20 Questions: December

1. The next thing I want to achieve on my life list is: Unfortunately, I'm going to have to stick with making pasta. Mainly because I hope that Peanut wont arrive before I write the next one of these. Although, that said, my parents did give Mark and I a helipro voucher for a scenic flight - but I dont know whether to do that before Peanut, or with Mum and Dad babysitting after Peanut arrives.

2. What did I achieve from my life list this month? Nothing. And it was grand.

3. Congratulations to: Everyone who survived Christmas.

4. This month I am thankful for: Having enough money to pay the bills, especially when the new car had issues immediately before Christmas.

5. The big countdown is for: Peanut arriving. Just over 10 weeks till due date.

6. In the news drama of the month: Well, there was another shooting in the USA - this time at a Primary School, and fog closing Wellington airport for 24 hours or so immediately before Christmas, a tornado in Auckland that killed three people, plus some trampers who set off an emergency locator beacon "because they were tired", before rounding out the year with a whole series of missing trampers - one in Kahurangi, who has still not been found, and another in the Tararuas, who went a different place to where he told everyone he was going and got lost, but was thankfully found.

7. Something I will remember from this month is: A wonderful, relaxing break in Ohakune, doing pretty much nothing for the better part of three days.

8. Biggest challenge in the quarterly goals: All of them! I dont think I really achieved anything in the end. The photos for our Europe frame we have culled to 55, but need to get down to 10. I've taken a few photos this month, but not many, and the nursery renovation we now aim to have finished middle of this month before starting the kitchen, aiming to have that done by Waitangi Day.

9. Biggest challenge in the annual goals: Thinking of new ones for 2013 that wouldn't be too hard, but would also be worth achieving.

10. What have I read this month? A couple of Diana Gabaldon books (again). Lots of blogs.

11. Something I have learnt this month?: Sometimes there is no comfortable position. Also, when you know your GP is closing for the summer and you are getting a recurrent headache, its a good idea to go see them anyway - might save spending a whole night in ED, waiting for a doctor to see you and tell you you have an ear infection.

12. What has been the biggest challenge? Drinking as much fluid as I am meant to. I should be drinking 2L+ on a normal day, and 3L+ on a hot day / if I do exercise. Particularly while we were away, I think I was probably lucky to be getting 1L in to me a lot of the days,

13. Some things I have bookmarked: Another blog to follow, an awesome youtube video about what happened this year, a couple of you-tube channels, a blog post about 10 Questions you should ask yourself at the end of each year, a funky festive wreath tutorial, that makes a wreath out of minties, a blog post about how we judge ourselves (and perhaps shouldnt).

14. Some things I have shared on Facebook: How to wrap a cat, 26 awesome photos that make you feel good about humanity, a post on loss and love which is surprisingly uplifting, stupid bus drivers getting stuck (again), and the announcement of a royal baby. (Plus most of the things above as well)

15. If I could go back and give myself one piece of advice for the month, it would be: Get out more.

16. What do I really want to buy?: Paint and furnishings. Soon!

17. What have been the big social events of the month? Christmas. We had a BBQ at our place the Saturday before Christmas, Marks work do, and another social group do. Then Marks parents were here after Christmas, so we had dinner with them and then took them to my parents beach house for a quiet New Years.

18. What events are coming up next month? Antenatal classes start mid month. Mark goes back to work next week. We are going camping with tramping club at Anniversary Weekend, and possibly heading to Christchurch for one last visit before Peanut arrives at the end of the month.

19. What is new on my Kindle Wish List? Fatlash and the fear of thin by Karen Kataline and Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming domesticity from a consumer culture by Shannon Hayes

20. Favourite photo of the month: I only uploaded about 4 to flickr so far, but I have more from the holidays to get around to over the next couple of weeks. But here is the Telecom Christmas Tree in Waitangi Park, the night before Christmas Eve, when the city was fogged in.