December 9th, 2003 - Tuesday

12

I did this last year, as part of WordGoddess. However, all my late entries (Oct - Dec) in 2002 are gone so I figured I'll just do it again!

12 people I'm grateful are in my life

  • George - the one sure thing in my life
  • Hayley - the sun and the moon and the stars
  • Amanda - who knew I could be friends with my sister?
  • Joanne - I missed being her friend
  • Nancy - having a common ground (babies!) brought us closer together
  • Rudi - seeing Nancy's daughter interacting with mine is amazing
  • Mar - she keeps me sane
  • Zannie - without her message board, where would I go to babble on and on ad nauseum about my baby?
  • Nanny - seeing life through the eyes of someone in her late 80s is something else!
  • Tyler - he took my cat when I couldn't keep him but couldn't bear to just flat out get rid of him
  • My mom - because she's my mom of course!
  • Can I lump this together? The girls over here and the girls over there.

    11 things I'd put into a time capsule

  • The most recent CD backup of my digital pictures
  • Aero chocolate bars
  • A backup of this website
  • Some of my scrapbooking efforts
  • My burgundy gypsy top that I will never wear again (other than as a costume) that I can't throw away
  • A letter written to whomever finds the capsule
  • A newspaper
  • Candy corn
  • The Poisonwood Bible
  • Some of my recipes
  • "Heathers"

    10 things this past year has taught me

  • Despite loving sleep I can get by on remarkably little
  • Know who your friends are
  • Enjoy the clingy and cuddly newborn days before they turn into "don't hug me!" toddlers
  • Afternoon naps make me groggy and cranky
  • A territorial and jealous cat makes for a stinky apartment
  • Friends who will take said cat home to live with them are great to have
  • People have a zillion opinions about raising children and will tell you every last one of them even if you don't give a shit
  • Believing in something is so important, even if you start to falter a little
  • It really is possible to get into the holiday spirit
  • Some people never change

    9 things I could have done without

  • Sleep deprivation
  • A tooth abscess
  • People insisting that smoking "really isn't that bad around babies"
  • Arguments
  • Family drama
  • Being broke
  • Cutting my own bangs that one time
  • Having several colds while still nursing and thus being unable to take anything for it
  • Temper tantrums

    8 of the best books I've read and/or movies I've seen

  • The Poisonwood Bible - best freakin' book ever!
  • The Da Vinci Code - still reading it but loving it!
  • A Witch Alone - also still reading it but very useful
  • White Oleander - very haunting and wonderful
  • Nighttime Parenting by Dr Sears - it helps sometimes
  • "Psycho Beach Party" - what a mindless and fun movie that kept me company when Hayley wouldn't sleep
  • "Sweet Home Alabama" - so cute and cheery
  • "Finding Nemo" - cute, cute, cute

    7 little things I've done to make the world/my world a better place

  • Ignoring people who talk out of their asses
  • Learned to count to ten (okay, I'm still working on that)
  • Started de-cluttering
  • Starting cooking with fervor again
  • Learned to take the time to read for enjoyment
  • Play time in the park with a toddler
  • Obtained rats to teach Hayley about the joy of animals - all animals

    6 things I'd like the New Year to bring

  • Sleep
  • Can I say sleep again?
  • People to respect my convictions and beliefs
  • More time to read
  • Freelance work
  • More time for baths instead of just showers

    5 gifts I'd like to give

  • Another guitar for George
  • A college fund for Hayley
  • A house for my family
  • A trip for my Nanny
  • A trip to Scotland for Amanda

    4 non-tangible gifts I'd like to receive

  • Sleep?
  • The ability to do my hair just like the hairdresser
  • The ability to meditate
  • The ability to remember my dreams when I wake up

    3 tangible gifts I'd like to receive

  • A bigger crockpot
  • New jeans
  • A laptop (hey, no one said this had to be realistic!)

    2 favorite holiday memories

  • The Christmas George and I first spent together
  • Hayley's first Christmas

    1 thing that surprised me the most this year

  • I can do this. I really, truly can.

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    Notified readers love Chinese buffets.

    On this day (more or less):

    2002: All my December 2002 entries are lost. :(
    2001: We didn't even bother with putting up the Christmas tree or lights because it felt too much like work.
    2000: None.
    1999: Yet i still managed to wake up with a mild hangover. On a Thursday. Man. It's been a long day.

    • Reading: The DaVinci Code, Dan Brown.

    Listening: Cricket playing with a piece of paper on the floor, baby monitor.

    Watching: "Newlyweds" and "The Simple Life" - trash television!

    Anticipating: No idea.

    Eating: Breakfast - Brioche. Lunch - Peanut butter and jam sandwiches. Supper - Minestrone Stew.

    Wearing: Red pajamas.

    Feeling: Okay.

    Forecasting: It was nice out today.

    Craving: Tea and carrot cake.

    Gratifying: Tea and carrot cake. :)

    Baby talk:

  • Hayley is: 14+ months old.
  • As of September 22nd, she weighed 22 lbs.
  • She currently enjoys: Minestrone Stew, judging by the way she gulped it down.
  • Meanwhile, she hates: Not much today!