2012 in a nutshell

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before? Brought home a living child. Moved to a new country, sight unseen.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't have any resolutions last year--I usually don't make any.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes. Tons of babies in 2012. Mostly boys.

4. Did anyone close to you die? We were with my grandfather as he passed away after 91 damn good years.

5. What countries did you visit? Does it count as visiting if you moved there?

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? My fitness level back. To feel better in my clothes.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? January 13th (birth of our son), June 4th ( we boarded a plane to China with a one way ticket) and October 8th (grandfather passed away).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Adjusting to a new culture, city, language with a 5 month old.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not learning Chinese

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Been pretty darn healthy.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Sheesh, we minimized to move over here, so we really haven't purchased anything substantial..which is a really really good feeling.

12. Where did most of your money go? Apparently you have to pay the hospital and Doctor's to have a child. Then the child needs to eat (formula) and be kept safe ( carseat). Considering those are our biggest expenses in the last year, we're doing alright.

13. What did you get really excited about? Our trip back home to the USA (October).

14. What song will always remind you of 2012? So that she isn't embarassed, I have to agree with Amy that "Call me Maybe"sticks out, as does Sal's favorite jam, " Whistle" by FloRida. My favorite song of 2012, however, was Lee Brice's " Woman Like You".

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:? – happier or sadder? Happier! – thinner or fatter? Thinner ( but still working to get fit and lose the last 10) – richer or poorer? Saving.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercise.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of? Wish I would have consumed less sugar on a daily basis. My sweet tooth resurfaced after Sal was born.

18. How did you spend Christmas? With my boys and our expat friends( & newborn son) from Catalonia, Spain. We had lunch, opened gifts, and ended the night with a movie and pizza.

19. What was your favorite TV program? "Mad Men", " Big Bang Theory", "Jersey Shore", "Raising Hope"...clearly we don't get enough TV watching done.

20. What were your favorite books of the year? I read one book and it didn't help me at all. " Baby Whisperer" my a$$. Sal's favorite book however seems to be " Little Blue Truck"

21. What was your favorite music this year? Country. Jason Aldean. Lee Brice. Gary Allan. The Band Perry.

22. What were your favorite films of the year? I don't know if  they came out this year, but I watched them in 2012. "Lincoln Lawyer" and " Gran Torino".

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 35. Celebrated with friends over Starbucks hot cocoa, and then enjoyed a homemade cake baked by NZ.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I can't think of anything more satisfying than my current situation. Husband that I adore, son that I love. One old cat, and great friends in a new city. Pretty darn satisfied.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012? Bwahahaha. Fashion? What's that?

26. What kept you sane? Friends & Family. Diet Coke.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012. So many things learned this year. Perhaps the biggest life lesson this year has come as a result of NZ and I leaving the comfort of California to live in a country which is so polar opposite of everything we knew ( and loved). Going from being able to articulate our needs to resorting to playing charades to provide a basic explanation of what I need from someone. Going from being able to hop into my car and go to the market for just about anything, to assessing the weather and deciding if it's safe enough to take my son out in it in hopes that the market still has cheese this week. All in all, this move over here has provided some really valuable experience, and has opened my family's eyes as to just how good we had it back home. Life here is good--just different..and a definite adjustment. I'm sure as 2013 rolls on through, we will add many more life lessons learned here.