2010 highlights (and lowlights)

A year ago, Tim thoughtfully purchased a bottle of sparking grape juice for me to toast with at midnight. We were still in the early stages of my pregnancy, and I was sick, exhausted and working two jobs. But as I'm reading posts from other bloggers about the end of 2010 and looming new year, it made me really start to think back on the last 365 days. So even though I have a boat load of posts half-finished, I just wanted to summarize some of the highlights (and lowlights) of the past year (and I could link back to so many of these things, but it would likely take me until 2012 to do).

Best physical feelings: First solid kick at 18 weeks. Not having morning sickness every day. Hiccups in the womb. Feeling Elle being born. Holding Elle. Cuddling Elle.

Worst physical feelings: Being nauseous for about 10 weeks straight. Swollen feet during the end of my pregnancy. Giving birth didn't exactly feel pleasant, nor did the recovery from doing so, but it was worth it.

Best sounds: Elle's laughs, hands down. Elle's first cry ranks up there, too.

Worst sounds: The cats picking at the new carpet. 

Biggest shocks: Finding out Elle was HUGE. The possibility of needing a scheduled c-section. Having such a quick, fairly easy delivery. Giving birth without an epidural. Having our baby be such a good sleeper. Having success with (and eventually loving) breastfeeding.

Best moments: Elle's birth. All of our ultrasounds. All of our time with family and friends, especially introducing our special little lady to so many people who love her. Visiting family, and having family visit us. Three of my close friends getting married this year. Friends getting engaged. Meeting new friends in our mommy/baby group. Developing existing friendships. The birth of my niece, Abby. Several friends becoming pregnant and/or having babies.

Worst moments: Worrying about Gigantor's delivery - thinking about induction, c-sections, etc. caused quite a bit of anxiety for me. The first few weeks of breastfeeding - I was tired, I was stressed, and it was frustrating to be "on-call" 24/7 and be the only one who could feed her before we introduced bottles. Being sick while pregnant. Being sick while breastfeeding.

Coolest purchases: All things baby. A new TV. A new (used) car for me. My new camera. New carpet.

Worst purchase: New carpet.

Things I never thought would happen/I'd survive this year: All of the breaking news I dealt with at work this year. The Reds being in the playoffs. Giving birth.

Best trips: Atlanta for our babymoon, Ohio in April, Ohio in October. (OK, those were our only big trips, but they were all fantastic.)

Health accomplishments: Birthing Gigantor without pain meds. Running until 22 weeks pregnant. Working out 4-6 times a week until the day my contractions started (which subsequently was Elle's birthday eve). Running after pregnancy. Being several pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight.

Health failures: The months I had huge weight gains while pregnant. Oopsies!

Biggest accomplishments: Elle, duh. Finishing my Web designer certificate. Tim getting a new assignment at work.Working a full-time and part-time job until my third trimester. Paying down oodles of debt. Saving more. Losing my pregnancy weight. Exclusively breastfeeding.

A mish-mash of hopes and goals for 2011: Strive to be the best person I can be every day - wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, employee. Make sure everyone knows how much they mean to me. Surround our daughter with love. Work on developing my business some more - it had started to gain momentum but I didn't want to get too involved during the end of my pregnancy/beginning of parenthood. Run more - my sister and I are running a half-marathon relay in March, so I'm training with a goal in mind. Continue to lose weight and tone up - I plan to drop another 10 pounds, which will put me below my wedding weight. The holiday eating has been hard, but I'm headed in the right direction. Craft more. Save more. Cook more. Learn more. Worry less.

I think 2010 was great, but I think 2011 will be amazing in its own way :)