News

Honey has accepted a job. It is Far Away and through Very Bad Traffic. Now there is some bureaucratic BS and hoops for him to jump through before he gets to start working. There are good parts about the job, but I am.... oh, I don't know how I feel. I just want him to be happy and present.

Brother got his report card and has brought his grades up. Just a smidge, but a smidge was enough to get a full on happy dance from me. I never ever in my life thought I would be so proud of a report card with C's on it. But there was an A! I am so proud of that A. His birthday is coming up and we are making plans. I am excited for the event, even though I will most likely be home with the little boys while Honey takes Brother and a couple friends for a day out on the town.

Jelly Bean has just been so lovey dovey lately. He is the sweetest of sweethearts, giving us great big hugs and saying, "I love my mommy, I love my daddy." And kissing New Baby where ever he can reach him (ie leg, tummy, where ever) and saying, "Ooooo, I love my New Baby." Of course he will happily pounce on Brother's leg and be hauled around the house on his stomach screeching. Brother will be annoyed. But this isn't what I would call "News" as it seems it has always been this way.

New Baby is thisclose to rolling over. He gets almost there but always leaves and errant leg or arm behind. He is so smiley and yummy, with his chubby cheeks and dinner roll legs. He was in the bath kicking and splashing a couple nights ago and it was one of those things where you just have to smile and laugh. Remember how when you were little and your dad threw you way up in the air and you squealed? And then when you got too big, you would always laugh and smile when someone else got to fly? It felt like that in a way. You had to smile; there was no choice. He's just breathtaking. I can't even say how much I love his little squishy self.

Me? I'm doing ok. My resolutions are going pretty good, although my knees freaking hurt from 'running'. I am not sure the shuffle I do exactly qualifies as 'running', but I do it anyway. At least my muscles still aren't sore. Operation Choose Whole Foods is going ok. I am not being militant about it, but just incorporating more healthy food into my diet. I don't really ask whether something is high in calories or not; I'm not trying to lose weight (even though I heard this week that with the new reduced BMI restrictions for lap band, I now qualify for the surgery. Thanks FDA.) I more ask myself, "Is this a healthy source of protein? Whole grains? Is it a fruit or vegetable?" I think just being more conscious of what I put in my mouth is good for me.

If it would quit being so freaking cold, I would be more willing to do garden work. I have everything I need to start seedlings, except a plan on HOW to start them. In the house? The light is not bright enough. Make a cold frame? Would the seeds germinate if the soil is less than 70 degrees? Bah. I guess more research and a plan is needed.

Implementing the Golden Rule has made the past couple of weeks so nice at our house, for the most part. It has helped me keep my temper (I don't like to be yelled AT, so I don't yell) think before I make demands (because I don't want someone making me do something unreasonable) and work with Brother more on his homework (because it would make me feel better if I weren't alone in that mess, so I sit with him.) Anyway, it is working out better than I could have expected. Allll the parenting books I have read, allll the advice I have solicited and this seems to be working better than just about anything else to help me control my own behavior. Well, 123 Magic is damn good. But it is helpful in a different way.

Can I also recommend Do Unto Otters for Golden Rule indoctrination for children? No, it's really fun. Swear.

Because Swistle has the best ideas...

I did design a cutsy little sign with my resolutions on it. I printed out two copies. One is in my office, over the light switch. The other is in my bathroom at home.

My progress so far:

• I have ordered my seeds (a big old lot of them from ebay, the only way to go.) Next on my list is I want to find out how to make seed starting pots out of newspaper or something of that ilk. Trying to spend as little money as possible on the garden.
• I am wearing my fancy cute Saucony shoes, as they came in yesterday. It gets dark here so early that I am still trying to figure out when to try to start the C25K.
• I have been being better about choosing whole foods. I have definitely incorporated more fruits and vegetables into all of our diets.
• Brother had a crap load of homework last night. He was so proud of himself when he got done because a) he completed it all and b) we didn't fight about it. While I am so glad about this, it does make me realize a couple of uncomfortable things. Mainly that if we have a knock-down drag-out due to homework, it is because I lost my cool: not him. He doesn't have a Golden Rule resolution. I do. I realized that he is taking the cues from me. Kinda makes me feel like a shit about all the fights I could have prevented by having a bit more patience and self control. *Sigh*

So, 6 days in and so far so good. I am pretty satisfied with my progress thus far, even though the time period has been pretty short.

Resolve

This time of year feels so full of possibilities. I usually don't make New Years resolutions but I feel like a new chapter has opened in our lives. Our family is completed in that there will be no new children coming along. Honey is considering new career paths. Brother is getting evaluated to help him do better in school. I personally want to start living up to my own ideals a bit more. Like being more environmentally conscious. Being a better parent. Taking steps for my whole family to be more healthy so we can have longer, happier lives.

I wanted some concrete resolutions. I work better with firm actions that support a concept. For instance:

Resolution #1: I want to grow a garden of edibles this year. - This will get me out of the house and be more active. This will provide healthy, organic produce for my family. This will cause us to buy less produce at the store that may have been shipped from who-knows-where and will therefore be better for the environment. I recently read a pretty good website lately that was encouraging. I always feel like it is an insurmountable task, given our poor soil and flooded yard. But the site was saying: Start where you are. Here are ways to accomplish your goals without spending a bunch of money. If you can't go 2 feet, just go one foot. Bloom where you're planted, as it were.

Resolution #2: I want to choose more whole foods to put into my grocery cart and body and family. More fruit. More vegetables. More whole grains. Less McDonald's french fries. Amen.

Resolution #3: I am going to buy a pair of Saucony Original Jazz shoes. This is because A) I love these shoes and B) I want to start C25K. I can relegate my current shoes to gardening work.

Resolution #: I am going to abide by the golden rule more when it comes to my children. Do I want them to be more kind with their demands? Then I should be more kind with mine. Do I want to punish them for shouting at me? Well, perhaps I should set a better example by not shouting at them. Seems elementary, but still so hard sometimes.

I think I can do these things and am really inspired by what you guys are going to do in 2011. I love Devan's idea of a word of the year (I think mine would be Protect.) And I think I will print out the concrete actions, like Swistle recommended, so I can remember what I have resolved to do. Happy New Year all!