December in Review

12/1 AJ let us sleep in. I took him on a freezing walk. I fed him and showered so we could go see Moana 2 with Mariah and Oliver. After Moana we came home and fed AJ lunch. I worked on my November blog. We went to the zoo from 3:30-4:45; it was incredible. It was basically empty, and the lions were active and roaring. We got to see the baby gorilla up close in the inside enclosure. Matthew made pad see ewe while I got my photos off my phone. I did Duo Lingo. I did bath and bed time. I worked on my GBOMB. 

12/2 AJ woke up a few times so I slept in. I still got a lift in. I took AJ to daycare and got Dutch Bros. I filed for unemployment, browsed jobs, and had a virtual interview at noon. I had another meeting at 2:00. I applied to three jobs. I picked up AJ and we met his dad at Costa Vida in Draper. We went to Draper city Park so AJ could meet Santa. I picked up shakes on the way home and Matthew did bedtime.

Just a selfie because I liked my hair. 

12/3 I did leg day and dropped AJ off at daycare. I got groceries, showered, looked at jobs and applied. I went on a little walk outside and worked on our family calendar. I picked up AJ, made spaghetti, and went to a yelp event downtown.

12/4 AJ woke up throughout the night. I walked on the treadmill, went to Kohl's, and stopped by the Gingerbread Cottage which is a new little bakery. I took the neighbor's dog on a little walk and made lunch for AJ. I applied to jobs, got him ready, picked up Matthew, and went to Luminaria. We ate at JCW afterward.

12/5 AJ woke up after seven. I lifted weights and showered. We went on a walk and let AJ play outside. We went to the Festival of Trees with my mom, Amoreena, her mom, and baby Jude. We went to Trader Joe's and Starbucks. We got home and did a little bit of dinner preparation. We watched elf and also started the Fairplay card deck.

12/6 AJ woke up at five and then went back to sleep. I lifted weights, took him to daycare, did Marco Polo, searched for jobs, and had the gas company over to evaluate our home for energy inefficiency. I got an unexpected knock at the door where a stranger confirmed who I was and handed me an envelope saying Merry Christmas. It had $1000 in it. I spent the next little while sobbing out of gratitude. I took the dog upstairs on a walk. I applied to jobs and interviewed at the charter school. I went to world market and dollar tree then picked up AJ. Matthew brought home pizza. We watched Frozen two. I did another application, and did bath time.

12/7 I started laundry and cleaning. I began to walk on my treadmill but then AJ started making noise. I looked back and saw that his hand was stuck under the treadmill. We went to urgent care to have his injury looked at. We got home about 12:45. He had a good nap because of the exhaustion he felt from everything. I went to Smith's. AJ and I went on a walk. We went to dinner at Cubby's. We FaceTimed my dad for his birthday. I took some fermented garlic honey to my friend.

12/8 I made pancakes, eggs, and sausage. AJ and I went on a walk. I got Starbucks. I worked on some things during his nap. We changed his bandages. His little neighbor friend Kennedy and her mom Brooke came over for a few minutes. We got ready and went to my aunt Amy's house for a birthday dinner for my grandma and cousin.

AJ going through my aunt's pantry

12/9 AJ woke up while I was lifting weights. I called his pediatrician. I worked on applications. We went to his doctor, Paris Baguette, Bath & Body Works, Five Below, and came home. I called our insurance and made an appointment at the university burn clinic. I took AJ outside. We went to Chili's with gift cards.

12/10 I got up and lifted weights. AJ slept until 7:15. I took him to daycare, got Dutch Bros, and came home for a little bit. I went downtown to talk about a leasing agent position at an apartment complex. I went on a walk. I shopped for sub for Santa at Kohl's and Walmart. I wrapped presents. I picked up AJ and made dinner.

12/11 I got up to walk on the treadmill and wash my hair. I dropped off AJ at daycare. I picked up coffee for Brittney and drove out to see her. On my way home I got pulled over and got a stupid speeding ticket after being on a road for literally one minute. I had no idea what the speed limit was, as I had never driven on that road before. But the officer just did not care. I got a couple of things at Walmart, applied to jobs, picked up AJ, and took him to the library with our neighbor friends. Matthew made dinner.

12/12 I lifted weights and got ready. Matthew took AJ to my mom. I had a call with Fidelity and then also had Matthew apply for the same position. I looked at jobs and went to Ultradent for my three hour interview. It went really well. I wrote follow up emails afterward which took a long time. I made dinner.

12/13 I did a morning walk. I took AJ to his burn appointment. We went to Gourmandise afterward, then five below and Kohl's. We took a walk outside. AJ played while I did some copyediting. We watched the Grinch and made dinner.

The burn clinic gave him the best possible gift: Maui's hook

12/14 I slept until almost 8. I lifted weights. We just hung out at home pretty much. I cleaned and did laundry. We drove to Cedar Hills for the grand opening of my sister-in-law's boyfriend's Fiiz. We went to Mozz pizza for dinner and then got chip cookies. Matthew put on Klaus.

12/15 I was up at 7 and walked outside and inside. I went to brunch with Rachel. We hung out at her apartment for a little bit. I got gas, came home, wrapped gifts, and dropped off the sub for Santa presents at the gym. I made cookies for the family cookie exchange. We went to Mexican food and zoo lights. AJ fell asleep on the way home which ended up really bad for us. After putting him down I had to wrap and drop off one more present at the gym that I missed earlier in the day.

12/16 I lifted weights, dropped AJ off, went to Smith's, Petco, and Starbucks. I mopped the floor and applied to jobs. I made lunch, talked to my mom, and went on a walk. I went to UPS and picked up AJ from daycare. I made him food and went to the Startup side cookie exchange. I did a W9, updated some health information, and emailed our HOA.

A fraction of those in attendance

12/17 I had an amazing day. I lifted weights and took AJ to daycare. I donated plasma which only took two hours and was paid $100. I got Starbucks, did Duolingo, and did some copy editing. I paid my dumb speeding ticket. I applied for a job. I took the upstairs neighbor's dog on a walk. I had a screening call. I got an oil change. I chose photos for free prints for AJ's baby book. I picked up AJ, and came home. I got a call from Ultradent asking if I could jump on teams. They offered me the job starting January 9 or 10. I took another call from Ultradent with some formalities and things. I made a frozen pizza which we took with us to eat in the car while we drove through Christmas in color. We went to Itto Sushi afterward to celebrate. We changed AJ's bandages and did bedtime.

12/18 I had another good day. I walked, got ready, dropped AJ off, got Dutch Bros, got Paris Baguette, went through quick quack car wash and cleaned the inside of my car thoroughly to prepare for our trip. I went to the vet for cat food and went by CVS to pick up photos. I updated my travel documents and asked Matthew to print them for me. I wrapped family calendars, went on a walk, and went to see Wicked. I went to Trader Joe's and then Presotea. I picked up AJ and did my background check stuff on the computer. I made dinner and got a really kind card and gift from our coworkers at Alpine.

12/19 I lifted weights, took AJ to my mom's, donated plasma which unfortunately it took so long. I got Dutch Bros and did my drug test for the new job. I did some copy editing. I went on a walk. I had my fertility appointment online which yielded some pretty sad news for me. I looked at flights in case we stayed longer in California. I had a bit of a meltdown after finally processing what my fertility doctor said. I ordered Little Caesar's and picked it up.

12/20 I got up a little before 7 and lifted weights. I worked on laundry and packing. I took AJ to lunch at In-N-Out where he made a new Grandpa friend who gave him a dollar. I returned his library books and got Starbucks. I put AJ down for a nap. I cleaned the house and started a new audiobook. I woke AJ up. We went to his burn appointment which took a really long time. We got gas on our way home, ate, packed, did bath and bedtime, and stayed up late packing.

12/21 I got up early for a short walk before being in the car. I showered and finished packing. We were on the road at 8:17. We stopped in Fillmore, St. George, Las Vegas, and very quickly in Victorville. We had a ton of traffic the last 45 miles. We got dinner at corner bakery and then got to my dad's where AJ ran around.

12/22 AJ woke up at 5 AM California time. He played a lot outside. We went on a walk. We got groceries and put AJ down for a nap. I watched some of It's a Wonderful Life. Matthew got us sandwiches. We went to see Jason, Kellie, and Kai. Dad ordered pizza. I gave AJ a bath and Matthew did bedtime. We watched lost.

12/23 AJ woke up at 6am California time. I lifted weights with my dad's 20 pound dumbbells. I showered and got Starbucks really quick. I scheduled some bills, moved some money, checked on our HOA fees that increased, did some copy editing, and applied for unemployment. I forwarded some HOA emails to a neighbor. I also downloaded some of AJ's medical forms for an account that we got him. Just lots of computer stuff while AJ watched a movie and Matthew was at lunch with his brothers. And then I spent the rest of the day baking. 

12/24 I lifted leg day. We went to Stater Brothers to get stuff for Christmas dinner. I baked the sweet potatoes ahead of time. We went to Jason and Emily's house for Christmas Eve dinner where Matthew helped prepare it. We got home, gave AJ a bath, had him set out cookies and milk, and did bedtime. We put together stockings with Home alone on in the background.

AJ and Uncle Marty

Fog is my favorite

12/25 I went on a walk. I went through AJ's stocking with him. We started on the cooking for dinner. Our cousins popped in for a surprise hello. We did FaceTime with my baby brother and his family and opened presents. We had dinner ready by 4pm, and Jason, Kellie, and Kai came. We opened some more presents! We did FaceTime with my mom. We did bath and bedtime. We watched Lost.

Papa making sand castles for AJ to "boop"

12/26 I lifted upper body. We went to the broken yolk for breakfast as a family. I went on a walk outside. I spent time outside with AJ. I did a few things on my laptop during his nap. We took AJ to the park where I read some of my paperback. We picked up TJ's subs. Matthew made turkey soup out of the carcass from dinner the day before. AJ watched the Nightmare Before Christmas. We did bath and bedtime.

12/27 I lifted leg day. My dad, Uncle, AJ, and I went to the donut shop. I tried to organize and do some preliminary packing. Matthew went to see his friend. I got my nails done by a family friend. I did bath, and Matthew did bedtime.

12/28 I woke up at 5:42 and got ready to go. Matthew picked up breakfast for us. We said goodbye. We left at 8:28 Utah time. We stopped in Baker, Mesquite, and Fillmore. In the car I worked on my end of year social media post/reflection. We got home at 6:33 Utah time. 10 hours and five minutes, and AJ was an absolute champ. We unpacked most things. I did bath and bedtime. I walked on the treadmill while clipping coupons and reviewing the grocery ads.

12/29 I snuggled AJ for a little bit and then did yoga. I went on a short walk. I took AJ to Walgreens, Paris Baguette, and Smith's. I took the upstairs dog out. I wrote a few Yelp reviews. I made ham for dinner. It was a normal evening at home with bath, bed, Duolingo, and lost. I also made the popcorn Matthew got me for Christmas.

12/30 was really busy. I lifted weights, called the fertility center, messaged my new manager, and did dishes. We got gas and then went to AJ's for an appointment. We got lunch at Zupas. I had the upstairs neighbor come down during AJ's nap so I could go donate plasma which went really well. I stopped at the bank for new debit cards because I had some fraudulent charges. I did some editing, took AJ outside, and did some scholastic scoring. Matthew made dinner using leftovers. Bath, bed, Duolingo, and lost.

12/31 was uneventful but really hard just in terms of parenting a toddler. I did leg day, took down Christmas, cleaned up, showered, made AJ lunch, took him outside, and graded some scholastic essays. I worked on our budget and some other financial things. We had our neighbor friend Kennedy come over for a little bit. We went to Amy and Sean's for New Year's festivities, but we were home by 9:30. I reflected on some of my streaks in the month of December (reading, Apple watch rings, meditation, Duo Lingo, etc.).

Books I read in December:

-First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (audiobook)
-The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens (audiobook)