Twenty Eleven Review

Stole this from my friend Cassie's blog. Yes, I am still wrapping up 2011 in my mind! 

What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Got pregnant and had a baby. 

Tried a criminal case.

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes. My goal was to survive Practice Court. And I did.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes. I can't even count then all, but I will note my BFF Tiff had her baby. Lots of babies in 2011.

Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. Aunt Jeanne.

What countries did you visit?
I stayed in the US all the year long! But I did go to DC, Chicago, and Utah.

What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
I guess go to more music concerts. Oh, and attend a ACL filming. We tried to go last year but came too late. Curse you Randy Newman for have seating space only.

What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Dec. 19, 2011. The day my Phoenix was born.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Again, Phoenix takes the cake for achievements. But finishing PC and trying my first cases are also pretty important.

What was your biggest failure?
Mmm.... I had Christmas cards made this year and a Christmas letter.  I spent a bunch of money to have them made and I never got to send them out. I guess it was a pretty good year if that's my biggest failure!

Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had surgery in March.

What was the best thing you bought?
Probably my couch. And my rug in my living room. Makes the space capable of a lot more friends to be in our house.

Where did most of your money go?
Health Care. Between my surgery, Russ's teeth, and Phoenix we are single-handedly trying to fix the recession.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Two trips to Utah, the last Harry Potter Movie, visiting Orange and Russ's mission.

What song will always remind you of 2011?
That Fire song by Adele. Seriously I heard it every time I turned on the radio.

Compared to this time last year, are you: much happier, richer, nicer.
Happier: TENfold. I'm a mom, almost done with law school, done with PC, back to living with Russ. MUCH HAPPIER!

Richer: Nope. Poorer. Probably tenfold poorer. HA!

Nicer: I think so. I think I am more compassionate after having Phoe in the NICU.

What do you wish you'd done more of?   
I wish I had spent more time at the gym.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying. Driving.

How did you spend Christmas?
In the NICU in Austin.

Did you fall in love in 2011?
Yes. Reached a whole new level with parenthood.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't think so. I haven't seen a lot of people this past year.

What was the best book you read this year?
Hands down Gerald Powell's "Texas Rules of Evidence". Seriously. But I also didn't read a lot outside law school...

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Young the Giant

What did you want and get?
I wanted to finish Practice Court and I did it!

What was your favorite film of this year?
The last Harry Potter movie. Sirius makes me cry every time. I love tragic love.


What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
27: I went to church, spoke in church, and it was Easter Sunday. I think we fed the missionaries. I talked with my family on the phone. It was a simple, but very fun day.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being able to teleport from Waco to San Marcos.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
"What is clean?" "What fits my pregnant body?"

What kept you sane?
Mumford & Sons

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I guess RGIII. I don't know. I didn't pay much attention. Didn't someone famous that I cared about die? Was it Michael Jackson?

What political issue stirred you the most?
The thought that Newt Gingrich could be president. If he get the Republican nomination I might have to go all Captain Moroni on this election.

Who did you miss?
I had clear moments where I missed my mom and my grandma Sherwood.

Who was the best new person (people) you met?
Chelsea and Jeremy. Brittany and Jeff. Paul. Phoenix. Phoenix probably takes the cake.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Love is never wasted. Our existence is not based on how many people are aware of us. A person can exist as a whisper, just like Phoenix did when she was in the NICU.