Resolution Update: Month One

I am great at planning.

Poor at execution.

This has always been one of my weaknesses, and this month's work on my New Year's resolution is a perfect example of this. My goal for the month was to work out twice a week and to log my eating in an online food journal.

Sounds easy, right?

I did start the food journal, and probably only logged my meals three days this month. Add that to a trip to Illinois, a week of conferences, and a lot of sick in the house, and I think I may have worked out a total of five times this month (and even that may be generous).

On the plus side, I did really curb my eating and improve food choices to make more healthy ones, and as a result I am down two pounds this month. I guess it hasn't been a total loss.

Next month's resolution is to work out three-four times a week and to keep my purse more organized. Here's to hoping that I can improve on last month!

Today's Cute Brought to You By Puff the Magic Dragon

Gonzo....

.....survived the flight to Illinois last week, and actually did an awesome job for an active almost-10-month-old.

....has graduated to eating more solid foods than baby foods.

....took her first steps while in Illinois, much to the excitement of her extended family.

....took her first nosedive into the carpet and Grama and Papa's, and had a bruised nose to show for it.

....made her first car trip from Illinois to Minnesota. Her parents lived to tell about it.

....has gotten her first ear infection. A double ear infection. Ugh.

....has regressed in her sleeping patterns even more, as she can barely even stand to be in the crib with this infection.

....will not take a bottle. Could she be weaning herself off the bottle already?

....has parents that would do almost anything for a full night's sleep. Literally, almost anything.

Saturday Morning's Conversation

The Scene: This morning, our living room. Gizmo and Gonzo are in the downstairs living room playing after breakfast. Tina refills her coffee cup, then joins the girls. Mitch is still in bed. The TV is tuned to Uncle Boston's morning show.

Gizmo: I want to watch a DVD. Hello Kitty.

Tina: We can watch Hello Kitty after Uncle Boston's show and after you've gotten dressed for the day.

Gizmo: I want to watch it now! I don't want to watch Uncle Boston!

Tina: Too bad.

A few minutes later.....

Tina: Gizmo! Curious George is on TV with Uncle Boston!

There is, in fact, someone in a Curious George costume who is plugging PBS and their fundraiser this weekend. The lady goes on to talk about how there will be a meet-and-greet with Clifford the dog tomorrow.

Boston: I have two nieces who I have no doubt would enjoy the event.

Boston's Co-Host: Well, Boston, we know what you'll be doing tomorrow!

Boston: Yes, I guess we do.

Gizmo (in her VERY excited voice): Uncle Boston is going to take me to go see Clifford!!

Tina: Yes, he said he is! He said it on TV, he has to do it!

Tina immediately sends Boston a text message letting him know what he's done.

Gizmo: Daddy! (Mitch has just entered the room) Uncle Boston is going to take me to see Clifford!

Mitch: Well, we'll have to check with Uncle Boston to see if he's available to take you.

Gizmo: I don't want to watch Uncle Boston anymore.

End scene.

No One Can Resist This Face - Updated!

I can resist it.

Gonzo, our wonderful, happy, smiley, non-crying baby, has decided to be a pill at bedtime.

Since Day One, this kid has been a sleeper. When she was tired, she would go into her crib and fall asleep. Naptime, bedtime - it was all a breeze. Her only fault in this area is that she has yet to sleep through the night.

Lately, she's decided that she doesn't want to go to bed at night. We've covered all the bases - diapers, teething, even flipped her on her stomach to sleep. That helped for a while. Now, she just wants to scream. And scream. And scream some more. All with the Nuk in her mouth. It takes her over an hour before she wears herself out and falls asleep.

Oh, baby gods, please get my sweet little Gonzo to sleep, because mama and daddy need some rest.

...And in With The New

Everyone makes resolutions. Right? Every year I seem to make at least one or two. This year, I plan on making 12 - one for every month of the year. You see, there is a lot that I would like to change and improve about myself and the way I function in life. Rather than try to tackle everything at once, I think I should go month by month. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I will be a well-oiled, well-toned, well-organized superhuman.

So, in my effort to help with my motivation and self-control, here is my list of New Year's Resolutions:

January: Weight-loss will be a recurring theme in my resolutions. Now that we are done having kids, it is time to get my body into shape. This month, my goal is to record my eating in an online food journal, make healthy food choices, and work out twice a week.

February: In my birth month, I have two resolutions: 1) to keep my purse more organized, and 2) increase workouts to three-four times a week.

March: This month I will focus on my car, which is always full of old napkins, random school stuff, kids' books, and other crap. I will work on keeping a more tidy car.

April: I would love to be more organized with my coupon clipping. I will also be admiring my newer, skinnier self by this time.

May: I will begin to experiment with new fruits and vegetables in my cooking, trying to incorporate a new one into our food every week. I also plan on running my first 5K.

June: During the summer, I want to be active outside every day with the girls that the weather cooperates.

July: I will work on being more organized in my bedroom, which seems to be the dumping grounds for the rest of the house.

August: Run another 5K.

September: As I return to work from the summer, I will work on being more neat and tidy in the house, putting things away as I use them and picking up after myself. I also plan on holding my kids accountable to this resolution. (Mitch is the clean one of the house, I am clearly the messy one)

October: Buy Halloween candy that is not my favorite. (This one will be hard, since I have not met candy that I don't like. Let's just say I won't be buying Snickers.)

November: Continue to be committed to my workout routine, even as the holidays near and things at work become busy.

December: I will be more proactive about my holiday budget - planning purchases, and staying within my means. (This year I was not so successful.....)

So there you have it - my personal goals for the year. I can only hope I have the time and energy to achieve them all.

Let the year begin!