Resolutions: Calm, Time, and Technology

This year I'm not doing a strict detailed list. Yes there are still the every year resolutions I repeat: get in better shape (figure this is on going), stay in touch with people more (honestly this is a two way street, traveling with families is tough, and facebook is a crappy alternative but better than nothing in the mean time), and Be Positive and don't stress the small stuff (seems to be more a lifetime goal and must be taken one day at a time but does lead into this year's resolutions a bit more). But this year my resolutions I don't want to just be changes for the year or with a deadline just more things I want to change about my life.

So this year I am focusing on Calm, Time, and Technology. I feel each of these is kinda intertwined for me. I want to be a calmer person I've had a bit of postpartum anxiety and this made me realize a bit more how high strung I was to begin with, life is stressful in general but I'm reading a couple books right now and learning that despite the stress in life, our happiness and anxiety are both determined by how we handle that stress. I have a choice and I choose to make the best out of each situation. I choose to be a calmer person.

A big part of what will help me be that person is making the most of my time. This means scheduling several things better, which will benefit my family of 6 and make every day more calm, and making the most of time when we don't have a schedule. Actually relaxing and realizing I don't have to do a project or chore every time there's free time, time can be left free. I am allowed to enjoy those moments and relax too.

As a mom people will remind you to make time for yourself but I find I have the time for myself but the problem is forcing myself to use it for myself. This is similar to the conundrum of being given a gift card for me and having to fight hubby as I try to use it for the kids, but I'm trying.

And in order to make the most of my time I am limiting the time suck that is technology. Compared to some I don't use the computer, xbox, kindle, cell phone, etc. that much but it's honestly still too much for me. The blog is productive I think and kind of the exception. I spend 20 minutes here when the kids are asleep and I have a log, an entry in what will one day be a book for my kids to look back on. On the other hand I spend 20 minutes surfing the web or browsing Facebook and I feel after the first 5 minutes I just have 15 minutes down the drain and it definitely doesn't help with my calm. There are exceptions to this of course, but there's a person I always dreamed of being that most of you don't know and I feel too much time with technology is preventing me of becoming her.

As random as it may seem if I could live anywhere in the world I would want to live on a farm in the middle of nowhere and be more self sufficient with my family. I'm not quite ready for the leap of being completely self sufficient, but growing my own food, making many things by hand, and reducing our carbon footprint with also healthier options all would be wonderful. There are many resources online that help me work towards doing this but there are even more time sucks that take my free time and prevent me from doing this. So I plan to limit my use of technology. I'll still be online at times and blogging of course but my relationship with technology will be changing a lot. I think this will benefit my calm as I work towards this goal (see once again all these are connected).

So anyway 2012 I'm focusing on bettering my Calm, Time, and Technology and as always continuing to work the hardest I can to make the best of things for my family and God. I can't thank him enough for all the blessings every year of my life so far He has bestowed on me, and 2011 is even more so with K's birth at home, and I can't wait to see what the year to come has in store for us with his protection and guidance.

Happy New Years 2012

We spent this New Years at home (thanks to Mommy's earache) but still had a lot of fun. We stayed up watching Dick Clark, all 6 crowded on a couch as the ball dropped, then had sparkling grape juice, went outside for some fireworks and sparklers, and finally had some cookie cake (well except for J who crashed on the couch). Wonderful way to welcome in the New Year!

And of course I had K my 2011 babe in my arms the whole time except when Daddy took her for a New Year's kiss of course :)

Last Year's Resolutions Reviewed and Revamped

Just reviewing my last year list (I'll probably continue several of these in 2011)

1. Get in Better Shape, Live Healthier
-I think I did well at this but unexpectedly ended up being pregnant and that of course limited some of what I wanted to do on this front. Since E was born I have lost my PP weight but am now really realizing what a number I did on myself last December with emotional eating because of all that was going on. I hope to continue to work on this and fully accomplish this in 2011.

2. Find a church and start a Weekly family worship time.
Found a church! Thanks to my wonderful doula who attends there. We are now a bit further from it but I still have received support from the Moms' group there and hope to continue to develop our relationship with our church family. We will have to see if we end up in the Atlanta area or not come May to see if this will be our permanent family church though.

3. Budget better
I have done much better at this. Now the holidays did mess me up some of course but compared to the year before I feel much better about our finances and think I can continue to save more in 2011.

4. Keep in better touch with Friends and Family
Yes and no....I've made more friends locally and feel I've kept up more with them thanks to ICAN but my long distance friends and family who are both across the country and nearby I haven't been as good about contacting or visiting (other than via FB). I know this is a hard one with everyone with kids and at different places physically and in life but I do hope this resolution happens more in 2011.

5. Be Positive and don't stress the small stuff
I've gotten better about this, a huge difference came with my natural birth and our family growing to five. I also think my blogging has helped me put things in a different perspective and I've grown more in general this year as a person. I hope I continue to appreciate the small great things even more in 2011 and not stress the little issues but grow and learn from them instead.

A long drive to the Mountains

So we did it! We made it to visit Hubby's grandparents in NC.

The three hour trip was exponentially longer than our gps estimate of 3 hours thanks to potty breaks for 2 kids, pauses through the curvy mountain pass for Mommy dizziness, and finally a long break after J unfortunately did get car sick but we made it and we're all in one piece and surprisingly relaxed. E was perfect sleeping through everything, and C and J were content to watch Robin Hood and Beauty and the Beast. Hubby chose the movies based on which ones he could stand to hear but not see lol.

I'm hoping J's experience was just a fluke and not a trend. A couple trips ago when he was 18 months or so we had the same thing happen. Luckily this time I knew he wasn't feeling well and acted before hand and shall we say caught it just in time....

Anyway, we're here and even at almost 3am you can see lots of beautiful thick snow which the kids are super excited about. Tomorrow we will be celebrating Christmas with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa (Christmas #3) followed by New Year. Seeing as I'm up now I'll most likely be up to watch the ball drop tomorrow.
This past year has been so wonderful and I can't wait to see what the next year holds!

Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed new year!