2014 in review

We are elated and grateful to have a healthy and happy son and to be going through this new chapter of life together.  What could be better?

Words for the year

• “partnership” – Sometimes it feels like every shower, workout and minute of sleep (etc.) requires the buy-in of the other parent.
• “instincts” - It's easy not to notice our instincts until they are at odds with our intellect.  Two examples of these (stressful) moments that come to mind for me are trying to work remotely while someone else cares for your 3 month old and letting him cry in the car because you know you have to get somewhere.

Dwellings, Jobs and Money

• We moved to our first (and last?) two-bedroom apartment in May.  It also has two bathrooms so we upgraded to a cat genie self-cleaning litter box!   
• We got our building permit for our futurehouse [link].  Jack put in a lot of hours, amid the regular business of life.
• I got a promotion at work and am fighting the mommy track.
• We are enjoying some rare, debt-free time before taking on a construction loan.

Family and Friends

• Surrounding D’s arrival, we were in touch with pretty much everyone we know, which was wonderful.  The birth itself was great [link].
• We’ve made new friends [link], especially through PEPS.
• Along with my family, we finally scattered the ashes of my grandma, grandpa and uncle.
• Our parents have become awesomely helpful and enthusiastic grandparents.
• Emo continues to impress us with her supreme feline patience.  D is all over her.

• Becky and Alyson threw us a sweet baby shower [link] and we’ve received so many gifts of time and thoughtful baby things.
• My sister and B.I.L. visited from Boston in the fall.  I call this picture “Northwest Family Living.”

• We celebrated 7 separate family Christmases [link]
• D’s first road trip was to attend a cousin’s high school graduation in Idaho.

Weddings and Babies and Milestones

• R&A in Honolulu [link, link], K&M in Montreal [link]
• 2014 babies: cousin Helen to A&R, Ahsoka to B&F, cousin Zach to J&A, Harper to T&J, Jimmy to E&R, Eloise to Y&M, Claudia to S&J, Lincoln to S&K, Logan to J&D, Drew to R&J, Jack to K&B, Aria to E&J
• Jack turned 30!

Recreation and Travel

• Jack tied for the highest number of walks (at bat) in the PSSBL.  He plays smart!

• We upgraded to a 4-person tent, which we used at Larrabee State Park, in July.  We did one nice hike there [hiking report 4].

• Near Mount Rainier, we camped with Cari’s extended family.

• We wrested our family pickle ball title back from Jack’s uncles, in the summer.
• D, Cari and Janet flew to Boston to visit D’s aunt and uncle [link].

Books, Events and Food

• Best books read aloud: The Little Blue Truck has been read quite a bit, but I’m going to have to go with the third, fourth and fifth books (Young and Revolting, Revoltingly Young, Son of Youth in Revolt) in the absurdist fiction series about Nick Twisp, written by C.D. Payne. 
• So far, D, is a great eater.  He just needs some teeth.

• We went to a summer M’s game, complete with good friends and a fireworks show [link]

• The best live entertainment, in a year with relatively few contenders, was a recent night at Comedy Underground, thanks to Groupon.
• Jack “discovered” the pleasure and utility of audiobooks, after years of hanging around me…

Personal Growth

• I seem to add new foods to my edible list at a rate of one per year.  This year I added shrimp and prawns, though I’m not ready for legs yet.  I also ate, and liked sardines.
• Having a baby has vastly increased my dependency on my phone.  Staying in touch with Jack and care providers is way more important to me than most communication, and while breastfeeding I have increased my time spent reading, texting and shopping on my phone by a factor of 100.
• We finally grew up enough to have a standby chicken recipe that I made numerous times. It’s a yogurt, lemon, parmesan, panko topping on oven-baked chicken breast.
• We conquered some fears including birth and sleep deprivation. We are tired but even at the worst moments, it hasn’t been as bad as I worried it would be.
• The inhibitions I used to have about singing in front of Jack are kaput. Babies require lots of songs!