January 2012

Really - it's 2012. Yes, it's 2012. I remember thinking how I would turn 24 in the year 2000. That means I'm er ah...let's just go on!

I have not even downloaded pictures from Christmas, so I am already behind. Yes, this means no pictures in this post. In fact, it's not even on "my list" yet. Anyone who knows me well, knows that if it's not on the list - it probably doesn't get done. In part, this is due to my memory going to pot. Truly.

This year Jax will be 7, Jilly will be 6, my Baby Girl will be FIVE, 1-2-3-4-5, FIVE and my Sweet Boy will be three. Even though all of them will always be my babies - there are literally no babies left in my home. This makes me sad (not sad enough to have another baby) but also happy to be entering a new stage in their lives - one where they listen, do what they're told, poop in the potty, clean up their rooms, make me breakfast in bed - oh wait - maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. I'll settle for listening a teensy bit better and pooping on the potty. I think we're almost there...we are almost off the diaper train with Asher and for that we can all do a little happy dance.

Speaking of Asher - he is doing wonderfully at school and has become quite the little negotiator - just like his Daddy. We'll say eat 2 pieces of meat and he'll say "just one" and then shake his head up and down like we should absolutely agree with exactly what he is saying! (We then give him a treat for eating the meat or the veggie - who said bribery is not good parenting?) We'll say two more minutes until bedtime and he'll say "free" more minutes and hold up three fingers and then say "sounds good Mommy?" When we watch a show and he knows it is ending, he will say "play a little bit" so he doesn't have to go to bed. Mealtime and bedtime are still challenging but then when I am next to him he will throw out an unsolicited "wuv you Mommy" and my heart melts into a puddle of sweetness. He loves his sister - but also loves to torment her at times by running around with her things basically saying "nana-nana-boo-boo."

Saela alternates between tolerating her brother well or not at all. She can go to the extremes. I, for the life of me, cannot figure out where she gets that from. Steve would say it comes from me - but that cannot be - I am calm, cool and collected always. (Did you catch my sarcasm there?) Saela, also, is doing well in school. She loves her teacher and her letters. She can write her first and last names now and knows some site words. She will frequently tell us stories at bedtime - often they entail mean animals and nice animals and going into a house to get away from the mean animals. She makes up stories and songs - much better than I can for sure! Princesses and puzzles are still hot items at our house. In addition, she has really taken a knack to coloring and is so wonderful at it! I love that she is loving puzzles and coloring - I can really get into that kind of playtime.

We had a busy year moving from North Carolina to Tennessee and we are so pleased to be here. My job is going well and Steve is adjusting to his new space. He will be able to go into Nashville on occasion for work - so that is nice for him to get out of the house once in awhile. We have found a church we like and are adjusting to life in Middle Tennessee. We have no plans of moving in the year 2012 wahooooooooo! Together, in 2011, we decided to "get on board" with being more fit and healthy. We are nearing the end of a video workout program called Insanity. At the beginning of the program, we felt as if the instructor, Shaun T, came up from some fiery place to torment the living daylights out of us. However, nearing the end of the program now - we are both feeling fit and strong. It has been nice to do the workouts together - although, I am sure Steve would like to sleep a little longer as we are usually doing them at 5 am. It is really nice to have a workout all wrapped up at the beginning of the day - but by 8:30 pm - my eyelids are sure getting heavy.

Jax and Jilly are loving that they have a yard to play in that actually has grass. Jax is as hyper and tolerant as ever and Jilly - well Jilly Girl still loves her own space but has mellowed some in her "old age" and is a little more tolerant of intrusions into her personal bubble.

No resolutions for me this year - but my "word for the year" is FOCUS. I feel like I need to focus on the task at hand, to be present and listen and not let my mind wander to the 6.1 million other things I feel I need to do - whether that is being at work and not thinking about home or being at church and not letting my mind wander during worship, or being at home with the kids and not thinking about laundry or whatever - I am going to try very hard to focus on the present moment because I never know when it will be my last. Most importantly, I need to focus on God and thank him more often for His Grace.

Wishing all of you peace, love, health and happiness in 2012!