Sunday, December 30, 2012

New Year's Resolutions

The new year will begin soon (this Tuesday, to be exact) and I, for once, have several resolutions I plan to make. I have never been a "resolution" sort-of-a-gal but since becoming a SAHM I have found that I need to time-manage and make goals in order to get things done. It is easy to spend entire weeks just cuddling, playing on the floor, and doing a few dishes or some laundry during the Bear's naps and then realize that I have hardly done anything spicy, exhilarating, or challenging and constructive in a month! I think that habit and structure are important, but showing your kids a few "wow!" things is also immeasurably important; whether it be a new nature spot or a trip to the zoo, a growing boy needs to explore! My resolutions are all things that will motivate me and structure our lives a little more, while allowing us to get out and to LIVE more.  

NYR #1- I plan to go raw for 2 months. From January 1st to February 28th I am going to eat raw fruits, raw vegetables, nuts, and raw milk. I will also take my prenatals for good measure. I am doing this to lose a few holiday pounds but, moreover, to "reset" my eating habits. I have done a true raw diet once before and it was phenomenal. I lost weight, felt alert and never had the overwhelming desire to nap after eating. I felt lighter and spry on my feet and found myself having less emotional fluctuation due to hormones and the like. The ONLY negative is simply that you are eating differently than everyone around you so it is hard to maintain as a "lifestyle". That is why my goal is only two months-- after that time I will try stay off the junk wagon and maintain healthier choices. I find myself, my weight, and my GI system to be a lot happier with a mainly plant based diet. Cheers to goal #1!

NYR #2- I am changing my goal for a 365 project to a 52 project. In other words, my new goal will be to have one "best picture" per week for Augustine's first year of life. I found that I was just snapping whatever picture was convenient most days lately, and the project became a big chore instead of an enjoyment for several reasons. First, there aren't THAT many interesting or new things that happen in the daily life of a 0-1 year old. I seemed to be snapping similar pictures every day and lost my inspiration. Second, the fact that I was just trying to get ANY picture in for the day was drastically decreasing the quality of the photos. I was tired and stopped caring about composition, lighting and was sometimes even posting downright blurry photos! Lame-o. I am going to go back and choose my favorite picture from every week and go from here renewed and happy, with a simpler goal and a happier heart in accomplishing it. Cheers to goal #2!

NYR #3- I plan to revamp, redo, and reorganize one room in my house per month. This includes wallpaper and paint. I have lived in this house for over two years and there are several rooms that still have the (no offense) old-lady wallpaper from the people who lived here before Forrest. I frequently think "I need to change this or that" but never make a plan. One room a month doesn't seem too daunting, and not every room will involve painting. Even a closet counts as a room, so on harder months my goal may be as simple as organizing one closet. Cheers to goal #3!

NYR #4- We can call this "The Aug-olution". I plan to start taking Aug to the library for story time every week, and do one special or new activity once a month. A special activity includes museums, zoos, a hike in the woods, swimming in a new lake or even visiting relatives in a place he has never been. This one will not be terribly hard to meet, as a 9 month old has yet to see many things, but I need to get into the habit of this early, because I don't want to look back and realize that I have a four year old and his lazy mama barely leaves the house but for an occasional play date. Adventures, we seek!
Cheers to goal #4!

I will document proof of my goal completion along the way as motivation. What are your resolutions? 


Thursday, December 27, 2012

Messy Bear

12/27/12
Tonight I gave you a teething biscuit and you kept howling so finally I just handed over my water and you had a good time making a mess and chewing it. Poor little teether. 

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Bag-O-Baby

12/26/12
Moo put you in a grocery bag!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Rockin' Rider Pony

12/25/12
Your gift from Santa this year was a Rockin' Rider Pony and you love it!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Missing Days.

Mama has been going berserk lately, what with Christmas at our house this year, a sick baby, an out of town trip the weekend RIGHT before Christmas, and two teeth coming in (e.g. You wake up screaming every night). Anyway, please forgive the fact that I have missed several days lately! It is so sad-- I know. I am a terrible mama. Here are the pictures from Friday when we arrived in Georgetown, and a picture of you and Baba napping today. 

12/21/12










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12/23/12

You were so pooped you cried when he picked you up them immediately passed out on him. Then he passed out, too. 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Teethy Blues



12/19/12
Getting back tickles from Papa. I think you are finally about to pop out a tooth for the first time and you have been fevery and cuddly.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Monday, December 17, 2012

Breakfast


12/16/12
Blueberries and nanas; the breakfast of champion babies. 

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Christmas Party

12/15/12
Tonight we are going to two Christmas parties. We are some seriously popular kids. These are our "EXCITED!!!" faces.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

New Toy Chest!

12/12/12
The kitty is in your crib!

12/13/12
We got you a new toy chest at IKEA. Fun fun fun.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Playful Bear

12/10/12

12/11/12
You are having fun cuddling with papa before bed while he gives you silly looks. 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Comfy Papa

12/9/12
You fell asleep spread-eagle on the papa while we were making a list for Christmas dinner. I think you have this fella wrapped around your chubby finger. 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Christmas Joy

12/8/12
Lately I have been feeling a new kind of Christmas joy-- the kind of joy that comes from showing Christmastime for the first time to a new earthling. The first time Augie saw the lights on the tree glowing... the decorations arranged about the house and mama and papa prancing about to the seasonal tunes... It truly delighted me. I adore having a little person to teach all this to.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Here, Kitty!

12/7/12
This is all day, every day. Gremlin sometimes even gives up and sits while you pull her hair, all the while looking at me with a "I didn't sign up for this." glare.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Aug, the Terror!



12/5/12
Lately you have been into everything and I can only imagine that you are so close to walking that you can taste it!
12/6/12

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

EC Progress

     As some may remember I have been dabbling in EC (elimination communication) with Augie for some time now. I never had any plans to go full-time EC, or even-half time, but rather, just as we feel like it and as long as it is easy. I started out several months ago every morning holding him over the bathroom sink (or toilet, but the sink is easier and, NO, baby pee is not nasty like big person pee). I would turn on the water, say "go peepee!" several times, and sometimes blow air down on him so that when he got a little chilly he would pee. Every time he went I would exclaim "Good job going peepee!!" after he was done, and he loved the praise and would glow and giggle. Sometimes we would also do this after a nap or before a bath. We had several days that required a couple less diapers, and Augie was starting to understand what "peepee" was and how to "go". Those were my goals, and they were met. Cut to recently, we were in Eustace for Thanksgiving and I was showing my SIL Stuart how he can pee in the sink when he needs to and is presented with the opportunity. I go to show her and she claims that it is cheating that I blow on him and turn on water, since ANYONE would pee when stimulated with cold. She was less than impressed and I was miffed. I came home and decided to see if Aug really got the concept, or if she was right! So, STUART-- Every morning lately (and sometimes during the day) I have simply held him over the sink, said "go peepee" and he GOES. Happily and without water or cold! Ha! My child is a micturation genius! 



      For Christmas Augie is hoping to get a baby potty and as soon as he starts walking I am going to begin teaching him to use it (once again, leisurely and at his pace) in the hopes that I can use less and wash less diapers. Yes, most of my goals are due to my laziness. And the point of this post is to IYF Stu. IN YO FACE!


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Cuddle Bug

12/4/12


Luau Christmas?

12/3/12
This is your "why is so warm in December?" face. I had coveralls on you at the start of the day and you were sweating like a hog. Once again, thanks to Aunt Rachel you had a short sleeve shirt that fit!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

New Old Clothes


12/2/12
Mama hardly every buys you new clothes, since your Moo is always buying them for you and your Aunt Rachel is always handing them down to you! These are some of the most recent hand-me-downs, and I think you look SUPER cute. You just appreciate clothes that fit!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Snow Globe Intrigue

11/30/12
You and Mosby both really wanted to know how the snow globe was making music.

1/12/1
You are very sad because mean old Papa tried to dress you. Doesn't he know that even in cold weather naked is the way to go? P.S. When you cry you sound like a sad little dove-- "Bbbbbbbb! Bbbbbb!!"