The annual reflection. Here's the one from when I turned 26. Here's the one from when I turned 25.WARNING: This is 90% baby because that's just what's been consuming most of my physical, mental, and emotional energy this past year!
What was the single best thing that happened this past year? Finding out we were going to have a child. (Read: "Oh my gosh, we're PREGNANT!! woot!")
What was the single most challenging thing that happened? Slogging through the last semester of law school followed by studying super hard for the bar exam.
What was an unexpected joy this past year? Volunteering at a nearby after school program. I've just loved working with those kids.
What was an unexpected obstacle? I landed an awesome temporary job with an immigration attorney, but that meant interviewing clients in Spanish about their personal lives including the awful crimes that they experienced that made them eligible for the U-Visa.
What were the best books you read this year? I always read a lot, so I have a lot of favorites!
With whom were your most valuable relationships? My husband, my parents & siblings, and my closest friends. I also loved getting to know my daughter as much as you possibly can through feeling movements, hearing heartbeats on the fetal doppler, and seeing ultrasound images.
What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? Being pregnant takes so much time. In the summer, I had many days where I just laid on the couch feeling too exhausted and nauseous to move. In the last few months, I have moved more and more slowly, have insomnia more often, and am exhausted a lot. But, given that this is all a byproduct of growing a human being, it probably doesn't count as wasted time!
- "Compassion" by Henri Nouwan & others
- "Grace for the Good Girl" by Emily Freeman
- "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert
- "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
- "Two Part Invention" by Madeleine L'Engle
- "Through Gates of Splendor" by Elisabeth Elliot
- "The Meaning of Marriage" by Tim Keller
With whom were your most valuable relationships? My husband, my parents & siblings, and my closest friends. I also loved getting to know my daughter as much as you possibly can through feeling movements, hearing heartbeats on the fetal doppler, and seeing ultrasound images.
What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? Being pregnant takes so much time. In the summer, I had many days where I just laid on the couch feeling too exhausted and nauseous to move. In the last few months, I have moved more and more slowly, have insomnia more often, and am exhausted a lot. But, given that this is all a byproduct of growing a human being, it probably doesn't count as wasted time!
What was the best way you used your time this past year? Taking it easy and not expecting too much of myself (this is hard for me to do!) on the days where growing my sweet little fetus took a lot out of me.
What was the biggest thing you learned this past year? I've experienced God as my Shepherd in a way like no other year of my life.
Did anyone close to you get married, give birth, or pass away? My brother and sister-in-law didn't give birth, but after months of waiting, my precious niece, Lilianna, was placed in their family on an adoptive basis! Also, our college mentors, a cousin, and friends from church had babies.
Where did you travel? We rang in the New Year in Bangkok and also traveled south to Thailand's touristy Phuket. We road-tripped to Colorado over the summer, flew to Colorado for Thanksgiving, and I went alone to Colorado after Christmas while Michael was at Urbana. We also just recently went on a babymoon to Cambria, California.
What would you like to have this year that you lacked last year? My baby in my arms.
What days will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Fourth of July when the pregnancy test was positive. Do I need to explain why?
Two days after we found out we were going to have a girl, my brother and sister-in-law called us telling us they had a girl (via adoption). We sat in the Costco parking lot on the phone with them hearing her story up to that point. I remember that conversation every time I drive into the Costco parking lot.
What was your biggest achievement of the year? Growing a human. (More than becoming a lawyer.)
What was your biggest failure? Worrying about the future.
Did you suffer illness or injury? Other than typical pregnancy aches and pains, no. Well, except for that time I fainted outside an ice cream shop.
What did you get really, really, really excited about? Baby stuff. Finding out we were having one, seeing her ultrasounds, feeling her kick, finding out it was a girl, my niece coming into our family, and meeting her at Thanksgiving.
What kept you sane? Having lots of free time. My man.
What are you looking forward to the most this year? Meeting our baby!
I love this idea...reflecting through questions. Had no idea that you two had just returned from Thailand right before we met you! And don't you love having memories linked to locations...costco parking lot. Thanks for sharing, Christie - feel like I know you a bit better. :-) We're so excited to meet that little girl too!
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