Happy new year! You know what this means: It’s time once again for the New Year’s Survey that we basically all do on our blogs this time of year. I’d like to be sitting here writing with a bottomless glass of champagne in my hand and a plate of holiday baked goods, but instead I am in my pajamas with a Diet Coke in hand and two sleeping babies beside me. We’ll see how many nap intervals it will take me to get through these questions!

(Don’t worry; there is champagne chilling for later.)

Previous years’ answers are available here: (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014). I think over time I have modified and possibly deleted some of the original questions, but here’s what I’m working with this year:

1. What did you do in 2015 that you’d never done before?

Every single thing related to pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood has been a first for me. It would take me all day to list the individual things, but I’m sure you can fill in the details. Basically, the majority of the year has been defined by these new experiences.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Instead of resolutions, last year I identified a theme I wanted to pursue and outlined some goals. The theme was “grow,” and I specifically wanted to put down roots by buying a house and growing our family. Missions accomplished!

This year, I will no doubt make more goals, but I haven’t thought them through in enough detail to put anything down here yet. More on this later, I’m sure.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

You could say that! In addition to giving birth myself, many of my friends both in person and online have had babies this year, or are currently pregnant and will next year. SO many babies! A few friends this year have also been trying to conceive but haven’t yet, so I feel that 2016 will be their year. ❤

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No.

5. What places did you visit?

Atlanta, GA for a Decembrists show; Tampa and St. Petersburg, FL for CW’s work/spring break; Kansas City, MO for work; Minneapolis, MN for a conference; Delaware County, IA for CW’s class reunion.

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?

More running fitness! Due to an injury early in the year and then restrictions due to a high-risk pregnancy, I wasn’t able to run much at all this year. Next year will be my comeback!

7. What days from 2015 will you always remember?

April 5th (IUI), May 8 (house closing), December 4th (E & L’s birthday).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I can’t call it a personal achievement since I don’t credit myself for this at all, but the first thing I think of in answer to this question is getting through 36 weeks 5 days of twin pregnancy. That was pretty big. I’d attribute it to general health and genetics, though, rather than anything I had any control over.

An achievement I can actually boast about, though, is winning a teaching award in my department. Proud of that one.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Nothing sticks out here. As I mentioned above, I would have loved to have been more active with running and I wish I’d been able to complete my half marathon training cycle last winter, but I don’t consider a back injury to be a failure on my part, so enh.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

See above regarding my back injury. I was never ill this year, but I did have quite a few of the typical pregnancy pains and discomforts along the way (nausea, insomnia, heartburn, carpal tunnel, itchiness, digestive issues, and on and on). In spite of that list, my good health is actually something I am most thankful for this year!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

An IUI and the associated meds? A stroller and car seats and cribs? I don’t know. My most useful baby item so far is actually the My Brest Friend twin nursing pillow, which was a gift from my friend Mel. Let’s go with the IUI.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband has been incredible this year. I just cannot imagine doing any of this without him.

My friends, both near and far, who have listened, sympathized, advised, and given real or virtual hugs throughout the year have also been incredible. This includes you.

13. Where did most of your money go?

Medical stuff. Baby stuff.

14. What did you get really excited about?

I’m pretty sure you can guess this one! Babies! But also our new house and some good job things.

15. What song will always remind you of 2015?

“Bad Blood” (both versions), “The Wrong Year” (The Decemberists)

16. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter.
c) richer or poorer? The same? Small raise, but more expenses. (I’m dreading answering this question once day care for twins becomes a factor!)

17. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Running. Writing. Photography.

18. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Consulting Dr. Google while up late worrying. This never leads to anything good, and yet I cannot stop myself.

19. How did you spend Christmas?

CW and I spent the holiday at home with E and L this year, finding time to cook and eat in between feedings. We managed a nice dinner on Christmas Eve and brunch with champagne on Christmas morning, so I’m pretty proud of us there! No big gifts or anything this year, as you can imagine. We mainly spent our time watching some holiday movies and lounging in bed with the babies.  A+ Christmas, would recommend.

20. What was your favorite TV program?

Nothing stands out much this year. I keep up with The Mindy Project, Nashville, and How to Get Away with Murder. I’ve enjoyed starting Scream Queens and Arrow. I missed this season of Hannibal when it was airing, so I’ll need to catch that when it makes its way to Netflix.

Oh! And this week we just marathoned season two of Broadchurch, which is just exceptionally well done. You know what? I’ll call that my favorite show of the year. So dark, but so smart and evocative and such good storytelling.

21. What was the best book you read?

Here are my favorites, listed in the order I read them:

• Broken Monsters – Lauren Beukes
• The Girl on the Train – Paula Hawkins
• Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
• A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara

I think the one that had the weightiest effect on me was A Little Life, but I enjoyed Never Let Me Go a bit more. Hard to choose between the two.

22. What music did you get excited about?

Ryan Adams’ 1989.

23. What did you want and get?

These two monkeys.

24. What did you want and not get?

A sub-two-hour half marathon. Training, we will meet again soon.

25. What was your favorite film of this year?

I apparently did not keep track of any movies I saw in the theater or rented this year. Hang on while I go look at a list of 2015 releases to see if anything jogs my memory.

Okay, here’s what I apparently saw:

Saw in theater: Mad Max: Fury Road

Streamed: Trainwreck, Pitch Perfect 2, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Ant-Man, Dark Places

Hmm. I don’t really give a shit about any of these movies. None of them was my favorite. Sorry.

26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I spent the morning at home with my husband and the babies (8 days old at the time) and my in-laws, feeding and napping. That night, my husband cooked dinner (fish tacos! my favorite!) and we had champagne (my favorite!) and lemon buttercream cake (my favorite!). It was a pretty good birthday. I turned 38.

27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2015?

Keeping my answer from last year: “How many ways can I find to wear leggings instead of real pants?”

28. What kept you sane?

Coffee. Reading. Twitter. I give Twitter (specifically the Ladies’ Internet corner of it) a lot of the credit, honestly.

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

Meh. I need to delete this question for next year.

30. What political issue stirred you the most?

#blacklivesmatter

31. Who was the best new person you met?

It’s a tie.

32. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.

If taking a step back from something important in your life is necessary in order to protect something more important, do it. And don’t feel guilty.

And, as I say every year, qui patitur vincit.

33. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Kick a hole in the hallway
While singing like a painted lady;
Use your skull like a cannonball,
But it better not wake the baby.

How long will this go on?
How long, indeed?
You can bang a drum ’till the money’s all gone
But it better not wake the baby.

Make your moan of your lot in life;
Split your mind half crazy.
Gouge your eyes with a butter knife,
But it better not wake the baby.

How long will this go on?
How long, indeed?
You can bang a drum ’till the money’s all gone
But it better not wake the baby.

Drown yourself in crocodile tears;
Curse the gods what made ‘ye.
Pine away for your better years,
But it better not wake the baby.

How long will this go on?
How long, indeed?
You can bang a drum ’till the money’s all gone
But it better not wake the baby.

— The Decemberists