New Attitude for the New Year

I'm not really one for making resolutions....especially since I know that more than likely, I won't be keeping them past February (if even that long). This year, however, I am determined to embrace a new attitude on life, because honestly, I'm kind of tired of feeling just "blah" about everything.

So, here are some things I'm determined to work on for the new year (and yes, you can all hold me to these and remind me about my commitment when I start to falter a little):

1. I'm going to be a little bit more selfish this year. Yes, I realize that this sounds a little bit funny, but I need to spend a little bit of time each day thinking about and taking care of me. I mean, I have a gift certificate for a massage that I was given over a year and a half ago that I still haven't used. It's time to use it, and to do other things to make me feel a little bit better about myself. After all, if I want to be able to take care of all my boys as best as I possibly can, then I need to take care of myself as well. That entails making sure I get enough sleep (there's nothing wrong with napping when your kids are napping and I need to remember to do it), making sure I'm eating right (and not just eating because I'm bored, or tired or because the food is there), making sure I'm getting the exercise I need (and losing the weight that I need) because all of those things will help me be a better wife, mother, and individual.

2. I'm going to learn (or re-learn as the case may be) some new skills. I've had my mom's old sewing machine at my house for quite some time. It's time to pull it out, face my fears, and start sewing. I know how, it's just getting over my own self-doubt and starting just one project to get me going on others. I'm starting with a cape for Keegan for his birthday...granted he might not get it till next Christmas, but at least I'm starting. I have a camera that I want to learn how to use better. Why shouldn't I be able to take pictures of my own kids that I'm proud of. I need to start experimenting. I'm not planning on making a career out of it, but why not learn to do it on my own and save having to pay someone else to capture moments in my life. I want to learn how to cook better for my family...I want to try new recipes (I'm shooting for a new one each week) and experiment with different things that I might have been afraid of before. I've already started with making Camden's baby food, and I'm hoping that I can continue to do more.

3. I'm going to make sure that my boys get some "one on one time" with me each day. I love my boys and they are growing way too fast. I need to just slow life down a little and take some time each day to let them know how much they mean to me and how much I love them. I need this one on one time as much as I hope they do. I need the time to enjoy their smiles, and their laughter and their love without having to worry about dishes or dinner or laundry or anything else. There are some things in this life that can wait a little until tomorrow (or longer)...watching my kids grow and experiencing life with them is not one of those things. I don't want my kids to look back on their lives and wish that they would have been able to spend more time with me (if anything I want them to be sick of all the time that mom spends with them).

4. I'm going to reinstate "date night" at my house. Before Keegan was born, AJ and I had a weekly date night. While I recognize that this just might not work each week, I'm going to at least shoot for once a month (hopefully twice) so that AJ and I can take some time to reconnect with each other. He's busy with work and church callings and playing with the boys. I'm busy in my own way...and it's time we step away from our busy lives for a while and just focus on each other. We've got plenty of people we can ask to babysit, and it's time we start asking.

5. I'm going to support my husband more. AJ's a busy guy and I need to start doing more to help ease some of the stress and burdens on his shoulders. I need to help him meet the demands of his calling and be there when he needs me to go to the temple with him, or put together a spreadsheet for training in the scouting program, or whatever the case may be. He's always supported me and I want to make sure I do the same.

6. I'm going to become a tourist in my own city. I am lucky to live in a BEAUTIFUL city. AJ grew up here, so there's a lot of things that I would like to do and places I would like to visit that he's been to plenty of times and has no time (or desire) to go "one more time." These places are new to me, and for the moment, new to the boys, which means that they have been drafted to the position of "Mommy's little explorers." We are going to pretend we are tourists and take in all that this beautiful city has to offer to us. If nothing else, it will make us better hosts when family and friends come to visit because we'll know all sorts of cool places to visit and see.

7. I'm going to reconnect with life. That means reconnecting with old friends, making new ones and overall learning to fall in love with my life again. I have been so blessed in all that I have been given and I need to start showing my appreciation for it. I want to take vacations with my family (even if it's just camping in Carlsbad for a week or taking a day or two off to go to Disneyland or Sea World).

8. I'm not going to worry about the things I can't change. I can't make more money magically appear in our bank account and I can't make our mortgage disappear. I can't make my old car magically turn into a brand-new bigger one, nor can I make those extra 30 pounds just melt away and my pre-baby figure magically return. I can however, stop worrying about all of that and just work on the things I can change. The weight will go away eventually, as long as I work on it daily, and the mortgage will slowly disappear as long as we keep paying on it. I can't control the weather (and really, right now I have now wish too) and I can't change the economy, but I can stop stressing about it all.

So, here's to 2009 and a brand-spanking new attitude to go with it.