Yearly Recap: 2011

I love this time between Christmas and New Years - it's a great time to reflect on the year and prepare for a shiny, fresh new one. It also doesn't hurt that I always have this week off of work. Last year recapped 2010 here - man, oh man, how life can change in a year!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Became a mom to lovely little Ingrid and took a job in advertising.

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

To break away from the traditional "lose weight/be a better person" resolution, in 2011, I resolved to:

• Find a job that’s creatively and financially rewarding - Check!
• Continue to workout and practice yoga 4-5 days a week - Nope! Sorry overly-ambitious resolution!
• Drop all baby weight by September - Bahaha! 15 pounds to go, and it's December. 27th. 
• Breastfeed! - Thankfully, yes! 
• Get my braces off and paid off! - Oh brother. I like to forget the fact that I had adult braces. Yes, they are off and paid in full! 
• Stay on budget and pay off our credit card - Getting there...
• Go camping with baby Atkinson - Check! 
• Continue to stay in touch with friends and family - Yes! 

In 2012, I'm going to keep it sweet, simple and not at all original: 

• Drop all baby weight by Ingrid's first birthday
• Workout and practice yoga consistently
• Get out of debt 
• Embrace an attitude of gratitude, daily 
• Be a great wife, mother and friend

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My two sisters-in-law to Ingrid's little cousins Audri in August and Wayne in November. And my good friend from college April and Malcolm to sweet little Tertius (can't wait to meet him this week!).

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thank goodness, no!

5. What countries did you visit?
Nada. I went to Alabama and Minnesota. Aren't you jealous of my worldly travels?

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Stability!

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 10 - Ingrid arrived!
July 15 - Received a job offer!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Finding balance. Without it, I'm a hot mess and with it, I'm somewhat bearable.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I felt like a huge failure on June 27, the day we left to go camping for my birthday. Before we left, I received a thick envelope from my employer confirming my Unemployed status. Even though I knew this was coming - that day and feeling is forever stamped in my mind. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. Because I felt helpless, worthless and terrified to spend a dollar.

The job searching process has it's obvious downs, but I learned that I wasn't defined by phone interviews that went down the gutter - and rejection letters were simply a notice that I wasn't the right fit. Nothing more. I'm thankful to now understand that although unemployment feels shitty - it's not a measure of failure.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thankfully no, I could throw in c-section recovery, but honestly, I'd rather not remember that ordeal.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I have to be honest with you, the first thing I thought of was a nursing tank. So, although it's not glamorous, I'm going to say that the best thing I bought in 2011 was a nursing tank. Ok, three nursing tanks.

12. Where did most of your money go?
To our landlord and to UWM Children's Center.

13. What did you get really excited about?
Having a baby. Getting a job. My first day on the job. Abby's wedding. Talking about babies with other moms. Wisconsin sports.

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Street Corner Preacher by Amos Lee. Our kitchen iPod loved playing this in the morning when I was getting ready for the day. Love it.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you: 

– happier or sadder? Happier.
– thinner or fatter? Thinner - but just barely - and at this time last year I was five months pregnant.
– richer or poorer? Richer.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Listened. Read. Laughed. Taken more photos. Practiced yoga.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of? 

Complained. Job searched. Eating meat.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas Eve: Spent the day with Dan and Ingrid - went on a long afternoon walk and made buffalo chicken wontons that night.
Christmas Day: The morning with the Zaches and the afternoon with the Henze's - and a Packer win to top it off.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
Is "Bravo" too broad? That, and Gossip Girl.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
Hands down, The Hunger Games trilogy. Runner up, Eat. Sleep. Poop.

21. What was your favorite music from this year? 

Oh. La. Gagagaha.

and She & Him.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Bridesmaids, The Help and Our Idiot Brother.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
28 - one of the most memorable birthdays ever. Dan, Ingrid, Harper and I went camping at High Cliff State Park. We enjoyed a long weekend of hiking, drinking, reading and enjoying the great outdoors!


24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A fatter savings account.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
"Letting go of maternity leggings" - with a touch of western.


26. What kept you sane?
Yoga, Harper, Dan, baby Ingrid, my girlfriends and cooking.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

One way or another, everything has a way of working out.

Happy Everything.

This past year, we welcomed so many joys into our lives, the number one being Ingrid. 

Just one more day of work and then we can all celebrate the holiday together!
Repeat the sounding joy!

Mini-Excitement.

After returning home from a particularly hectic day at work, I was greeted with a rectangular package. Well, first I was greeted by a wiggly-butt Harper, a giggly-face Ingrid and a tired Husband. Then, I inquired about the mail status. Husband replied "Didn't get it, but there's a big package on the stairs."

Maybe this is another cliche difference between men and women, but honestly, who can just leave a large package on the stairs for like, four hours? Ingrid's jeggings and my sweater had arrived the day before (Merry Christmas!) - so what could be in this mysterious box? 

Since we live in a rental property, we continue to receive holiday cards and wedding invitations for previous renters (address to the most random people: The Gulroys, Steve & Tim and my personal favorite - Judy M.). I was skeptical that the box was for an Atkinson. 

I literally clapped my hands when I opened it up and found a real, live, Christmas tree.  

With the mysterious note "Have yourself a Merry Christmas" 

The gifter's identity remains at large - but I will be having myself a Merry little Christmas!

Nothing like a little package to brighten up a gloomy December night!

A Glimpse

As kids, Christmas was obviously a magical time. We didn't need any commercials to rope us in - gifts from a magical man in a red suit, singing, sweets galore, and a week off of school - amazing!

Then, enter the cynical teen-years. Too cool to get excited about...anything, really. Shopping for my little sister? Please, I was too busy not zippering my coat when it was 20 degrees.

Fast-forward to college - where it was acceptable to "get into" the season once again. My six roommates and I managed to purchase and and rig-up a real-life Christmas tree (that sat in our house until well-past Valentine's Day - and was eventually pushed into the Chippewa River), we played Christmas music and I'm assuming consumed an inappropriate number of cookies. I even started going to church again with my mom. It was back. The warm-fuzzies of the holidays were back in full force.

Since then, I've enjoyed the holidays with roommates and eventually, with husband. Some years it's fun, others the holidays are a pain - but no matter what, I find joy being in the kitchen.

A few weeks ago while unpacking a small tote of decor, Ingrid's face lit up when I plugged in the lights. She let out an "Ohhhh-galllll" which in "Ingrid," I'm assuming, means "Wow, that's really pretty." It was a small and wonderful glimpse.

A glimpse into many years of singing and crafting - a glimpse into creating traditions and making memories as a family.

Next year she still won't entirely "get" Christmas, Santa and the whole shebang, but years from now - I can't wait to wrap gifts, create crafts, bake cookies, visit family, watch plays, sing songs and create new traditions together.

Hopefully, this era lasts for many years, until she's "too cool" for Christmas - hopefully she'll be cool enough to zip up her winter coat.

Seven and Eighth Month

We've been slacking in the photo department over the past few months - but with Christmas around the corner, I'm sure we'll have plenty of photographic memories to embarrass Ingrid for years to come.

Last month, something in our house just started to click. The weeks started to feel routine and normal, Dan's business is still clipping along and Ingrid has been pretty bubbly. 

Ingrid's development is pretty amazing to watch. One minute she's jamming a little baby-cereal-puff on her chin and the next, it's magically in her mouth. One minute her little tummy is on the floor the next she's attempting a little child's-pose-rocking-scooting move. 

This fall, we've had a good time chilling out, getting ready for the holidays and getting back in the groove! Here's a look at her seventh and eighth month - Thanksgiving, Atkinson Christmas and a little more.

Long lost toy makes an appearance. Rattle bird is welcomed to the play mat once again.

Fake-napping

Chubby thighs. 

Thanksgiving lovin' 

Thank goodness for elastic-waist jeans.

Gabbing with cousin Audri

Tiger attacks at Micheal's 

Who are you calling a milk junkie? 

Paper - the latest living room craze

Ok, I AM a milk junkie. Happy?

Reading with Great Grandma Atkinson

Laying around with Santay-cousins

Aunt Alex and baby Wayne

First present (cliche - the paper was the bigger hit)

That. Santa. Hat. Is. Funny.

Watching the Republican debate.

Holidays.

The holidays are hectic. True, but they are also wonderfully pleasant. When else can cook amazingly decadent food, bake dozens of cookies and decorate with glitter? I love giving into my "inner Martha" and get into the holidays. Everything's just so sparkly and wonderful. Except for the whole family situation because, dividing time between our four families is...hard.

Ugh, I'd rather dust. Or drink wheatgrass. Or do whatever you find mildly unpleasant.

My parents and the husband's parents are both divorced and many of them, remarried. Now, don't get me wrong, I love our family. I would just love if we could make one or two trips to see most of them.

Ok, it's not just the number of visits or the multiple meals - it's the having to call the other set of parents on our way to see someone's parents. It's missing out on someone else's family function. It's small "stuff" but, it's constant and it's not fun.

And for some reason, you'd think it would get easier as we get older. As kids, everyone held our hands through the unfamiliar Divorce process. Fifteen years later, we - the kids - are in the driver's seat and we're left feeling guilty for missing out on multiple family gatherings each holiday.

It sounds a bit silly, really, "we just have TOO many people to please!" But I crave tradition, stability and comfort. Knowing that we'll be overtired, hopped up on cheesey dips, dropping gifts off here and there - sounds a little...less than relaxing.

I'm looking forward to creating special traditions with our little lady. Where the history is fresh and we have a clean slate to make a lifetime of memories.

Don't get me wrong, I love these wonderful family gatherings, I'm just looking forward to taking it easy - someday - with our little unit.