Currently

About six months ago, I saw these posts popping up in my Feedly. While I haven't noticed them as much recently, I think that it is a very interesting idea. I'm borrowing this list from my friend Kristin.

Making: Lists. Lots of lists. To-do lists. Shopping lists.
Cooking: Very little. We are in desperate need of a grocery trip.
Drinking: Trying very hard to drink more water.
Reading: The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth Silver. It's pretty cool to be reading this, as I used to live with Liz years ago, which seems like another life.
Wanting: A new laptop/netbook. I really want to be able to move around while working, and my current Chromebook is dying (and considering that it was just a prototype, I'm impressed it lasted as long as it did). Not sure if I would do better with a full laptop or if another Chromebook/netbook would be enough, but either way, I'm not looking forward to being stuck at my desktop in the near future.
Looking: At a mess that I just don't want to clean.
Playing: In the playground, now that it's not so bitter cold and before it gets oppressively hot.
Sewing: Nothing right now. Nothing for the past twenty or so years. Not sure if I will be any time in the near future either.
Wishing: For time to stand still.
Enjoying: Lots of cuddles and kisses(!) from Peanut.
Waiting: For Peanut's baby babble to start changing to English.
Liking: Munchkin's occasional joy at helping out with cleaning up and laundry.
Wondering: What life, or even just the summer, holds for us.
Loving: Watching the boys play together and how much they love it.
Hoping: That Peanut starts sleeping a little longer at night, meaning that I can sleep a little longer at night.
Marveling: At the pure joy of blowing dandelions, something that I haven't done in years and Munchkin is just doing for the first time.
Needing: To get organized. We have some big changes coming up soon (including a move), and we are nowhere near ready yet.
Smelling: Spring. Fresh-cut grass, newly bloomed flowers. All the pollen in the world...
Wearing: Jeans and a t-shirt, while carrying a light sweatshirt. I love this kind of weather.
Following: Two little boys as they explore everything around them.
Noticing: That even though he's still basically bald, Peanut's hair is starting to come in. Very blond.
Knowing: That there is much to do, but time with the boys is fleeting.
Thinking: That I should head off to bed, but there is so much to do.
Feeling: So very blessed for everything that we have.
Bookmarking: Crafts to do with the boys that I'll probably never end up doing.
Opening: Random boxes and bins, trying to organize.
Giggling: Just because.

Time to Smash

This day went as quickly as it came. And while I don't know what the future may bring, as of right now Peanut is my last baby, and this was the last first cake. It was not the prettiest cake, the buttercream made from scratch, the cake from a box, but it was all his. At first he wasn't sure, but it didn't take long for him to dive in. While our family and friends enjoyed their cupcakes, Peanut went face first into his cake.

Of all the ways to spend our birthday, this small party with the focus on this cake "ceremony" was perfect.

And while technically this is the last of the Rookie Mom Challenges, I might still go back and try a few of the many that I missed.

Remembering the Sun

This past March, we tried to get away from the snow and cold by visiting family in Florida. It was our first trip, as fate had conspired against us in the past, and it was a wonderful time. While I failed at getting pictures of Peanut's first trip on a plane (camera was in the overhead compartment the entire flight), I did not miss his first trip into the waves.

He is completely different from his brother, who still doesn't want to go in. But Munchkin did enjoy the pool, there was a lot of water play by everyone.

We tried to make the trip as relaxing as possible, with our most exciting adventure being a trip to the zoo where we fed the giraffes.

For the most part, we just let them play and be outside, since the weather at home definitely had been preventing that.

The best part of the trip for me was definitely the quiet time that we got to spend with each other.

We flew home to frigid temperatures, but that week of sun recharged us when I didn't even realize that we needed it.

Baby on a plane... flying home

Linking up with Mama Kat
1.) Let’s reminisce about the last trip you took…pictures please!

Birthday Eve

It's the night before Peanut's first birthday and party. I have a million and one things to do to get ready, because I didn't learn anything at all from the last time, but I can't help to stop and look back. One year ago I had no idea how much life would change in the morning, I was planning how to spend my own birthday. This year has gone by so fast, I cannot believe that this night is back again. My baby has grown so much, and is so much less a baby as he is now firmly into toddlerhood. Just over a week ago he started to walk, and tomorrow he'll have cake. And just like last year when things didn't go as I planned, tomorrow is already going off-script. But it is our day, and I am so very looking forward to it.

Getting Things In Order

I am definitely a procrastinator, as evidenced by my lack of posting, but I am serious about trying to get our lives in order. Right now, I am focusing on cleaning and clutter. Part of the problem is that I get so overwhelmed and I'm not sure where to start, so I never get started. I do not want that to happen this time. After searching the Internet for inspiration, I have come up with three options.

The first is Spring Cleaning 365, which I found through Just Jilly. I love that it is simple tasks that only take 15 minutes a day, and that there is an accountability group. Even though I am a month late starting, I feel that I will be able to slowly work on the January tasks while moving forward with the rest of the group. This is the option that I think will work the best for me.

I'm also trying Motivated Moms as I definitely do better when I have a plan to follow. Right now I am testing out the lite version, but I think I will be upgrading soon.

Finally, there is Fly Lady. I have an IRL friend who uses this, and there are definitely parts that I really like, but I think that I am going to try Spring Cleaning 365 first, before I feel that the catch-up would be too much to handle.

Do you use a system to keep your home clean and organized?

Before September

I have a goal.

I wore this dress to my cousin's wedding in September 2011. I loved this dress, and I felt great in it. I have a wedding to go to in September 2014, and I want to wear it again. Right now, it does not fit, but I am probably only about 15ish pounds away. This is definitely an obtainable goal. I am still looking for a workout program that works for me, so I am going to try Barre 3. While there are no studios close enough for me to attend classes, I have signed up for the online program. I am hoping that having something to work for with an end date will help me actually do the work.

But for now, I have a goal.

Making More Than Cookies

As I was going through my life list, I came across a few that I can already cross off. One was making cookies for Santa.

I love baking and was really looking forward to when Munchkin (and eventually Peanut) was old enough to bake cookies for Santa with me. While last year he possibly would have been able to assist, I was too sick to do anything. This year, the two of us made cookies.

We started a new tradition, and headed up to my in-laws' much nicer kitchen. We didn't make everything that I had originally planned, I decided to keep it simple and not push him beyond what he found to be fun. And he did have fun, he loved dumping in the ingredients, mixing with both a spoon and the hand mixer and getting to roll the dough into balls. After they were done cooking, he loved sharing the cookies with the entire family, and we had to hold some back so that there would be some for Santa.

I cannot wait to do this again next year, with another helper.