Resolutions

I've started thinking about what I want to do for my resolutions for 2013. Sure, I could go with the old stand-bys of working out x days per week or losing x pounds during the year or paying off x debt. And I think I might do that as some goals.

But more than thinking about that, I want to work on my writing. And I have been thinking about creating a goal related to that. I have two first drafts of novels written, as well as some unfinished writing projects. But I kind of want to do something new as my primary project.

Have you given any thoughts to resolutions? Are you going to make any, or are you against resolutions?

Favorite holiday traditions

One of my favorite traditions this time of year was going out to see Christmas lights with the family on Christmas Eve. There were some houses fairly close to ours that went all out with their lights, and it was a lot of fun to see them. There was even someone who would dress up like Santa and hand out candy canes to people in cars that were driving slowly down the street to enjoy the lights. It was also a tradition in the area to put out luminarias, which were lighted candles set inside paper bags. Seeing those in the neighborhood really was something.

We have tried to create some of our own traditions as a new family. Each year, we go to a local thrift store and look for Christmas sweaters to take a family photo in. Then we buy a picture frame ornament with the year on it to put the picture in. The first year we did this, one of my older sisters told another sister that she was worried about me. We tried to be as cheesy as possible so people would know that we weren't serious, but apparently she thought we were serious and I was turning into my mother or something. Ha ha! This year, we haven't found Christmas sweaters, so we think we may not be able to participate, and I'll be really bummed to have to break this tradition.

Another tradition we're trying to keep is based loosely on something we did as a family when I was younger. As a family, we went around to neighbors and family friends singing Christmas carols and giving some sort of homemade gift my mom baked. I wasn't a fan of the singing each year, but we always got into the spirit of it part of the way through. Still, I decided I'm not really interested in a Von Trapp singing family (especially since there are only 2 of us right now who can sing), but I want to at least do a little something for my neighbors. We haven't done this every year, but this year we dropped off poinsettias and Christmas cards, and all our neighbors were appreciative.

What are some traditions you have or would like to start for the holidays, whether Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's, or some other day?

NaNoWriMo

I am a writer!!!

I have had a couple little things published and haven't even kept track of them. But I have participated in National Novel Writing Month four different years and have "won" three of those four years.

Writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days (the goal of NaNoWriMo) is fun and yet challenging. There were more than a few times during that 30 days each year when I thought about giving up. I had to silence my inner critic (who I will call Cruella, because of her ruthlessness) who wanted me to re-write what I'd already written and/or start over and/or edit the crap out of it. I wanted Cruella to shut up for 30 days so I could just get a beginning, middle, and end out on paper. It was tough, but I managed to do it. And now, I have a story written. I'm pretty sure I contradicted myself at least once in the story, but it is written! It is a story that wasn't written in my head (only the basics), let alone on paper (so to speak) before November.

So I have been relaxing the past few days, enjoying library books that I wondered when I'd get a chance to read them. It's a fabulous feeling of success.

The writing process was surely a labor of love, and now I have a newborn baby book to nurture. So I suppose I should get to work on that. But I'd like to finish the books I have checked out from the library first.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

This morning I was Exhausted with a capital e when Joy decided she was up for the day. So I dragged my butt out of bed and put a show on TV for her (yes, I do that in the morning when I'm still waking up, and I'm not ashamed to admit it). Then I fell asleep on the couch. I don't think I was asleep long, because Joy doesn't let that happen. Besides, my nose was all stuffed up and I think I may have snored a bit and woke myself up as a result. Anyway, Joy came over to me, all smiles, and wanted to cuddle. I lifted her up on the couch with me, pulling the blanket over her as she tried to take over the small square pillow my head was on. She was copying me in every way she could... and then she started fake snoring. What a little stinker! I couldn't help but laugh.

Public Service Announcement- Fires

I am a registered volunteer with the American Red Cross. I signed up back in 2009 when they were concerned about flooding in the area and thought they would have to open up multiple shelters because of it. In fact, we were told it wasn't a matter of whether or not flooding would occur, but when. At our house, we readied a room for visitors. We figured that if someone was displaced and came to us through our church, we would be ready for them. We even went so far as to buy a memory foam futon so they could have a comfy bed. The flooding never came.

I didn't receive any emails requesting volunteers for shelters until I was pregnant and unable to help. After giving birth, I was of course busy with my newborn daughter. She's now a toddler, and I figure that if I need to every once in a while, I can volunteer as long as my husband is available to watch her for at least the majority of the time I will be volunteering.

This month, I have volunteered at 2 different shelters about 2 weeks apart. Both shelters were opened because of apartment fires. And while I was working at the shelter last night, we heard of another apartment fire that might create a need for the shelter to stay open and expand to accommodate more people.

At this time of year, there are many fire resulting from decorations and the like. Please be safe!

My little goofball

She has some adorable hats, but she doesn't really like to wear them. She does like to wear Mom or Dad's baseball cap. She's also been known to walk around in a beanie (sometimes worn correctly, and sometimes completely covering her eyes). When she got her little Halloween basket, she started alternating between putting toys in it and wearing it as a sort of helmet. And then sometimes, there's this:

Christmas season is here!!!

I have found as I get older that I am looking forward to Christmas more. I am sure I looked forward to it as a kid, but I know there were years when I didn't care about it much. As a single adult, I sometimes participated in Christmas Angel events to try to get into the spirit, but I didn't care much about decorating or baking or things like that. I know I wasn't into any of those aspects of Christmas as a kid. I remember not really caring much about Christmas movies and music, and now I enjoy those, even the cheesy Christmas movies. And now I look forward to decorating the house inside and out, baking and giving out cookies, and even wrapping gifts.

Having a child has even made it all more exciting for me. I can understand how kids see commercials and decide they want about 1000 different things for Christmas based on the ads. I do the same thing with items that are on sale when it comes to shopping for her! I haven't gotten her many toys, but I got her books and sing-along videos and winter clothes and have been tempted to buy so much more for her. I mean, have you seen toddler boots? They are crazy cute!!! I pretty much had her Christmas shopping done months ago, but I keep finding things for her and getting them. Now I just need to decide what I will hang on to for her birthday AND STOP BUYING THINGS FOR HER!

How do you feel about the holiday season? Love it, loathe it, or somewhere in between? What are some of your favorite things about it? Least favorite things about it?

Money, money, money

I keep waiting for more money to drop out of the sky. Unfortunately, it hasn't happened yet. So I guess I really need to start looking for work. Hopefully, it won't take forever. We need to do some things around the house (like yesterday) that we have been putting off far too long because we don't have the money for it. And we would like to actually be able to take an occasional vacation (maybe going to see our family) and save money for future purchases. It's just not happening right now. And so the best way to make ends meet is to make longer ends. Ugh.

Waaaaah!

It's not that Joy has never thrown a tantrum before, but she is full on tantruming now. It's out of control. It makes ME want to tantrum!

Photos of Joy

Joy was excited to meet Santa at our church Christmas dinner in early December.

She also enjoyed the Seattle Aquarium right before Christmas.

She had a nice Christmas at Mimi and Papa's house and got wonderful gifts from them and Aunt Kristine.

She's walking all over the place now!

We went to the Kids Quest Museum in Bellevue yesterday, and she LOVED it!

And that's a little bit of what we've been up to lately.

Joy

Hard to believe she's close to a year old already! In some ways, the year has flown by. And in some ways, it feels so much longer. Still, I'm not ready for how grown up she already is, let alone all the growing up that is just around the corner.

She is walking now. She has been since Christmas Eve. Her first step was just a few days before that, but that was when she started going for it. She has been pulling herself up to stand and cruising along furniture for months, so I knew it was just a matter of time. Once she realized she could actually take a step without seriously hurting herself, she was otherwise ready.

She finally got her first tooth. Well, it's still coming in. It first appeared earlier this month. And now her second tooth is also emerging.

She still doesn't really like to eat too much food, so most of her nutrition comes from formula. She's not too keen on switching from bottles to sippy cups, so that's a struggle, and when she does eat food, it's mostly just a few bites.

She's got such a fun little personality, and she is so small compared to many other babies I've seen that are her same age. It's been fun to meet other local moms with kids the same age and see the similarities and differences between them as well as make new friends.

I know this is short, but I'm tired and should get myself to bed. But if you have any tips to get her to be more into sippy cups, I'd love to hear them!