No better time to review your year on Christmas Eve. It is helpful to look back at the year and understand what it contains. I have little alone time now so whatever amount I can get, I am extra grateful and I want to write. The keywords of 2025 are: sleep, China, cats and weight gain.
2025 has been another year of me trying to be a morning person. Regrettably, I am not a morning person. I am a sleepy person. I love sleeping and need a lot of it. I might never be a morning person but I foresee myself trying some more, because the sunrise by the Hudson waterfront is stunning and I feel hopeful when I see it. I heard from other mothers that if you want to get any alone time, you need to get up before the rest of your family does. In many ways, I am anticipating the big life shift of becoming a mother – I will become the CO-CEO and COO of the family. It speaks responsibility with a R. I trust that I will make ways to take care for my children and my family. I just don’t want to leave myself behind.
In September, my partner and I went to China to visit my family and friends. It was his first time visiting Asia. He enjoyed the high speed rail and the Shenzhen subway system. We climbed Mount Hua and Ju Yong Guan (one part of the Great Wall). He wants to go back to China and climb more mountains. I want him to learn Chinese. One is easier than the other.
In late January, we got our cats: Shlomo and Garfunkel. I call them Momo and Garf Baby. They are a bonded pair. We have practiced taking care of these two fur balls: handling diarrhea, emergency visits; applying bondages; making new toys and fashioning cat beds. They brought so much chaos and fun into our life. They are playful, silly and loving – they made us a family. Nothing feels better than come home to my kitties. They make me so happy! I strongly recommend cats for those who want to have one. We adopted ours at the Meow Parlor cafe in NYC. The process is easy: you look at the adoptable cats online and schedule a visit at the cafe to meet the cats. Then you start an application to adopt. Once you pass the interview, you can pay the adoption fee and schedule a date to bring your cats home. Cats are well taken care of at the cafe and they have an in-house vet that cares for all the cats. Make sure you get the health history of your cat. Most kittens will have a higher vet bill in the first year. Once they are a year old, they will have a sturdier stomach and a stronger immune system. Cats are great.
Looking at photos of when my partner and I first met, we were so skinny. I gained 22 pounds since we got together. I am happy and fat. The only good thing about the weight gain is that I am lifting more weight, which makes me feel stronger. I like feeling strong; and I like being able to fit into my clothes. Without any crazy weight loss regimen, I have lost 6.6 pounds in the last two months. I did it by limiting sweet treats. I am an emotional eater so let’s not celebrate my weight loss too early. My partner does a good job of stopping me from buying sweet treats so thank you Partner. The chief thing about my weight is that I want to be a healthy pregnant lady for my baby. I am working on losing another 6 pounds in the next two months. My plan is smaller and lighter dinner, holding everything else constant.
That’s all for 2025. I have completed my transition from an “I” to a “We”. I am patting myself on the back. It is luck that we met and it is commitment and work that we are staying together. More to come in 2026.
Take care my friends. Hope your 2025 has some good in it. Keep the good going.
Merry, Merry,
Xiaoyu