2013 Goals

Early in 2012 I set a few personal goals for myself early in the year, kept them in my mind all year and succeeded in what I set out to do.  I credit most of my success to setting SMART goals.  (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound)

I've been thinking a lot about my goals for 2013, and  I've been tossing them around in my head.  It's time to put them to paper to keep my accountable for this year.

I've been trying to spend more time in my Bible, and my goal for the year is to read my daily devotional and passage, reflect and spend more time in prayer.  

I need to start working out regularly again.  I'm registered for an April 6, 5K, but my goal is to continue working out at least 3 days a week, and ideally running. 

I want to spend more time outside.  That's a tough goal to write on the coldest day we've had so far this winter with most of today being in the single digits; however, when the weather is nice, I want to spend more time outside and playing with the kids.  I stayed inside a lot last year since it was one of the hottest years on record and i was pregnant or had a newborn!

Plant a garden and work in it!  This goes well with my prior goal.  My husband is super on board with this one, he even purchased a tiller this weekend for it.  

Start composting.  I've been trying to convince Keith to start composting for a couple years now.  He was not agreeable until a newer co-worker of his talked him into it.  At least we're planning to compost now. 

And last, but certainly not least, I plan to focus on my family!  I feel like we're finally starting to get into an evening routine that works and allows me some time to spend time playing with the kids most nights.  I've been training myself to leave some chores until the kids go to bed and relax so I can spend more time with the kids before they go to sleep. 

Stars

Elinore has played and laid in her pack-n-play regularly since she came home with us.  When she was just a few months old, she became very fascinated with the stars above where she laid.  Earlier this month she was finally tall enough and had long enough arms to reach them!  After all, each of the three stars has a tag on them, and she loves playing with chewing on tags of toys.  She now pulls a start down, finds that tags, and pops it in her mouth to chew!

January 5, 2013

2012 Fitness Review

About a year ago I summarized my 2011 year of running.  It was my highest mileage ever in a year, and I was going stong.

This year in summary, was not so successfull in terms of running in fitness.  I had a total of 54 workouts and 25 miles.  I know more of my workouts thoughout 2012 were non-running workouts.  And I took quite a bit of time off while pregnant and after having Elinore.  So I'd say considering the eventful year I've had, I did pretty well!

Last year, I wrote that I had a goal to run a 5K during 2012 after my baby arrived, and I ran a 5K in October! 

I'm happy with 2012, but I hope to increase my milage and fitness level in 2013.  I'm already signed up for my first race next year, a 5K in April.  The race started next door to my house, so how could I say no?

Breakfast

For a week or so, the boys were talking about a surprise for me, but they weren't so great at keeping it a surprise because they told me they wanted to make me breakfast one morning.  I thought it was sweet, but knew they were going to need help from Keith, and mornings, especially weekend mornings aren't his strong suit!

Much to my surprise, they talked him into helping and they ordered me to my room.  They tried to get me to sleep in, but with Elinore, that just isn't possible!  So Elinore and I stayed in my room while they prepared an Ego waffle, homemade pancakes, sausage and a tall glass of milk for me with a 3 Musketeer for dessert. 

It was served on a tray while I sat in the rocking chair in our bedroom. 

It was delicious.

It was so nice seeing the boys initiate something nice for me. 

Beauty

Peter 3:3-4

Santa in Motion

Children's Christmas Program

Boo at the Zoo

Caden & Caleb

Caleb & Caden

Caden, Caleb, Elinore & Mommy

Sleeping Elinore

Daddy, Mommy, and Baby

Elinore & Mommy

Caden

Sleeping Elinore

Caleb

Photobomber

Caden is becoming quite the excellent photo bomber.

What our pictures first attempt looked like:

What they were supposed to look like:

Even our second attempts aren't great photos!

You Know

Caden has taken to saying "you know" rather frequently.  Which is fine except that he's using it at times that we don't know. 

Here's a few examples for you:

• I forgot that...you know, thing.
• Can you get me that, you know.
• Hey, you know, that thing!

No buddy, we don't know, you'll have to elaborate more!

GPS Talk

A few times lately when I'm driving the boys somewhere they've decided to take on the role of GPS. 

I've noticed it mostly in the mornings on the way to the sitters house.  It's a short mile drive from our house to the sitters, but the boys have taken it upon themselves to give GPS directions.

I hear from the backseat: "your destination is the on left" or "please turn left, right, left" as we pull up their driveway. 

It always makes me smile, and that is a great way to start your day!

2012 Goals Reviewed

About a year ago I wrote down some of my personal goals for the year.

Sometime this summer I looked back at them and was happy to see the progress I'd made on them.

And now, the year is passed and I want to see how I did before choosing some smart goals for 2013.

Check! •Finish my second semester of graduate school, while pregnant, with my GPA still strong - My GPA wasn't as strong as I would have liked for it to be, but considering everything that happened that semester, I am happy with it. I was pregnant, my father-in-law passed away, Caleb had a hospital stay, a work trip and other little things, all of which took away from my school work.


Check! •Take some time off work to savor the the last time we're a family of 4 - After Memorial Day, Keith and I took a few days off to spend with the boys, and although I was feeling kind of uncomfortable at that point having a cold and all, we went to the Cleveland Zoo and did some other fun things.

Check! •Welcome baby into our family - We did this! :)

Check! •Breastfeed baby - So far so good! I won't call it completely checked off until we transition back to working too, but we're well on our way. - Almost 6 months in and still going strong!

Check! •Send the boys to kindergarten (They're so grown up!) - Later this month! - They started in August and are loving it!

Check! •Run a 5K after having baby - I miss working out. I need to start working on this. - I took the easy way out an ran a 5K hosted by my employer in October. 

Check! •Celebrate our 3rd year of marriage with my husband - My first day back to work was supposed to be our anniversary. We're taking a vacation day to celebrate together, and I'll go back to work the day after our anniversary. - It wasn't much of a celebration.  We had lunch at P.F. Changs and shopped at T.J. Maxx.  We may have done something else then before getting the boys back for church that night.  It was a tough day for me to be my last day home with my kids before returning to work.

Elinore - 6 Month Review

Dear Elinore,

I can't believe it's been 6 months that you've been a part of our family!  You have been welcomed with open arms and showered with love. 

We've been busy with the holidays, and I haven't spent as much time documenting our lives, but that ends now with what I'm sure will be a lengthy post about your first 6 months!

It's probably been over a month ago now that we moved you into size 2 diapers.  In fact, it was right around the time I wrote your last update at 20 weeks.  You're 27 weeks old now!

You're slowly transitioning out of your 3 months clothing and into 3-6 and 6 month clothing.  You still have a few pieces of newborn/0-3 month things you wear too.  You still fit nearly all of the 3 month clothing though, and we're in no hurry, but the larger clothes don't look so incredibly big on your anymore.  It just means we have a wider selection to choose from when you get dressed.  (It also means mommy can put off doing laundry longer because you have more clothes to choose from!) 

You've mastered rolling over.  You roll all over the floors in the house!  You know how to roll to get what you want, unless you think someone will get it for you. 

You are increasingly interested in toys. Your Great Aunt Linda and Great Uncle Donnie gave you a plasitc singing dancing money in the jungle toy for Christmas that you like to play with. You have rattles and crunchy books that make noise that you like a lot too. You have a few stuffed animals, but none you are too interested in yet.

Speaking of Christmas, you had your first Christmas this past month! You mostly just wanted to eat the wrapping paper though.

You've consistently started spacing out your feedings longer.  You'll go 3 hours on average.  You've probably been doing it for awhile at the sitters and I just haven't noticed as much since you're not with me all the time, but since I've been off work more with the holidays it brought your slight schedule chagnes to my attention. 

You are very interested in your toys.  You like keys and books that crinkle.  You like the noise and will follow with your eyes where things go when you let go of them now. 

You are still a very happy baby, unless you're hungry.  You always let us know when you're hungry.  You can get cranky when you're tired too. 

You're still eating an average of 6 times a day, and you're sleeping through the night usually between 7 and 9 hours a night!  We had you going to be fairly consistently between 8 and 9, but the holidays have destroyed that routine and so we've been a bit later lately, but I think we'll get back on track now. 

You aren't the best napper, you are still very good at the 30-45 minute nap and every few days it seems you'll take a longer nap, but we never know when that will be. I don't mind the napping routine, or lack there of, you have. It's more time we get to spend playing, talking and snuggling with you. We're a busy on the go family, so your flexibility is welcome. Plus you sleep though the night! I think we all function better when we're sleeping through the night.
You are usually a happy camper for bathtime. Daddy seems to give you most of the baths, and I hear you kicking around and playing in there with him.

You are fascinated by animals. If Belle is around you keep an eye on her, and if she's close enough you reach out for her and pull her hair some. Belle is patient with you and lets you pull her hair, but you do get kicked occasionally when we're at the wrong spot next to the dog. You take it right in stride though! Otis has come around some lately too and you'll watch her closely too. You really enjoy sitting on someone's lap while they throw Belle toy for her. You watch her run away and come back and laugh and smile all the while! We've spent some time at grandma's house and you watch Casey they same way. Casey likes to come lick you and you just sit there like it's not a problem at all. We on the other hand shudder as that big black lab slobbers up your face!
You enjoy watching your brothers play. When I drop you three off at the sitters in the morning you're usually too interested watching what they're doing with hteir friends to look at me when I leave. I'm glad you're happy there though, so I don't mind.

I'm still coming to visit you at the sitters at lunch time to nurse and I love the break in the day and the snuggles with you. More often than not you're sleeping when I arrive. While I hate having to wake you, I enjoy the sleepy snuggles I get when I pick up you to wake you.

In church everyone Sunday nearly eveyone comments on how they love seeing you grow every week or what a pleasure it is to hear you giggle or squeal during the service, and sometimes cry too. Several people stop to see you after the service and smile at you. I hope you grow to love our church as we do. Our church family sure loves you!

You've become very fascinated with faces.  If someone's holding you you like to use your hands to feel around their face.  Grandma Nancy says you leave fingerprints on her glasses after she holds you.  You like to try to stick your fingers in my mouth and pull my hair.  You love to play with and eat my hair!

Elinore, we are so in love with you. You smiles, giggles and even your crys always brigten my day. You're 6 months old and there are so many exciting things to come, but we're savoring one day at a time with you and loving every minute!

Love,

Mom

Elinore's 6 Month Check-up

Elinore went in today old for her check-up.  She's doing so well! 

She's 13 lbs. 2 oz, which is the 5th percentile.

She is 25.5 inches long, which is the 36th percentile.

Her head is 41 centimeters in circumferences, which is the 18.9th percentile. 

During the appointment, she behaved very well with lots of smiles, except for during her vaccinations.  She cried during her vaccinations, but calmed down shortly after it was over.  This is a first for her.  Her last few rounds of vaccinations have been terribly upsetting for her, and I nursed her to calm her down.  Today, she calmed down and was happy and smiling before I even had her pants back on her! 

She loved laying on the exam table and playing with the paper covering.  She grabbed it; she crinkled it; she chewed on it; she tore it into pieces.  She just loved playing with it and cried when I pulled her away from it. 

Elinore - 6 Months Old

 

It's getting harder for her to sit still for a photo!

 

Compare to 5 Months Old

Compare to 4 Months Old

Compare to 3 Months Old

Compare to 2 Months Old

Compare to 1 Months Old

Compare to 9 Days Old

Nutcracker

The first weekend or so in December, I took Caden and Caleb to see the Nutcracker for the first time. 

I had thoguht about taking them a couples times, but I didn't think they'd be interested in it.  Then Caden asked if we could see it, and I jumped at the opportunity! 

One of their freinds from ROCK Group at the church was dancing in the ballet and had got them interested. 

They asked Friday night, so I looked up when the performances were.  I'd seen signs around town, so I knew they were having it this year.  As I looked it up, I learned they only do a Nutcracker production on even numbered years, and it just so happens to be 2012!  I was hoping to get to the local showing as I knew it'd be cheaper and easier to manage with the baby at home. 

Wouldn't you know the performances were only that weekend?  So we made plans for the Sunday matinee performance.  After church and lunch, the boys and I were off to the show! 

Caden sat on the edge of his seat for most of the show!  He loved it!  Caleb watching for about a half hour before he lost interested and slumped back in his chair.  Most of the second half he was asking when he could go home and play.

When asked if they'd go again, Caleb said no.  Caden wavered and told different people different answers.  His reasoning for not wanting to go again though was because it was too long.  He certainly enjoyed the perforamnce though!