You get to Christmas and when people have stopped talking about presents and shopping and asking “are you ready?” they ask the classic rhetorical question: where did this year go? I wondered the same thing at 4am when I was lying awake being kicked by the Jumping Bean. I didn’t really get into blogging until late in the year, so figured I’d share 2009 with you:
January
The last blog. Barack takes office and I go back to work, leaving the Pocket Dictator at nursery one day a week. I miraculously remember to file my tax returns, miss my Maternity Allowance and wonder how I’ll pay off the credit card.
February
We get lots and lots of snow, celebrate Valentines’ Day and our wedding anniversary, and wonder what it would be like to have more children.
March
After two ear infections, the PD goes down with tonsillitis. It’s a long month.
April
The month of the Wisdom Teeth. The PILs come and stay whilst I have three of the teeth surgically extracted under General Anaesthetic. It’s not fun. Particularly as I developed an infection, had to take anti-biotics and had my food chopped up for four weeks!
May
A big month: the beginning of First Birthday Season for our NCt group. The first half of the month is spent planning the ‘big weekend’ for the Pocket Dictator. She has her First Birthday Party the Saturday before she turns one and her Christening the day after. The sun shines all weekend, which is good because she gets to show off her ‘purpose-built’ playhouse at the party for a couple of little friends and family and godparents. The weather is even more of a blessing the following day when we have 70 guests back to the house after the Christening. On the actual birthday I take a cake to nursery and we have cake for tea. And cake later that week at playgroup. By the end of the week we are all caked out.
June
I find out that we are expecting babydeux (aka jumping Bean) and am a bit too cryptic in breaking the news.
The PD finally starts walking independently (after months of handholding) and I march off to the shops to get her first pair of shoes.
July
The DG family take a well-earned break, not having had a proper holiday for a couple of years and we all jet off to sunny Jersey. The pocket dictator discovers handbags. Shoes and handbags- there’s no going back!!
August
The Sydney branch of the DG family come for a visit and we get to meet our nephew (and his mum) for the first time.
September
I rediscover blogging and share my big news. The SPD twinges that I’ve been feeling become permanent so I order a new walking stick and start persuading DH that we might need a nanny.
October
Postal strikes, Pumpkin Parties and a Hedgehog birthday Cake for the SFM.
November
The stress starts to get to me and my blogging suffers a little. DH and I get another year older, though excellent present-buying eases the pain. we put the finishing touches to the PD’s new bedroom and are still waiting for the bunk beds to arrive. The Mothership makes a flying visit, bringing many hand-crafted cardigans to keep her precious only grandchild warm through the winter.
December
The Girl starts work and is an instant hit, with me at least! We get down to the serious business of planning the PD’s social calendar, since I am incapable of making any of our London-based Festive Events. The snow and ice render me and my crutches housebound, which is good news for the DH and Houseguest since I spend much more time baking. Said baking goes down well at the PD’s Christmas party (although I fail to give out a single party bag) and suddenly, The Big Day is here. Needless to say I go down with tonsillitis a mere 48 hours beforehand and struggle to make it through the day, never mind force down the Houseguest’s carefully prepared Turkey. Thus the year fizzled out.
What 2010 will bring
I’m not a fan of the Resolution since I invariably find myself making unrealistic resolutions, not getting very far with them (because they are unrealistic) and then feeling like a failure for the rest of the year. I do have plans for this year, the first of which is to have a baby. The second of which is to have a baby; the first of which is to be ready to have a baby. nesting has kicked in in a major way. I’m on laundry pile 48, have ordered far too many nappies, repacked the hospital bag twice and am making DH and the Houseguest (who has yet to get what the rush is all about) do all the DIY things that have been bugging me since we moved in. In addition, I’d like to enjoy a proper family holiday, since last year’s was a big hit. And maybe, if there’s money left over, look at getting some build work done. More kids means we need more space.
Oh, and I really should get on to those Tax Returns.
Go on! You know you want to tell me what you think!