Tuesday, January 1, 2013

The Five W's of New Year's


New Year's Eve is pretty uncomplicated as a single person. Each year, many things about celebrating remain the same. You know the why and when of the holiday. You simply decide where to go, who to go with and what to wear. 

Being married with a kid, New Year's Eve is easy in one respect. Chances are you won't care what you're wearing. Beyond your sartorial choice, the holiday becomes much more strategic. The where to celebrate becomes contingent on a who: "Who will watch the baby, if we go out for New Year's Eve?" The why becomes fraught: "Why in the world would I want to drink when I  have to take care of a child bright and early in the morn?" And the when is worst of all..."Are you kidding me? Stay up til midnight when me daughter will be the first one in the Western Hemisphere to wake up on New Year's Day?!"

Last night, George and I threw caution to the wind (well, we didn't actually go anywhere) and made it to the countdown and beyond, in spite of this cautionary tale. We had a lovely bottle of champagne (popping the cork quietly to ensure our daughter's continued slumber). At the stroke of midnight, I got to kiss my husband on the lips, like most couples do around the world. "Let the morning be damned", I thought. 

And here's the kicker. Claire decided to SLEEP IN ON THE FIRST MORNING OF THE NEW YEAR!  When her cries intruded upon my dreamland, as they do every morning, I looked up and the clock said 7:40!! Unheard of…priceless…a gift from above!

If you don't have kids, the hour on the clock may not seem like such a great deal. The moms and dads among us will surely understand the majesty of the scenario. 

So, thanks, Claire. I begin this year with an extra spring in my step! Tomorrow morning….be damned!

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53 comments:

  1. Glad you had a lovely time, even if it was at home. And you will enjoy sleeping in once again the older your daughter gets...mine at 14 and 18 yrs old and I feel like I am back to the pre-kid mornings...Just takes a few years!! ♥

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    1. I know people say that time flies, but that just seems like a looong time to wait for sleep!

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  2. What a great start to the new year!! Mine slept in until 830 and 9 but only because we had a late night!! They also both slept in until 745 this morning which is unheard of and hopefully can be repeated on the weekend!!

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  3. Glad you got to sleep in for once! My kids are grown but I always end up awake by 6:30 am. After last night's escapades, I didn't wake today until 10:00 am and despite a minor hangover, I felt AMAZING!!! Hopefully Claire will continue to sleep in....

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    1. Didn't happen. But I'll take what I can get!

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  4. I remember the days of paying babysitters only to be woken early the next morning. Now we try to get our youngest, a nocturnal daughter, to wake before the day ends on her visits home from college.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2013/01/wordless-wednesday-millies-beehive-do.html

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    1. The problem is that I'm rather like your daughter, naturally. So the early bird thing kills me!

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  5. Yay! We were in CT with friends and went to be at 10pm. Happy new year!

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  6. glad you got an evening to celebrate!!

    love,
    Elisabeth

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  7. Hi Rachel,

    It sounds like you had a lovely new year's eve. Wishing you all the best in 2013.

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  8. OUCH, you hit the nail bang and bang and bang! here's to those little creatures sleeping in when we need them to! <3

    Happy new year!~

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  9. Stopping over from the blog hop! I'm pregnant this year and let's just say that this NYE was much different for us.... My eyelids were getting heavy by 10 p.m. and although I made it past midnight, it might be the last time for awhile that I do!

    Love your blog! Please stop by sometime!
    goneyonkers.blogspot.com

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  10. Were you anxiously looking at the clock like, wait...she's not up yet? And every time a sound was heard you jumped wondering if it was her? I love those days when the little one stays asleep a little later so you can soak up the quiet relaxation!! What a wonderful way to start up 2013!

    I hope you're having a great week and a Happy New Year!

    Thank you so much for linking up to last week's Aloha Friday Blog Hop!! I'm following you.

    If you have time, we'd love to have you come and link up to the Aloha Friday Blog Hop if you haven't already! (Thank you so very much if you've already linked up, I truly appreciate it!!)

    Come and link up and celebrate the coming weekend with us!

    Aloha,

    Jean {What Jean Likes}

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  11. Hi! I’m your newest follower. Please stop by and say hi when you have a chance. Hope you're having an awesome week.

    April
    A Mommy’s Blog Design

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  12. Hi Rachel,
    I'm a new follower from the Harvest of Friends Blog Hop.
    Happy New Year. I love this post. I'm so glad you got to sleep in. I feel so blessed b/c if my kids (1 & 3 y/o) have a late night like that, they sleep in until 10am or later. It's great. I keep thinking I'll pay for it all if we get to have a third.
    BTW: I read your profile: I'd find a new OB. That's terrible to be called a geriatric pregnancy. My midwife made me feel great about having a baby....at ANY age.

    Karina
    http://momintheusa.blogspot.com

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    1. Jealous, but happy that someone is getting some sleep!

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  13. Happy new year! Wishing you health and happiness in 2013!

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    Replies
    1. Happy New Year, Jamie. I know it will be a great one for you with a new baby on the way!

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  14. Sounds like you had a wonderful New Year!! I think being able to spend it with the one you love is the best. Congrats on Claire sleeping in ~ what a bonus!!

    Thanks for linking up with my NO RULES Weekend Blog Party :)

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    1. It was wonderful. Just what I needed. Happy New Year, Paula!

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  15. Hi, Great post. I found you through the blog hop. Please stop by and say hi when you get a chance. Have a great week.

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  16. OMG I can so relate! This year I stayed home (and up - way past my bedtime) and wouldn't you know the twins both came down 2 mins before midnight! well that ended our night quickly! LOL

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    1. Ah, but also so sweet to ring in the New Year with them!

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  17. I'm with you on the sleeping in. When it happens to us, we're always excited!

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  18. I always love spending time at home...

    megha
    http://meghafashionista.blogspot.com

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  19. Sounds like a lovely evening... and morning! Happy New Year! -Marci

    Thank you for linking up to The Great Blog Train!
    Angie@godsgrowinggarden.com
    Marci@stonecottageadventures.com
    Helen@blueeyedbeautyblogg.blogspot.com

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  20. We host a big New Year's Day Come & Go party every year so we never make it past about 10:00pm on New Year's Eve. :) Happy New Year to you! Found you through Bloggy Moms.

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  21. Claire sleeping in was obviously a good sign of the new year!

    Lisa
    P.S. Thanks for linking up to the GTKY blog hop!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, how I hope you are right! From your lips to god's ears, as the saying goes.

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  22. LOL!! I barely made it to midnight and slept in quite late the next day =). My kids are getting older now and they LOVE to sleep in, it's awesome.

    Thanks for linking up with the GtKY hop!

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  23. Haha! Yes, I remember the days before children when I would happily sleep through the entire morning. These days 7:40 would be a sleep in for me too!

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  24. When they actually do sleep in you feel like you've won the lottery! Now if someone of you lovelies who gets to bed at a decent hour can show me how, I'd be most grateful!

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  25. 7:40am?! What an amazing, unreal gift! That's awesome. Love the breakdown of the Who/What/Why--will we ever get on the other side of this? Thanks for linking up with the #MTMmixer--your posts are great, Rachel :)

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    1. Aw, thanks, Meredith! Coming from someone as smart as you...I feel honored.

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  26. Hi, Rachel.

    Great to meet you via the GTKY blog hop. I just love the title of your blog, and the inherent pun. :) Great post, too.

    Looking forward to reading more.

    Take care,

    Casey

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  27. Glad you got that extra hour to bring in 2013. Zeva is like clockwork too. If she goes off of it though, I start to panic. :)

    I haven't done anything major for New Years Eve in so long, I forget the last time I got to enjoy it to the max. :)

    Great post, and definitely something many parents can relate too.

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  28. My hubs and I don't have kids and we were passed out by like 11 pm. And not even from drunkenness! We're simply old people in not-yet-30-year-old bodies. And I think that in my half asleep state I was rude to my mom when she called at 11:45 to wish us a happy new year....

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