The Highs and Lows of 2011

18:22 Pippa Ainsworth 0 Comments

The lovely The Diary of a Lagos Mum has tagged me in this meme which asks you to share your highs and lows of 2011. If you haven't read her blog, where have you been?

2011 wasn't the best year for us but it was my first full year of motherhood and I've loved seeing my boy grow.

1. What was your happiest event?

We had many happy events but I think the best was Bud's first birthday. Watching him celebrate with everyone he loves and being able to reflect on his first year was lovely.

2. What was the saddest thing to happen?

I was made redundant in July. I still miss the team that I worked with and I really wasn't expecting to become a stay at home mum just three months after returning to work. 

3. What was the most unlikely thing to happen that actually went ahead and did?
Getting back into live music. At the start of the year I was really sure that it would be a struggle for me to see a gig but, a combination of rekindling a friendship with an old school friend  and making a bit more time for myself means that I got to 7 gigs in 2011 and enjoyed that so much!

4. Who let you down?

Well, apart from the European Social Fund for not extending the contract I worked on? No-one really.
5. Who supported you?
Obviously Red Rose Daddy has been my main source of support, he is wonderful. A great partner and daddy, I don't know what Bud and I would do without him. We are also blessed to have a great, supportive family and friends who we can rely on for help whenever we need it.

6. Tell us something you learned.

Not to blink! Bud is learning so quickly and he changes every day. I feel like if I blink I will miss out on something so I try to give him as much time as I can and share this exciting time with him.

7. Tell us one thing that made you laugh.

Certain bloggers and tweeters that I've met in the last few months can make me cry with laughter. Red Rose Daddy can often be seen raising his eyebrows at me as I snort at the computer.

8. Tell us one thing that made you cry.

Oh goodness, I cry all the time. I was never a crier before I had Bud. The most tears were shed when my parents had their lovely Bearded Collie put to sleep in October. She was a fantastic dog and is very much missed.


9. Tell us three things your child did to make you proud.
a) He took his first steps, which quickly progressed to running, standing on one leg and climbing on everything!

 b) He has expanded his vocabulary immeasurably, I am always amazed by how many words he knows and understands. He is a real chatterbox and never stops talking. I love talking to him.


c) He has become a sunny, happy child who brings pleasure to so many people. He approaches people that he knows and chats to them, brings them a book to read or a toy to play with. I'm amazed to be raising such a confident, outgoing child and I'm proud of him every second.


10. Tell us one thing that made you proud of yourself.

You're reading it! I've loved starting my blog and making it my own. I've already had some great opportunities as a result of it and I'm looking forward to growing it further in 2012.

11. Tell us one challenge you overcame.

I became a stay at home mum. I never intended to give up work. I thought I would return to work part-time, perhaps 3 days a week and enjoy the rest of the week with Bud. In the end my staying at home was the best option for us all and, though we are not as well off, I love spending every day with my boy.

12. Is there anything you would like to change about your life in 2012.

I've said before that we'd like another baby, so fingers crossed! Other than that, I'd just like to improve my confidence, continue with my blog and complete Project 366. Nothing significant but small, achievable targets.

So, who to tag?

Looking forward to your responses!