolutions for 2013? I don't make new year's resolutions but I do make short and long term goals throughout the year.

Mrs. K

I'm back and hopefully for good w/ lots of pix to overcompensate

Hey there! Sorry I've been gone for so long.  Due to a combination of laziness and some I'm busy with life-ness I've been neglecting my blog.  I have been reading the blogs that I follow regularly and sometimes I would leave a comment or two.  Other times I'll start writing a comment then realize that I'm not logged in then delete it instead of logging in.

You may remember that we are moving in a few months--the anticipated time is late June.  We've been house hunting like mad (from 100s of miles away) and as you can imagine it's been a little challenging.  I do have to thank God for Trulia, Craigslist and the internet in general because it could be worse.  I don't know how people did long distance house shopping pre-internet when they worked a full time job.  I also really really appreciate a couple we know (living in our future home city) for visiting the houses and even videotaping them so we can get an idea of what they are like.  Isn't that awesome?

Anyway, we are excited about the move for many reasons but also there's a little sadness because I've developed some meaningful relationships here over the past 3 years.  At least we are moving to a place with lots of activities where people wouldn't mind visiting (well, that's what our friends and family say). lol

So what's happened over the past few weeks since I've been gone....hmmmm....

I went to a wedding.  It was my first IR wedding since ours.  It was so beautiful and it was great to see the families come together.  I love weddings in general.  You know how some old folks like to visit funerals, well I like to visit weddings.  It doesn't matter who's wedding it is, I always have a good time.  The ceremonies are usually my favorite.  Every time I've attended a wedding since we've been married I get warm and fuzzy inside thinking about the similar vows my husband and I took a few years ago.

Beautiful couple at their wedding

This is the only pic of myself in my wedding outfit (which you can't see)

I visited with an old friend.  She attends school in Wisconsin and she was visiting with another friend in Birmingham, AL.  I drove up to meet with them a few weekends ago and we had a great time.  I don't have too many girlfriends--well friends in general (by choice--lol) but it was great being in the company of like minded God-fearing women.  Actually we are pretty different but it makes our conversations that much more interesting.

In Birmingham, AL with friends at an urban park

More pix of the park--it's self sufficient apparently (which I think is pretty neat).  Very environmentally conscious park in the middle of a rough part of town.  It's a great way to get people to go out and enjoy the community.

More female bonding/supporting. Part of the UN is represented here from l to r: Jamaica, Haiti, Ghana

I've realized that I'm horrible with keeping in touch with people.  Well, I knew this from the get-go but it's pretty bad.  I have to do better.  Thank God that the people who matters the most realize that this is one of my character flaws and are willing to work with me. Right friends and fam? ::Wink, wink::  Lol.

I'm still working out regularly but not as much as I was when I was doing Insanity.  I'm doing P90X but only about 4 times per week on average.  I've also started back running too.  I was proud to get out there and run 3 miles on day 1 (this is after stopping in late fall--I know it's been a while but I hate cold weather).  Hubby is still a rock star with his whole diet and exercise routine.  I'm so proud of him!

I just wanted to show off hubby's hard work and his new beard.  He's never sported a beard before but I'm  surprisingly digging it.  BTW--the matching clothing is totally coincidental. 

The dogs are doing well...still nuts but I love them.  Eliza is so sweet to humans but she's a pain in the booty to her big brother, Gideon.  Gideon's still a punk and allow Eliza to take advantage of him.  We took them to the park yesterday and it was so much fun playing hide-and-seek with them. 

I have no words to describe these 2 lunatics right now.

I think that's about it for now.  I'll try to write more soon.  Thanks for hanging in there.  Oh yeah, today is my 29th birthday.  Hubby is working at the hospital tonight but he made me a yummy birthday breakfast this morning.  There was some left over Belgian waffles which I ate with syrup, nutella and whipped cream for dessert (of course it also satisfied my always raging sweet tooth). Ha!

Talk to you soon :)

Mrs. K

Product Review/Giveaway?

I was contacted by a company who wanted me to work with them doing reviews/giveaways on this blog.  I want to know what you guys think about this.  I mean the company has some great products (just from scanning their sites) but I just don't know.  When I first started blogging I was not interested in doing reviews, advertising, etc and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.   I've seen some positive and negative things said on some blogs I've read in the past.  

Even though I would still blog even if I had no followers because it's something I've grown to enjoy (writing down my thoughts and feelings), I do appreciate the people who take the time to read and especially make comments.  So, it would be nice to be able give something away to my followers but I fear becoming too impersonal.  You know what I mean?   I know, I over-think things.  On the other hand it sounds like it could be fun also for me. But of course being the person I am, I don't like committing to something if I won't be able to do a darn good job at it.  So, I don't know.   Anyway, I'm hoping you guys can help me out by giving me some ideas and answering some of my queries.

What do you honestly think about reviews/giveaways?

Do you already do this on your blog and if not would you?

If I do decide to do it, do yoiu know if it's a binding contract (with deadlines, etc)?

How much commitment is necessary to do something like that?

Would I have to get one of those random number generator thingies to select a winner?

What do you think about blogs that host product reviews? (I like them because I get a chance to win some free stuff...lol)

Would I need to have the company logo displayed all the time?

Please feel free to give me any other input.  You can comment here or email me. Thanks.

Mrs. K