Yesterday I decided to check out the New Year's Resolutions I posted on January 1st last year. I got ready to be disappointed in myself because, let's face it, resolutions often equal failure. Plus, when I think of the past 14 months of my life I feel like I've spent a lot of it getting used to being a mom and I'm pretty sure that didn't allow much time for anything else. But, surprise! And a good surprise at that. I'm not doing so bad. Only one resolution has been a total failure. Here's the rundown:

1. Get in shape. GET. IN. SHAPE.

Ok. I have to admit, being pregnant and having a baby threw me big time regarding this one. Way more than I would have thought. It's not that pregnancy changed my body so much - although my stomach has never needed this much work - or that I "can't lose the weight." It's that I value my down time so much more than in the past. So, so much more. I find myself still in my pajamas, unshowered, late in the morning, much more often than I want to admit. It's not because I have no reason to get dressed or anything depressing like that, it's because when Nora's napping I want to do tons of other things before I get to that shower, like check my email or write on my blog or start online shopping for Christmas! What does this have to do with getting in shape? Well...working out means cutting into that downtime, and while I, undoubtedly, would feel so much better about myself and everything else in the world if I got up and went for that run, it's harder than before.

But it's not all bad news. I've been attending a "Mommy Bootcamp" class once a week. My friend Christa is the trainer and is amazing and inspiring and, yeah, sometimes she makes us stay in the plank position for like three million hours and it hurts a ton but it's totally worth it. Christa also sends us extremely helpful emails with recipes and words of encouragement so, even though I can only go to one class a week, I'm always getting new exercise and nutrition pointers. New Haven area people, if you want a good class, sign up for one of hers. You won't regret it.

Of course, I have to do more than this and it's been rough, but I'd say in the past couple months I've picked up the pace. More running, more working out at home. Less eating cookies. I have to remind myself that I used to know how to do this, to get and stay in shape, and having a baby means more planning, but results certainly aren't impossible.

2. Learn to speak Italian.

J and I have been attending weekly beginner Italian classes at local restaurant, Skappo since September and plan to continue through the winter and spring. Noi siamo awesome! Well, gettting there.

3. Wear comfortable shoes most of the time. Because some of my uncomfortable shoes are really cute.

No problem here. So much of a non-problem that I think a 2010 resolution might be to wear cuter shoes, at least every once in a while.

4. Finish ÄúThe OmnivoreÄôs Dilemna.Äù I mean, itÄôs been months.

I would label this one a disaster except that I've got a little less than a month and I love nothing more than a challenge. A reading challenge. Call me a nerd, I don't care. Hoping our new addiction to "The Wire" won't get in the way...

5. Go to yoga regularly (for reals, Eileen).

This is the one that turned out a total failure. Again, it's the time issue. Like, that I can't get in shape and learn Italian and take care of Nora and go to yoga and play with my dogs and watch "The Hills" and "The City" on demand regularly because I keep falling asleep while it's on. I can't do it all, all the time. But I'd like to do the yoga thing at least more regularly than not at all. Eileen, let's plan.

6. Eat local food more often when possible.

We've done a good job of this, attending the farmers market many Saturday mornings and buying local food at certain grocery stores when we can - even driving farther to get to some of those stores, and it always makes me feel better. Hoping to improve even more this coming year.

7. Plant a vegetable garden.

We did this and I have to give J all the credit. Tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and a couple cucumbers. This year we're gonna go crazy, plant as much as possible, right J? Because "we" kind of might mean you.

Everyone who commented last year, take a look. How'd you do?