Resolutions and self reflection

Last year was a bit crazy.

I....

• got married the last day of 2009 so 2010 was the first year of our marriage
• 
  
• "officially" opened my photography business
• 
  
• Flew to Pensylvania for family reunion 
• 
  
• I had a baby-- a month early
• 
  
• The house was robbed--insurance deemed it totally over $10k. Too bad we had a high deductable.
• 
  
• Flew to virginia to visit the rest of the family with an infant and a toddler
• 
  
• My husband got laid off
• 
  
• My husband got a new job 

Really all in all, a crazy year, and I'm sure I even forgot a few "big" things.

When I started thinking about my goals for this year, I realized too much of it was things to do that had nothing to do with my family. Do more photo sessions? Sell more on Etsy? Blog more? Make more stuff to sell on Etsy? 

Then I thought about the build up of mess, the amount of remodeling we need to accomplish in our house, and how quickly Ivy is growing up and realized that what I really need to do is slow down.

We can make it fine on one income, but the girls aren't going to be young forever. There is going to be time in the future to build businesses, continue my art, push myself, but now is not the time for it. Blogging, crafting, and even *gasp* my photography have to come firmly after my family for now. 

I'm not saying that I'm stopping completely any of the hobbies I have, just that I am placing them way lower on my scale of priorities. 

Aahh... that feels better. 

Moravian Stars

We had a few tiny white moravian star ornaments when I was a kid. I loved staring at them and trying to figure out how they were made. Of course at that point the internet was not well known, and while my dad had a modem I was only allowed to occasionally play MathBlaster and other similar games on his Apple IIE. Besides, it is highly unlikely that anyone had an instruction page anywhere on how to make them.

Last month I was looking at some blogs and saw a beautiful moravian star ornament and realized-- I can find instructions on how to make almost anything on here!


I've been making them like crazy, and am going to give some away in my neighborhood ornament swap. Use up some old paper, make some pretty stuff, participate in an ornament swap without spending any money? Check!

Here is the link that first caught my eye. Her stars are so lovely. At some point I am going to try wax dipping some of mine. I have to go to the thrift store and get a pot for wax melting first.



Anyone else make these little stars? Have you done the wax dipping?

Crying..

After weeks, nay months, of fractured sleep and non restful evenings I decided to start sleep training the baby yesterday. See, she will nurse to sleep in the evenings, but the second I put her down she will cry so I was spending hours every evening with her in bed instead of spending a few precious hours with my husband. I was getting cranky and running out of books to read. And she was sleeping very poorly, waking up 5 times in a night sometimes.

She cried for an hour last night, and then fell asleep. Woke up a few times to nurse and slept 12 hours.

Tonight I laid her down and she protested for maybe 5 minutes and fell asleep. Ah, peace.  I hope she enjoys the rest as much as I do.

Sentimental

A friend posted this little ditty as her Facebook status, and it made me tear up a little.

It needs to be hung on a wall, with a picture of a new baby bring cradled by their parents

I hope that my children looking back on today

will remember a mother who had time to play.

Because children grow up while you're not looking.

There are years ahead for cleaning and cooking.

So, quiet now cobwebs, dust go to sleep. 


I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.


<3

25 Things I am thankful for -- part 4

9.Computers. Wow, the world would be a totally different place without them.

8. Gardens-- this morning I took the toddler out and let her pick tomatos
 and chew on mint leaves, and it was a lovely time. My neighbor's garden is especially nice... we
can check it out, and they kindly share and maintain it... with the two kids I think my own garden would have been long dead this year.

7. Baby bouncer thingamajigs. Lifesavers, they are!







































6. Trees. I like them, and they are good. They provide shade, make oxygen, and even look pretty.

5. My best friend "Uncle Matt"... we don't see each other much recently, but that's ok. Now if Lorelei would just stop asking me incessantly to see him (he's out of town for a few weeks)

4. My mom's group. They are pretty awesome, even though my current kid situation (they nap on opposite schedules right now) means I don't get to see anyone as often as I would like. But when my kid raisin' calms down, I know they will still be there!

3. My mother

2. My husband






































1. My beautiful girls

25 Things I am thankful for -- part 3

14. Coffee!

13. Soft snuggly blankets

12. Sewing machines

11. Cameras

See... there's my camera!

10. Ultra Fine point sharpies-- my drawing and writing pen of choice

Nope.. that's not a sharpie. But it should be!

25 Things I am thankful for -- part 2

19. A nice back yard -- the toddler can get her fill of nature in a secure, friendly place
 where I don't even have to get out of jammies to take her. If she wants to frolic naked, it's not a big deal.

18. Cat litter boxes. To have cats without these would be unpleasant indeed

17. Thrift stores. I may not always find what I'm looking for, but a few trips and I will for sure be able to add to my basic wardrobe
As a plus, the clothes are preshrunk, AND I'm being "green" by not buying new.

16. Tissues. It's cold and allergy season in Toddlerville.

15. My car. It's little, it's old, it's got a ton of miles on it, but it's still running
 fine and gets me out on the days I can't stand another moment in the house with the girls.
Sometimes it even takes me out all by my lonesome! Score!