2011 goals

Even thought it is a few weeks into the new year, I haven't had the time to really sit down and articulate what exactly I would like to achieve, accomplish, experience, etc in the upcoming year. This does require some thought, because "those that fail to plan, plan to fail", right?

Many of my goals are practical. I would like to get Victoria potty trained this year, all from a cost/convenience/growing up standpoint. I would like to teach her to write her name (I know, a little young), brush her teeth on her own (with supervision from mama), and have her be secure enough on stairs to remove the baby gates. Take her to the playground as much as I did last year.

Our house needs a large amount of cosmetic updates. We need to make decision about flooring, painting, light fixture, etc. Get a closet door for the upstairs hallway. Finally redecorate my downstairs tiny bathroom. Plant more flowers this spring. pick out a new front door. Keep the weeds out of the driveway.

On an emotional level, I want to lay down more non-negotiable boundaries with my family. I want to be direct (both personally and at work); to say what I mean and mean what I say. I want to handle conflict well. When people are emotionally dumping on me (this happens ALL the time), I want to be able to handle it gracefully AND cut it short. My spouse needs more extra special attention, more date time, more adult time. Worry less and live in the moment more!

ON a physicial level, I need to keep up my current rate of exercise or else I will be crippled up. And I would like to be able to do just ONE sit up. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK? A PUSH UP WOULD BE NICE TOO. I'd like to find something that doesn't make my hair so frizzy lately and lose 10 lbs before my class reunion in August. If I go. That is an entire other post.

Infertiliy. Of course I would like to be incubating a future member of our family. Hopefully in 2011 I can come to terms with what exactly to do.

Potty

TOnight, for the very first time, my baby made POO POO on the potty!
I admit..... I cried!

I was giving her a bath to which she repeatedly said, "No bath", "No bath".
She started looking like she was going to the bathroom (it wouldn't be the first time). I tried to pull her out of the tub, and she wouldn't let me. I let the water out and then put the Dora seat on the big potty, set her on it, gave her books, and left the room. It should be noted that she was wrapped in a towel and I think that made her feel very secure. I kept checking in on her and it was clear that she definately wanted the privacy. She kept pushing me out of the room. I continued to let her know I was nearby, and after 30 minutes, she had poo-poo'ed and wiped.

She has been very obstinate, negative, tantrum-y, and crabby lately. This made me so super excited about parenting again ;)

Not a good way to start the year

I'm up in my hometown. I had to take some time off and come up here to take care of a few things.

As I was packing up to leave today, I got the intestinal virus going around. Now I'm stuck here until I'm better.

Resting

P's family just came over for New Year's Eve.
It's been nice. Really nice. I'm enjoying their company.
Drama free, which I appreciate.
P made the most fabulous dinner. This am we ran to AA to Whole Foods and Zingermann's and spent more than I care to admit on dinner. He made bacon wrapped scallops, buttermilk mashed potatoes, Zingermann's mac & cheese (with cream and a pound of raw milk cheddar), salad, and flourless chocolate cake with chocolate truffles from San Chez. I ate a lot and all was good. I cleaned up and we are all hanging out in the living room.
Vi skipped a nap today. Sigh. It's 8:45 and she really needs to settle down for bed. She's been quite friendly to everyone.
Two days of vacation left. Sniff.

Some Christmas Pictures

The Christmas picture dress:


The Hartstrings Christmas outfit with matching, shirt, skirt, sweater and tights (not in picture) for a bargain price of $4.00.

again, taken with my IPhone, so not so great quality.

Tidbits

Or leftovers, the Thursday night edition, since tomorrow is Christmas Eve.
* Just gave my little babydoll a bath. I put a tiny drop of curling cream in her hair and it is curly (what there is of it!)
* It's Christmas Eve Eve. Some people say Christmas Eve Adam. I think that is lame.
* Off work for a bit. Grateful for a job with paid holidays.
* It's been an EXTREMELY STRESSFUL week. My family is quite upset we will would not be there on Christmas Day (it's a 10 hour round trip) as we wanted to spend it in our own home. We couldn't agree on when and how to get together over the holidays and they were pretty unyielding about their desires including refusing our invitations to come here. My error is not being more up front with them about everything, but still. Listening to your mom cry about it and getting nasty text messages from your sister is NOT COOL.
* The stress from all this caused diarrhea, nausea, stomach pains and anorexia. I hadn't felt great starting earlier this month, but now it is a full fledged attack. I talked to the doctor and nurse. They think I have Crohn's Disease. That is pretty upsetting.
* P went to the grocery store to buy food for tomorrow and Christmas Day. He is going to beat the crowds. I have "Best of Elmo 2" video on. I recommend it. It's really cute. At the end of the video Adam Sandler sings a song that rhymes "Elmo" and "Smellmo".
* V has some sort of post nasal drip and has been up coughing the last two nights. I'm tired. I'm ready to go to bed now to be honest.
* The potty training is not realy coming along well here. I'll post more about that later.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I am looking forward to sitting around, some gym workouts, eating, Wii, hugging, kissing, and playdoughing up my baby, and not getting dressed.

Hello!

I've been having some computer issues with my netbook. It constantly redirects me to weird sites, is slow, and has been shutting down. I'm sure there is some adware lurking in there, and I am going to have P look at it.

I baked cookies last week. It was an easy shortcut. I used the refrigerated cookie dough already broken into segments (it saved me making and rolling and cutting dough) as I am not the best baker. This morning V and I decorated cookies. She did not say a word the entire time, she was very intent and very busy. Some decor we sprinkled from the container, and some were in a large container that I let her apply with a spoon.





Someone even ate one halfway through.....



The finished product: