Welcome 2015

Happy New Year! I think 2015 is going to be amazing, and I can't wait to get started. We'll be celebrating Kyle's 2nd birthday next month and it's just about time to start planning his party. I haven't decided on exactly what the theme will be, but I'm looking forward to having all of his little friends over for some fun. 

Even though I'm not great at keeping resolutions, I think the new year is a great excuse to take a look at your life and make some improvements! Here's what I'm thinking about & working on for 2015:

• Stop procrastinating! I do a lot of work from home, and there's nothing worse than when I have to stay up until 3 a.m. after a long day to meet a deadline, and then wake up early with Kyle. My new routine will be to do a little work every night, even if the deadline is days away. I know it will be worth it because there's nothing worse than a zombie mommy. And I really need to be on my A game this year because I will have even more on my plate when I start teaching a class at the end of January!
• Start a mommy journal. I wish I would have done this sooner, but better late than never, right? I want to buy a beautiful journal and take a little time now and then to handwrite some thoughts and memories about raising Kyle. Maybe I'll give it to him when he grows up, or maybe I'll just keep it to myself. But there are so many tiny moments happening every day that burst my heart open and I need a place to keep them.
• Read more. I am ashamed to admit that I did not read any books in 2014. Not one single book! This is not acceptable. I love to read and need to make more time for it. This can be really hard when I'm trying to cram what seems to be too many tasks into the small windows of free time I have. When Kyle is asleep during the day I typically clean, do laundry, do work or sometimes just sit still for a minute. Then when Kyle goes to sleep at night I try and spend time with Brian, finish cleaning and finish my work. Sounds like a lot of cleaning but are the dishes ever done? NO! However, I do have some down time and if I make it a priority I know I can do it! Any book recommendations?
• Don't overreact. I think I'm usually pretty good at keeping my cool, but there are times when I have no excuse and I overreact like a crazy person. For example: just seconds after the picture above was taken by Brian, Kyle turned around and threw that hat into the duck pond. I actually cursed at Kyle and could not get over it for at least an hour. Over a stupid hat! I had my reasons, but none of them were valid. I need to learn to let those kinds of things go - every time. It's just not worth it.

Those are my big ones. I also need to lose a few pounds, exercise more, wash my hair more, make more of an effort to include family in my everyday life... the list goes on and on. But for now I'll focus on these few things and try to remember to enjoy the little things every day.

NYE

This week I learned that having a sick baby means losing all track of time and reality. Kyle has his 1st ear infection, which means that pretty much all of my energy and brainpower since Christmas has been dedicated to making him feel better. He hasn't been sleeping well (naps or at night), so Brian and I are both running on fumes and learning what it takes to care for a sick child, which is one of the saddest things ever.

I honestly didn't even realize that today is New Year's Eve until I woke up this morning and checked Facebook and saw everyone's "year in review" posts. I guess it's safe to say that we'll be ringing in 2014 at home, and (HOPEFULLY) fast asleep. Brian and I haven't really gone "big" for NYE in a few years anyway, but funny to think that instead of toasting champagne with friends - or even watching Ryan Seacrest on TV - we'll be trying desperately to catch some zzz's and hoping our baby gets some too so he can be well.

Even though we're ending 2013 on kind of a low note, this year was absolutely the best year of our lives. It's amazing how much everything changes with the birth of your first child, and how much you learn. Everything I do is for him, and my heart explodes every day watching him grow. He is truly a blessing and has turned me into someone I've always wanted to be - a mommy!

Feb 2013                                                                                        Nov 2013

My hope for 2014 is that I can continue to grow as a mother and wife. I want to always put my family first, and to keep learning what's best for my son as he grows from a baby to a toddler. Kyle turns 1 in just 6 weeks, and I know that things will be much different with him than they were this year. I'm going to have to start disciplining him (waaaaaah) and teaching him how to become a respectful, smart, fun and honest little man. I truly can't wait.

adios 2012

Happy 2013!

I think 2012 has been one of my favorite years, so I'm a little sad to see it go. 

I thought the highlight would have been the graduation ceremony for my master's program in May, but little did I know my favorite moment would come less than one month later when I saw those 2 lines on the pregnancy test. While that moment was followed by at least 3 months of nerves, anxiety and disbelief... it definitely changed my life forever and I was blessed to spend the second half of 2012 with a baby boy growing in my tummy.

I'm sure it goes without saying that I'm thrilled about what's to come in 2013. My only New Year's resolution is to be the best new mommy I can be, every day, and to take great care of my family.

Happy New Year to you and yours. xo

celebrating 11 years of dating; getting "robed" at my graduation ceremony; finding out it's a boy!; spending time with some best friends at my birthday/graduation party; hanging with my crazy family at my nephew's 1st birthday party; attending my 1st professional football game (go 49ers!) with friends; doing Tae Bo with the one and only Billy Blanks; watching my belly grow; and seeing my sweet baby boy at our 4D ultrasound.