Finally, making a few resolutions

So, here it is, January 4, and I'm finally figuring out what I want to accomplish in January.

I have good reasons for the lateness. We were driving on Jan 1 and 2, and Jan 3 was about unpacking, settling in and loving on Hank (who was all lonesome for 12 days! -- someone did stop in every other day to feed and water him, but it wasn't us).

For January --

1. Do a Weekly Home Blessing once a week (create the habit)
2. Make a pair of pants for myself
3. Expand the diaper stash with some new, slightly larger diapers
4. stitch up the inserts (micro-fiber terry cloth, very absorbent stuff, but frays like crazy)
5. Start spring seedlings

Last Minute Goals

So, here it is, New Year's Eve, and I have given little to no thought to 2012 goals and such. Well, I have some -- if you remember the "make your own clothes" resolution -- that was some thought. So, here I am, on New Year's Eve, scrambling to consider 2012 goals/resolutions. Well, I guess I don't have to scramble if I don't want to. But alas, I am just like that.

First things first. How did I do with 2011 goals?

2011 goals started here -- http://youngernews.blogspot.com/2010/12/to-resolute-or-not-to-resolute.html

If you follow the "goals" tag, you'll notice that I did really well at thinking about and following up on goals until.... April. Those who have looked at this blog (or know me) know that little Peanut (who is getting an official new nickname sometime soon -- ideas floating around) was born mid-May. And he completely threw my goal keeping for a loop. Ah, well, he is worth it.

And then he, Peanut, interrupted this blog post with the biggest poo-splotion we've had in several months.  Ah, well, he is worth it. (Yes, this happened just now. Hubby felt the need to announce it, as he assisted in the clean up.)

Goals Updates

I've been thinking about getting a blog post up, but was having a hard time deciding on a good topic. Baby and diapers dominate most of my thinking, time and creating moments (working on diapers). So, lets consider goals.

This goals update post is motivated by several things:
Hubby asked when the last time I blogged was;
I've been trying to think of a non-baby, non-diaper topic;
I purchased and have been reading "Large Family Logistics". (no, I don't have a large family yet, but I'm hoping for more kids -- in due time, of course)

The author discusses the establishing of goals, which reminded me of my previous made goals from earlier this year, last posted about in April.  But then May got away from me, and June is a blur, so here we are at July.

Of previous goals:

• February Lady Sweater still isn't finished.
• I *should* have done more diaper prep. We've used more disposables than I wanted (but not had to buy any, at least). I'm slowly getting it together, though.
• Zone cleaning and general house keeping continues, though at a slower rate than even before. 

For July:

• Round out the diaper stash. I've got 4 in the works (using suedecloth, not fleece!)
• Figure out a good house keeping routine that works with me being home full time and having a baby (this deserves its own post which it will get when I review "Large Family Logistics" when I finished reading it)
• Ride bike (stationary) 20 minutes 3 times a week
• Prep garden for Fall plantings
• tomato plants
• corn
• Uncle Chuck's beans
• herb plants
• Lettuces and spinach

I have to remember, I might be home full time, but I'm almost as busy as before with the baby. Must not let goals get the better of me.

April Goals

It seems only reasonable that April goals should include a great deal of baby preparation, as he is due Mid-May. I'm working hard to keep in my mind that he could come plus or minus 2 weeks of that due day of May 12 -- as early as April 28 or as late as May 26. Ambiguity tends to stresses me, so I'm working hard to not think about it too much. Nonetheless, seems only reasonable to aim to have all ready this month.

We are well stocked with baby boy clothes. All borrowed and hand-me-downs. Bummer is many of them are for cooler weather, not the 90s+ that hit in May and June. 

Thus, I need to....
1. pack my bag and Hubby's bag for the hospital stay.
2. set up the pack and play or borrow a bassinet from a friend. (got some options here, crib is optional till baby is a tad older)
3. make sure we have either flats (diapers) or other options for those first few days. We are thinking to use disposables till the meconium phase is past, due to its tar-like nature (so I've heard). But, I don't expect to get much sewing done in those days, so I plan to have some cloth options ready before baby is born.
4. put all the paper filing back into the closet, even if its not p*rfect. I think having the nursery floor mostly clear will be good.
5. Put up curtains in the nursery... or will the bright sunlight not bother baby?

Specific goals to work on....
1. Keep going with zone cleaning. I divided the house into zones and wrote out some cleaning goals for each zone.
2. Get baby goals done.

I've seen urbanknits April goals. Do you have any monthly goals? Updates for earlier established goals?

Review of March goals

Hmmm... March is over with, and it slipped by without my notice. Well, I did notice, but it was all in relationship to how far along my pregnancy is and how far away the due date is.  Its been a rough month, in general. My emotions are volatile (must be hormones, right?), and at least once, I broke down into tears for very little reason. I've struggled to keep up with school work and house work from just being tired (emotional doesn't help).

But, on the up side, its been a ton of fun feeling baby move more often and, occasionally, more forcefully. And some of my grumpiness is from general uncomfortableness that comes with having a baby who just doesn't fit as well as he used to. The baby got me in the ribs about 4 weeks ago; its better now, but, oooo boy, did it hurt at certain points.

Anyhoo, on to March goals. I posted them here originally.  Let's see...

1. February Lady Sweater still isn't finished. When I have time to knit, I'm just not inclined to work on it. It has warmed up (spring = hot here), so no sweaters will be worn any time soon. Perhaps, I'll just set it aside for now.

2. I have sorted and decluttered lots of paper from the former office closet. Its not done yet, but well on its way.

3. We put in 2 tomato plants, a habenero and 4 jalapeño plants last weekend and did some weeding then. But I've not be outside as much as I'd like.... my excuse? Too busy, really, or too distracted.

4. I've gotten a picture in almost every post! One goal reached (almost).

(and for this post...)

We said goodbye to the Anaconda this month. Her transmission went out, and we decided she wasn't worth getting fixed right now. We get a second car this summer or fall, who knows? Maybe a truck?

March goals

Alas, a new month is upon us. One that includes spring break (yea!) and time change (boo!), lots of visits of family (yea!) and warming of the weather (hopefully not too warm). And I must consider and decide on my new set of goals for this month.

Goals? I've achieved my goal of sleeping in comfy places, says Hank.

So, far, the knitting goals have fallen through for the most part. The February Lady Sweater still isn't done, though the crazy colored Dr. Who scarf is hopefully providing joy for someone (sold at the auction Saturday evening).  The household oriented goals have gone better. The kitchen looks nice almost every night and the bathroom is staying cleaner. I really haven't spent all that much time in the yard, but with warmer weather and more energy, that should become easier*. These results say.... keep knitting goals simple (one goal), household goals could use some challenge and yard goals should be simple.  So, thoughts for March?

1. Finish the February Lady Sweater. Spring break will help.
2. Declutter office closet. The office is becoming the nursery in a week or two, so its all moving somewhere. I know there is plenty in there we don't need, use or love, so I'd rather relocate it out of the house, rather than taking up space inside the house.
3. 5 minutes a day working in the yard. This might include pulling weeds, planing herbs or easy veggies, or just sweeping off the back porch. The vitamin D will do me good, also.
4. Put a picture in each blog post (random, I know)

What are you goals for March? How are your yearly goals coming along?

*Turns out that with the onset of the 3rd trimester, I was anemic. It took nearly a week, but the iron supplements seem to be kicking in. Its 830 pm and I'm not in bed. That's a good sign.

February Goals, Update

The "Crazy Colored Dr. Who Scarf" is finished. Well, it had to be cast off and end woven in as the Gala is tomorrow night, and the auction is then. Its not as long as I wanted it, but its been hard to get much knitting done. I'm quite tired by the time I get home in the evening, and often still have real work to be done (like cooking, cleaning, grading, etc). But its done now!  I didn't get a picture before giving it to the Gala organizers.... imagine the previous picture ...

...just about 4 feet long.  With only 3 days of February left, I doubt I'll finish the February Lady Sweater, though it would wholly appropriate. Ah, well.

February Goals

Since we are only 2 (3?) days from February, I figure its about time to start thinking about next month's goals.  Its too early to put out anything but winter veggies, so no garden goals yet. Those will come in March. However, I do have some yard ideas.  Okay, here goes!

(a) Finish the Crazy Colored Dr. Who Scarf (no choice, really, the Gala is Feb 26)
(b) Finish Feb Lady Sweater
(c) Plan/start baby sewing and knitting (with some specific goals for what to finish and win)
(c) Maintain a semblance of kitchen care routine
(d) Add routines for the bathrooms:
            Swish and Swipe regularly (every other day?)
            Twice a month (once a month?) deeper cleaning -- floors, bath tube, and shower curtain
(e) Start a yard-care routine
            Pull weeds 20 minutes a week (I need to get outside more, anyways)
            Plan spring plantings, herbs, flowers
            Clean up perennials (cut back, etc)

More than Jan, but I found it pretty easy to work on Jan's goals and am ready for a bit more. I'm getting the hang of full time teaching and getting some routines established for school (or semblance of routines!).  And now I'm off to finish my various Saturday tasks!

January Goal Updates

From a previous post:

So, for January 2011... my goals are:

(a) Finish the "February Lady Sweater". I've only got the sleeves left, even if I am feeling frustrated with them.

(b) figure out or develop and establish good kitchen habits, including sorting out the pantry regularly, cleaning out the fridge regularly, and do a menu weekly (with shopping list). I am not too far from the weekly menu and shopping list (it happens on most weeks), but the other two need work. My pantry is scary to look in right now and the fridge needs some wiping down.

 Its well past the half way point in Jan, and I think can give a reasonable update. The "February Lady Sweater" isn't going to get finished, though it is close to done.

For school, there is an auction in mid-February and teachers are asked to supply a teacher-treat for the auction. I quickly got started and planned out a "Crazy Colored Dr. Who Scarf". Its well on its way and I should have a nice, long scarf by auction time.

As for kitchen habits and routines.... well.... I flaked on the weekly menu this last week, but I never had to scrounch for a last minute meal. The fridge still needs to be wiped down, but I got the pantry nicely organized and sorted. In the process, I found I had 2 extra jugs of soy sauce, 3 unopened mustards, 2 extra jars of mayo, and a slew of other extra items. I aim to keep on extra on hand, but I definitely over-purchased. Luckily, none of it will spoil, and now its organized so I know where everything is at.

Today, I spend time in the master bed room. There were several stacks (hot spots) and hand-me-down baby items stacked around the room that had no home. With my new pillow, there was a stack of pillows in one corner and a end table that had been moved to make room for my new table and workspace (ooo, need a picture of that!). I organized a bit of the closet shelves and made room and put many of the items in the newly created space in the closet. I put clothes away (Hubby did laundry yesterday, Thank you Hubby!), and changed the bed sheets. I also used my flylady feather duster and brushed down the walls and corners (where I can reach). Got a good number of spider webs that had grown.

I like the flylady zones for cleaning your house, I just need to personalize them. Its hard to find time to get all done that I want to get done... the knitting, sewing, planning, etc. Ah, well, all in good time.

To resolute or not to resolute: January

With the new year upon us in a day, I've been thinking about possible resolutions or goals for 2011. I have so many ideas and they are all such BIG ideas, its overwhelming and I'm not sure I can find the level of detail for them all to satisfy my need. I try very hard to create goals for myself that are (1) reasonable, (2) measurable, and (3) framed in a time period. So far my ideas include such things as.... (but not limited to...)

(a) do more knitting and crocheting with some specific ideas and goals
(b) develop and establish good routines for good household management
(b) get the herb garden going
(c) plan the summer/fall garden

Unfortunately, these are not measurable, there's no time frame (for some of them) and I'm doubtful such broad and sweeping goals are reasonable (especially a & b). So, I'm thinking to break down the goals into monthly goals. That's what flylady does after all, so it must work at some level. I can figure out what is reasonable for the month (1 or 2 things), I have a month to focus on that habit/goal and with fewer items I can add the detail I desire.

So, for January 2011... my goals are:

(a) Finish the "February Lady Sweater". I've only got the sleeves left, even if I am feeling frustrated with them.
(b) figure out or develop and establish good kitchen habits, including sorting out the pantry regularly, cleaning out the fridge regularly, and do a menu weekly (with shopping list). I am not too far from the weekly menu and shopping list (it happens on most weeks), but the other two need work. My pantry is scary to look in right now and the fridge needs some wiping down.

How do others handle new year resolutions? Do you establish year long goals for yourself, and if so, do you keep and obtain them?

Garden and Life Update

Sweet Friends! Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I must learn to write when it strikes me and set it automatically post.

Anyhoo -- I got the fall garden planted. Lotsa, lotsa tomatoes: 4 roma plants, 3 amish paste, 3 mexico midgets, and 4 cherry romas. I put in 6 sweet peppers, as well, and need to put some garlic out in the midst of the plants. The two spicy pepper plants are still producing fruit, so I left them in. Plus, it rained last night and this morning, nearly an inch worth.  Yeah! It's September!

In other news, the adjustment to full time isn't as hard as I thought. The big downside is that I leave my household chores to Saturday and I still have school work for the weekends. So, for example, last Saturday was very full. Sunday was equally busy, with church in the morning, working all afternoon on school stuff and Fellowship Family in the evening. Ah, well, such is life, I guess.

My sister put together a 101 things to do in 1001 days. I'm quite tempted to join in and put together my own list, but is quite frightening. Well, we'll see what I get to.