2010: Year In Review

I was at a lost over how to recap on the year when I came across this list and thought it would be a good place to start!

1. Where did you ring in 2010?

I actually can't remember, which means I was, in all likelihood, at home with both DD and Noey asleep in bed and me tap-tap-tapping my year-end round-up on my laptop. Hmmm, sounds like what I did this year, except that DD was awake! I really should plan something more exciting next year.

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't really make any last year, but I will this year, because I am all into making lists! (It's the pregnancy hormones, I'm sure.) Watch for it.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

A couple of friends gave birth near the beginning of the year (like Momo) and a couple of my colleagues towards the end of the year, but no one really close.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Again, no one really close. A couple of elderly relatives on both DD's side of the family and mine did pass on. My 四姨婆's passing was the one that made the most impact since I remember her fondly from annual CNY visits and in between, but at least she lived a full life. Our church mate Joseph was also called home suddenly to the Lord at 40. Our heart still goes out to his family.

5. Did you know anybody who got married?

Friends/family whose weddings we attended: Weng Soon & Adelene, Allen & Celia, Yining & Susanna, Winston & Lilin.

6. What countries did you visit?

Johor, Malaysia in June and Sydney, Australia in Oct-Nov. It was a VERY DRY year for trips.

7. Were you in school anytime this year?

Nope. I did think about it this year, more because I really just want to leave the country and further studies would be the perfect excuse. Hah. But after doing the math, I tried to convince DD that it would be more worth it to just use the money to be spent on a Masters and move to another country for a year-long sabbatical. He was, sadly, not impressed with the idea.

8. How did you earn your keep?

Working part-time as a legal counsel in the same company that I've been with for 4 years now. In this time I have become the 2nd longest serving person in my department. Things have changed a lot, but my part-time arrangement is sweet and I'm not ready to give it up quite just yet.

9. Did you have to go to the hospital?

Yes, for a D&C after a miscarriage. Not something I ever want to live through again.

10. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

To go to sleep sharing my bed only with DD. And to get my elbow back permanently!

11. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Renovating and moving house while pregnant and suffering through the first trimester. The house has some way to go to being finished the way I like it but I'm so glad that part is over!

12. What was your biggest failure?

Getting Noey to sleep on his own, in his own room. I tried when we moved to our new home, but he kept waking in the middle of the night and crying for me and it got too tiring to walk over every night so he's back in our room, on the floor.

13. What was the best thing you bought?

Our new apartment! We've got twice the space now, which is really awesome.

14. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Can't think of anyone...

15. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

A new (and unfortunately senior) colleague. Friends know the details.

16. Where did most of your money go?

To our new apartment (see #8 above). We'll be paying for it for a looooong time to come.

17. What did you get really excited about?

The World Cup and the YOG. I love sporting events.

18. What song will always remind you of 2010?

Noey singing "Joy to the World", his ultimate favourite Christmas carol.

19. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

Happier, I think.

20. Thinner or fatter?

Definitely fatter, especially with this 1.5kg baby inside me.

21. Richer or poorer?

There's more money in our bank account, but ultimately poorer. (See #11 above)

22. What do you wish you'd done more of?

I wish I'd spent more time with my siblings. I barely see them these days, especially my sister. And since I've moved, I've seen my brother less too. I miss them both.

23. What do you wish you'd done less of?

I wish I'd spent less time fiddling with my iPhone. My best friend/constant companion, as DD calls it. I want to be more in the moment with the people I'm with in the year ahead.

24. How did you spend Christmas?

With family. And on Christmas Day, with a screaming crying wreck of a son.

25. Did you fall in love in 2010?

Only a little deeper, with my 2 boys.

26. What was your favorite TV program?

Glee! (I'm behind, but box sets are my friends.)

27. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No, while I there are people I dislike, I don't hate anyone -- the feeling of hate, it eats you up.

28. What was the best book you read?

Lee's Law: How Singapore Crushes Dissent by Chris Lydgate. It was a depressing read though.

29. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Glee?

30. What did you want and get?

A ring for my 5th wedding anniversary. DD gifted me a trilogy diamond ring as my Anniversary-Christmas-Push present all in one. It's huge and shiny and I LOVE it.

31. What did you want and not get?

Besides another Balenciaga bag? (Hur hur.) Probably the party I wanted to throw for our 5th wedding anniversary. The ring was a good substitute though.

32. What were your favorite films of this year?

What films?? We barely watched any films this year, though I really wanted to watch Inception. And Eat Pray Love.

33. What did you do on your birthday?

We checked into the Capella at Sentosa for the weekend and all 3 of us had a really great time just lazing in the hotel and going to the beach. We also had dinner with my family at Thanying at Amara Sanctuary, and on Sunday, my sister and Francis came to babysit Noey for a few hours so that DD and I could go watch a movie with the Gold Class tickets they had bought us for my birthday present. Gold class was great, Sex & the City 2 wasn't. And on my actual birthday, which was a Monday, DD brought me out to Tangs for a spot of shopping. BCBG dresses on sale plus the 20% birthday voucher meant that I was a very happy camper.

34. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

Maternity Wear. How extremely unexciting. I've got to get out of T-shirts SOON.

35. What kept you sane?

DD, who always keeps me balanced. And online shopping.

36. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Maybe the German football team. I thought their run-up to the semis as underdogs was inspiring. Or Andrés Iniesta. Or Paul the "psychic" octopus!

37. What political issue stirred you the most?

The ridiculous Mas Selamat "he was hiding in his brother's house while we searched the jungles" fiasco.

38. Who did you miss?

My best friend in the UK, Daphne. Whatsapp helps.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:

God is in control. (It's nothing new, but I think relearning old lessons is just as important.)

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so

How would you rate this year with a scale from 1 (shitty) to 10 (excellent)?

I'd give 2010 a 7.5. There were many ups, the chief of which was watching my little man blossom from a baby into the little boy that he is now, full of quips and a ton of opinions. He really isn't a baby anymore, though he still insists that he is "a BIG baby". There were challenging moments of course, but by and large, he hasn't been too difficult and I've enjoyed watching him become his own person.

Physically this has been a difficult year for me. I was just remarking to DD that I spent almost the whole year pregnant, April and May being the only 2 clear months. 6 months worth of first trimester queasiness and discomfort was not fun, not to mention the pain from the loss that we suffered. I was also got sick more often than I usually do, which made the first trimester morning whole day sickness feel worse. The coughing made me throw up a lot -- whereas I threw up maybe 4-5 times while pregnant with Noey, I've lost count this time round. That said I'm very much looking forward to holding our new baby in 2 months.

On the work front, it was a rather boring year. My department has changed quite a bit since I first joined and I miss the old set-up. In particular, I missed an ex-colleague and mentor badly. She was really more a friend than a colleague and since she left at the end of 2009, I've missed her presence in the office. I get along with a couple of my other colleagues, but it's not the same. Plus the fact that I'm only in half the time makes me rather detached from the ongoing office life. Anyway, I think I'm going to be missing in action even more next year as my career takes a further backseat.

At least my relationships with have been on the upswing. We managed to catch up with some old friends and grow deeper relationships over the year, for which I am grateful. I have friends from different groups pregnant together with me and I look forward to trading Mummy tips and having friends around to meet up with during maternity leave!

DD and I are also in a better place compared with 2009. Moving to our new home has resulted in DD being able to be home from work much earlier than before, which I really appreciate. I love the fact that we are able to have more family time everyday. We have also had a lot more couple time as we try to catch up over dinner once a week after work, when I get my parents to send Noey home and the two of us head out for dinner. It's usually nothing fancy but it is a great opportunity to just catch up. We do, naturally, end up talking about Noey a fair bit but I make a conscious effort to talk about other things! DD continues to be a loving and involved Papa, while making sure that I know that I come first and I love him for that. I look forward to seeing how we juggle 2 kids next year.

I think the only blip continues to be my relationship with my parents, in particular, my Mum. I appreciate what she does but I always don't seem to show it the way she wants. And so we continue on this merry round of occasional misunderstandings, hurts, showdowns and careful treading. Sigh. God grant me grace to work on this in the coming year.

2011 is already upon us. I wonder what it would bring?

Happy New Year, one and all! Make it a good one.