The year of 2011 was definitely split into two distinct phases...before I was pregnant and after. The first half of the year started out not so much different than any other year and was actually pretty darn great. And it was in this phase that I accomplished most of my 2011 resolutions. If you'll recall, this year I set quite a few resolutions for myself. So, let's see how we did:
Lucy: I had a goal of improving Lucy's off-leash behavior. This has been an enormous success!! Honestly, I think a lot of it just has to do with her age and maturity, but we definitely have been training as well. She can now be trusted off leash at the park (dogs or no dogs) to return on command. She can also go by herself between the house and car with no problem, and even if she happens to escape from the house she's not very much trouble at all to get back. So, way to go us and way to go Lucy!! :)
Here she is frolicking after a bath...
Home maintenance: this one has gone...okay. We've taken care of some things, but it'll take time to make all of this part of the routine. I still have the calendar I created this time last year, however it hasn't been used in months...
Yard work: this one has gone great! We got a brand spanking new irrigation system in both front and back. Our lawn was nearly dead when we did it, but within a month of having the new system it looked awesome! At the same time we ripped a ton of lawn out of our front yard and shaped it into what will be some beautiful landscaping. We've put two new oak trees in so far, and the rest of the plants are waiting for springtime. As far as the veggie garden (that didn't exist this year at all), it has been all set up for drip irrigation! Can't wait!
"Before" pic:
"After" pic (after pulling up some lawn and putting in more dirt...but still before adding the two new oak trees)
Physical health: I was basically on a maintenance plan for 2011 and it was going pretty darn well pre-pregnancy. Mid-year I did decide I had 5-10 pounds I could lose so I went on the 6-week body makeover and lost 5 pounds in the first week....then in the second week I found out I was prego and that was that! Since then, the term "physical health" has taken on a whole new meaning and just kind of makes me giggle a little so we'll have to revisit this one in oh...7 or 8 weeks from now. :)
Emotional/Mental health: this time last year I was trying to curb my bad habit of worrying about things that are totally out of my control (economy, state of the world, etc.). I do think I've seen some improvement, although it has involved pretty much cutting myself off from pretty much every news source that exists. So I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing. I still generally don't feel good about some of these issues, but I've been able to adopt a more "in the moment" attitude. Rather than worrying about future possibilities, I try to live each day to the fullest. I try to make the best decisions I can with the information I have at the time, and we'll work the rest out if and when we have to. I really think this change in focus has had a good impact on my life and I hope to keep it up!
Budgeting: this has gone well! I set up a new way of budgeting for us and we've stuck to it and are on track for paying off some loans in 2012. Hooray!! And its a good thing too because then we'll have to start saving for college...yikes!
Random 1: Grocery bags. I think I made it at least a month without getting a single plastic grocery bag. Then it started tapering off...and once again I'm back to hardly ever remembering to bring my reusables. I won't call it a success but I will say progress!!
Random 2: Alarm clock. Ummm yeah. Not sure how this was going in the pre-pregnancy phase, but at this point I'm taking every spare moment of sleep I can get and I've never been happier about it. Strangely, I've been waking up a little earlier on my own (probably because I've been falling asleep so early), and I love it!
Fun!!: yes we had fun!! We did go on a couple of great trips this year and had a blast on all of them. We had a lot of good times with family and friends. But most importantly we just had fun in our daily lives doing what we always do. We laugh every day (usually many times) and we are happy. Success!!
Here is our annual holiday self-portrait. Getting a decent photo of both Andy and I plus having Lucy look at the camera and try to get at least part of my belly in the shot proved to be impossible and this is the best we got. Lucy is staring intently at a treat in my left hand. :)
And now for the 2012 resolutions! I started out thinking it would be smart to not have resolutions this year as our lives are about to be flipped upside down, but as I thought more about it I realized that's just dumb. There are definitely things I'd like to do, and with all the changes coming up I don't think it would hurt to set up at least some structure to ensure we come out of it alive! I really liked what I did last year by setting up a "personal inventory" of sorts and going through the different aspects of life and describing a few areas that I was planning on focusing on.
Hobbies: I consider this to really be part of the mental/emotional category. This year it will be important for me to try to find and maintain balance in my life between home/work/fun/me/family/etc. I've never been a person who struggled with having enough hobbies, but this year I'd like to take on even more! P
- For years I've wished I played an instrument (in particular, a piano). Well, this year Andy and I got each other a digital piano for Christmas and we are going to learn! I will be taking official lessons and then trying to teach my knowledge to Andy each week.
- My mom surprised me this year at Christmas and got me a sewing machine! I never thought I cared much to sew but now that I've got a machine of my very own and have learned all the cool things it can do, I couldn't be more excited! It comes with 4 classes which will hopefully give me some momentum. I've already got a really easy project lined up (curtains for the nursery), but hopefully I'll do several fun ones so I can call this resolution a success at the end of the year.
- Crocheting (can you tell I've gone completely domestic?? I'm scared!!): I've known how to crochet for years but have only done a handful of super easy projects. Lately I've had the urge to start anew (thank you Pinterest) and have a couple of cute ideas for baby.
Physical: this one isn't too hard to guess. Once baby is out I want to return to my normal self ASAP. I'm hoping that this can be accomplished by eating sensibly and returning to my old gym routine. I miss my classes!
Yard/Landscaping: this year will be a success if I have a vegetable garden, get the front landscaping completed, get shutters on the front windows, new storm doors in front and back, and get the rain gutters in the back fixed (from when we ripped out the awning like 3 years ago...).
Home: I would like to continue making progress on the chore list that I set up this time last year. I can do it!! :P
Cooking: of course I have to have a cooking goal! It would just be too sad not too. This year I'll try to make it do-able. I would like to 1) organize my recipes and 2) can food! A few summers ago I learned how to can and loved it. This summer I did no canning. I would like to make a tradition of it and at a minimum make raspberry jam and maybe pickles or something. I have all the equipment and a huge recipe book to pull from. Even if I don't have all the fixins from my own garden I figure I can use the farmers market as backup. Anyone want to join me one Saturday in August?
Lucy: I love Lucy a lot. I pet her and cuddle her and whisper sweet nothings to her all day long. But what I don't do a lot of is play with her. We're talking chase, tug-o-war, fetch, those kinds of things. And every now and then I'll look outside and see her "playing" with inanimate objects in the back yard as though they are her imaginary friends. Its really funny and cute but it also makes me feel just a wee bit guilty. Luckily she'll only be an only child for a few more months! Of course I don't think baby will be playing chase with her for at least another year or two. Until then, my resolution is to just play with her more. Watch out Andy, there's a new "fun one" in town!!! :P
Baby: as I thought through my "personal inventory" this year it seemed kind of silly to not put any baby resolutions up being as baby will pretty much rule my life in 2012 (and beyond). But then I realized how that might be a bad idea because I honestly have no idea what to expect. So this year will be all about learning and I'm sure I'll have plenty to add to the list for 2013. :)
Everything else: As I think through the remaining aspects of my life that might typically receive a resolution (relationships, daily schedules, etc.) I kind of feel the same way as with the baby stuff. I just have no idea how these things are about to change. So, this year I'm going easy on them!
And with that, everyone have a wonderful New Years Holiday!!! Let's have an amazing and unforgettable year!
2 reactions:
Congrats on the success of you 2011 goals! I love the organization and thought that goes into you goals.
I am also very impressed (and inspired) with your well thought out goals, way to be! It's going to be an exciting year for you and Andy!! :)
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