New Years Resolutions....I mean Goals

Well, the year is almost over.  We officially only have two more days of 2010.  This year has had its ups and downs.  Financially, we have had some set backs.  Cars have broken down (Garrett's car twice), pools have leaked, and vacuums have bit the dust (2 to be exact).  I even got a pink slip from the school district.  But on the brighter side I got my job back, Nate has grown into a walking, talking, funny little toddler, Natalie received student of the month at school, and we took the most amazing trip to Kauai with the Thomson family.  Even though we had a few hardships, we are so blessed with the most wonderful family and friends.  While 2010 had its struggles, it still was a pretty darn good year. 

I have come up with a few goals for the following year.  I tend to NEVER stick with my new years resolutions.  So this year I am going to come up with some goals. 

1.) Pass the mathematics CSET I have to pass this test if I want to keep my job.  While staying home sounds very appealing, the money is much needed.  I HAVE to pass this test.  

2.)  Spend at least one hour each day studying for the CSET It is so hard to be disciplined and study.  They say that teachers are the worst students and I definitely agree!!!

3.) Read to my kids every day Both my kids ADORE books.  Nate is always bringing me a book and sitting right down on my lap.  But usually I am so tired and exhausted by the end of the day I just throw my kids in bed so I can relax.  But what is 5 more minutes each night?  A bonding 5 minutes is what it should be.

4.) Put my family before anything else in my life I want my wonderful husband and kids to feel like they are number one in my life.  They are the most important things in the world to me and I want them to know it.  I plan in 2011 to show each of them that they come first: not my job, extended family, friends, or hobbies.   

5.)   Exercise at least 3 times a week When I exercise I feel strong, confident, and healthy.  It is the one thing I NEED for myself.  For the past 5 years I have been taking care of small children and sometimes (most of the time) I forget to take care of myself.  

So those are my five goals.  I think they are doable and I hope I don't forget them within the first month like I usually do with my resolutions.  Happy New Year!

BIG BOY BOOSTER (a quiet dinner at last!)

Today I bought Nate a new booster chair (big boy chair) for the bar stool.  For the past year he has been sitting in a high chair next to the bar.  This high chair was a charming chair: cute little zoo animals, cozy cushion, removable tray.  Yet since the day we brought it into the house, to Nate it has been a TORTURE CHAMBER!  Each meal in this chair has been miserable.  And not just for Nate.  The crying.....the complaining......the screaming.  But today it all changed!  All because of a cheap green plastic booster chair.  But to Nate, it is his ticket to the big people table.  He no longer has to look longingly at his big sister in the tall stool.  Now he gets to be apart of it all.  Tonight, sitting next to his big sister, he had the BIGGEST grin on his face.  The meal was a pleasure (except for the stolen corn from Natalie's plate).  Nate even ate all his food without any oozing or spitting out.  He LOVES this new chair.  Which means Mommy LOVES this new chair!

15 Months

Dear Nate,

Today was your 15 month check up.  You are still in the 90th percentile for height (thanks to Daddy) but have gone down in the weight department, 75th percentile.  I can definitely say that it is because of your picky eating habits.  There are very few things that you will eat.  Right now the list includes: eggs, yogurt, rice, pureed baby food meat medley, corn, apple sauce, and Pirates Bootie. If I try to give you something you don't like, it just oozes out of your mouth.  It's not a pretty sight to see.

In the past month, you have been learning so many new things.  It's like this light bulb went on in your brain and you are suddenly this little kid who understands me.  Your vocabulary is rapidly growing.  You can say hot, Emma, no, Mama, Dada, vaccumm (va va), night night (ni ni) and thank you (na nu). You also follow directions (sit down, get a toy, get in your chair).  You can walk really well now.  Most of the time you just run to keep up with your sissy.  But you still enjoy being held.  You are very particular about who holds you now.  Strangers or people you don't see too often don't usually get to pick you up. 

You adore your Auntie.  If she is in the room then no one else matters, not even Mommy :(  Your cousin Brandon is a close second.  You just LOVE him.  Auntie says that every day after your nap you run right out to the tv, sit on Brandon's lap, and watch him play x-box.  So cute! 

The cutest thing ever is bed time.  I will ask you if you are ready for night night, and you nod your head, smile, and raise your eyebrows up and down.  It cracks me up.  Then when I put you in bed I say night night and you stick out your chin, make a mmmmmm sound to give me a kiss.  But when I go in for it, you roll to the other side of the crib and giggle.  You are already teasing your poor momma.

Your favorite thing in the hold world right now is vacuums.  Every time you see one you say va va.  So Grandma Linda got you a pretend one for Christmas.  At first you were scared of it.  You were not a fan of the noise.  But now you push it all over the house with a big grin on your face. 


Thanks for all the laughs!  You and your sis are the light of our lives.  I love you to the moon and back.  And that's a lot!