2010 Resolutions Review

How in the world did it get to be December 29th already? This year, even when it seemed to be dragging, has absolutely flown by me. I took a minute to look back at some of my posts from last December, and to revisit the New Year's Resolutions I made in January. Let's review, shall we?

• Run a 5K by my birthday (March 30)<--- Didn't happen

  • And really, what was I thinking? I hate, no - abhor, running, so what made me think that I could hop on a treadmill three times a week and somehow love it?

• Learn how to use my new sewing machine<---Success!

  • I did learn how to use my sewing machine, even if it was only a rudimentary knowledge.

• Make something with my new sewing skills<---Success!

  • This year I actually sewed my sister a Storytime Tote Blanket for her Christmas present. I can't believe how much I've learned and I can't wait to do more!

• Read one book for leisure per month<---Success!

  • According to my Goodreads count, I read 12 books in 2010! Definitely an improvement over last year, and I am going to have to up my game for 2011.

• Spend more time studying Sacred Scripture and in quiet prayer<---Not as much as I would have liked.

• Make homemade baby food for Baby B<----Success

  • What with the feeding and growth issues, I did make homemade baby food for Lil' B, if only to add baby fatteners like butter and flax oil. I didn't exclusively make her food, but I made a lot of it.

• Increase my presence in the blogosphere<----Sort of.

  • This year has been and up and down blog year for me. I started out strong, but wavered over the summer. I have started coming back over the fall and am looking forward to a reemergence in 2011!

Those were some of my goals for 2010, but my main resolution was for Balance and Flexibility. I'm going to give myself a satisfactory overall grade here. I failed miserably with the whole Balance thing this year. I keep falling back into my old habits of spending all my time on one of my goals, that I forget to balance my life with all the other hobbies that I enjoy. Where I recovered a bit is when I realized that I can't do it all. I cut myself some slack and gave up some things, one of which was being a frequent blogger. And that is okay.

So, I claim 2011 as my do-over. That's right, we're going for Balance and Flexibility all over again. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again, right? Some of my detailed goals are:

• Bible Study - This goal should have been on the top of the list last year. I need to spend a few quiet minutes every morning reading a devotional and doing some Scripture study.
• Marriage - With Mr. Rose traveling as much as he was last year, we really didn't get as much alone time as I would like. So, next year, we are going to focus on going on at least one date a month.
• Exercise - I must go to the gym AT LEAST twice a week. I really want to go three times a week, but we're going for balance and flexibility here people. If I get there three times a week, groovy.
• Saving - My newest and latest thing is coupons. My husband has always been a coupon clipper, but I haven't really embraced the whole, use a coupon thing. But seriously, those things can save you a ton of money if you know how to use them. So, I resolve to be a coupon clipper and user.
• Blogging - three times a week. I am going to be working on my writing this year, and using this blog as my outlet. Blog Visiting and commenting, one to two times per week. PS - if you have a Facebook page, let me know. I'm a facebook fanatic and I'm finding that when blogs that I "like" on facebook show up in my news feed, I am more able to check them out.
• Reading - I'm going to go for 18 books next year. That's a 50% increase over this year, so it will be a challenge, but I think I'm up for it.
• Sewing - I want to take a couple of sewing classes this year and try to make some clothes for the girls.

So what do you think? Are balance and flexibility going to be my friends in 2010? Here's hoping!

Erin

Christmas weekend review

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone already. Our little family unit had a wonderful Christmas weekend.

We celebrated a little bit backwards this year. Usually we go to Christmas Eve Mass and then open presents and have our big Christmas feast on Christmas Day. This year, the Christmas Eve Family Mass was scheduled for 4pm, meaning show up at 3pm. Lil' B's naptime is usually from 1 to 3 in the afternoon, so we didn't think we could make 4 o'clock mass happen.

So we didn't. Instead, I cooked our Christmas feast of ham, green bean casserole, and sweet potatoes on Christmas Eve. I got the girls in their pajamas and we drove around looking at Christmas lights for awhile. Then we came home and watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It was really quiet and cozy.

After Miss H finally fell asleep, Mr. Rose and I put out all the gifts. I could barely sleep because I was so excited for Christmas morning. I felt like a kid again. And not because I was really interested in getting any particular present. It was because I knew the girls were going to be so excited and so fun to watch.

Christmas morning we were up and in full present opening mode by about 7am. Miss H was so cute. She is able to recognize her name and B's name on the gift tags so she was handing presents out left and right. After opening the first few gifts, Lil' B got into it and just randomly started opening presents. It was so funny! Watching the two of them open presents was really the best Christmas present for me.

We managed to get all the presents unwrapped and get dressed and ready for Church on time. I really enjoyed going to Mass on Christmas Day as opposed to Christmas Eve. It definitely helped me keep the focus (with myself and with the kids) of Christmas on Jesus.

The rest of Christmas weekend was filled with eating leftovers, playing with new toys, and an occasional meltdown or two. It was a great family togetherness weekend even if it was just the four of us. I did miss seeing the rest of our family, but that's nothing that skype can't handle!

There were a couple of funny whoops moments. Thursday night Mr. Rose was making his first attempt to recreate his Mom's Chocolate Mint Roll, chocolate cake with peppermint filling rolled into a log. Everything was going well until he tried to put it in the oven, he tipped the pan slightly and half of it spilled out onto the oven door. Whoops! (He did eventually get it made and it was delicious!)

The next morning (Christmas Eve), we decided to run the oven self-cleaner to try to bake off the remaining cake roll. About 15 minutes into it, the smoke detectors starting alarming and we couldn't get them off! We were all still in our pajamas, but I loaded the girls up in the car and drove over to pick up donuts and coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. Mr. Rose was able to clear the smoke out of the house while we were gone. Crisis averted!

Phew, what a weekend! It was fun, it was a whirlwind, but I could not have imagined a better way to celebrate.

Merry Christmas friends!

Erin

HoHoHolidaySwap post: Behind Door #1

Today I am participating in HoHoHolidaySwap blog posts with a fantastic group of bloggers. You will find my post over at Keeper of the Penguins, and here on my blog I am thrilled to have Liz from a belle, a bean, & a chicago dog guest posting about one of her favorite holiday memories. Liz is not only one of my favorite bloggers, but she is a sweetie to boot and I can't wait to meet her at Blissdom!
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One of my most favorite holiday memories is actually a new tradition that was started by a friend of ours.

When we announced in early December 2006 that we would soon be embarking on our second interstate relocation by moving from Memphis, TN, to Nashua, NH, our friend, Carla, came up with a brilliant and sweet idea.

She didn't initially tell us of her plan, but just before Christmas, she stopped by our house with a wrapped gift.

It was kind of heavy and perfectly square.

I had no idea what it could be.

As we were opening it, she told us, "Because our kids won't be able to grow up together, I thought it would be nice for them to have this special tradition."

Under the ribbons and paper was a wooden Advent box, with special goodies hiding behind every door.

She had filled it for our Kate, and she wanted us to bring it to New Hampshire, fill it for Christmas 2007 and ship it back to her for her son to open.

This box has been traded 4 times now, and has seen the wear and tear of 2 relocations and 4 kids. In fact, if you look closely enough, you'll be able to see missing handles and "well-loved" doors.

We moved back to Memphis in August 2008 and into the neighborhood next to Carla. Even though we live close to one another again, the Advent box tradition continues. This year we are the ones uncovering a new treasure every morning. My girls look forward to it, and I can't wait for them to help me fill it for Carla's boys next Christmas.

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Isn't that a cute story? I love how they pass it back and forth every year! Looking for more from the HoHoHolidaySwap? Check out the linky below and don't forget to go read my post over at Keeper of the Penguins!

Playing Santa

This year is Miss H's first year of really getting the whole Santa thing. She knows all the words to "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," and she sings it with gusto. She asks me every day if she is on the good list or the naughty list.

As such, my husband and I have really had to up our Santa game. We had her create her own letter to Santa with pictures cut out from magazines. He and I have been having conversations about shopping for gifts in the evenings after the girls go to bed. We have each done our share of secret "Santa" shopping trips. Last night, we wrapped Santa's gifts in special Santa wrapping paper.

All of this "Playing Santa" really got me thinking about my childhood. My parents always made sure that our Christmases were wonderful and magical. I am ashamed to admit that I believed in Santa far longer than most kids (5th grade!) because my parents did such a good job creating the mystery of Santa and keeping the secret.

How did they do it? Did they sit together on winter evenings like my husband and I discussing which gifts to purchase? When did they buy the presents? Where did they hide them?

Now that I am a parent, every day gives me a different experience that brings me closer to my parents than ever. It makes me appreciate them so much more than I ever did then. How could I have known then how much they did for us? Only now does it become clear. I can only hope to be as good at this as they are.

Erin

Snap back to reality

On Monday, I wrote about how I wasn't feeling the Christmas spirit. A lot of my readers commented about how they are the same: overwhelmed, stressed, tired. I was really down in the dumps, and kind of feeling sorry for myself.

Later that morning, my husband called me from work with good news. Really, REALLY, good news. The kind of news that lifted a huge weight off my chest that I hadn't realized was there until it was gone. I felt light, and free, and for the first time in awhile, truly happy.

Monday afternoon, Tuesday, and Wednesday passed with me singing Christmas carols to myself or with the Rosebuds, doing online Christmas shopping, and getting the Christmas cards mailed out. I was feeling great.

Then I got the call. It was my sister calling to tell me that my parents were rushing my younger brother to the Emergency Room. He had been sick all day and towards the evening began vomiting blood.

At the hospital there was more blood, an endoscopy, and the diagnosis that he had torn his esophogus and was bleeding into his stomach. Heavily. The tear was repaired, the bleeding stopped, and he has been carefully watched in the Intensive Care Unit since then.

Living nine hours away, I have never felt more helpless. I prayed for my brother and for my parents who I know must have been terrified. Thankfully, my brother is doing much better today, but this whole experience has made me realize (again) what is really important in life - family.

As I move foward, I am still feeling happy about Christmas, but have been sobered by my brother's illness. There is concern for him in my head, but I have a peace in my heart that tells me he will be okay. We will all be okay.

Erin

Feelin' the Christmas spirit

The first two weeks of December have flown by for me. While I have been seeing my neighbors' Christmas decorations, listening to Christmas music on the radio, and drinking Peppermint Mochas from Starbucks, I just haven't been into it.

I remember feeling like this last Christmas. I was having trouble finding the joy that Christmas usually brings me. I am a Christmas person; I love everything about it and I look forward to it every year.

Last Christmas was overshadowed by Mr. Rose's preparations for his 4 month trip, so I can understand why I was a little down then. But I have no idea what the problem is now.

A little part of it may be because I feel so overwhelmed by everything I need to do. Over the weekend, I made some progress with the Christmas shopping and writing Christmas cards. We also got our tree up and decorated our house.

But I still feel an immense weight on my shoulders from all the unfinished tasks. I made a list last night to help me keep track of everything, but that list keeps getting longer and not shorter.

So that's it - I have got to cut some things out. There will be some items on my to-do list that are not going to get done before Christmas. I just have to figure out what they are!

How are you feeling this Christmas? Overwhelmed and stressed? Or happy and peaceful?

Erin

Yesterday's Funnies

Yesterday a friend and I took our kids to our local children's museum. After lunch, we took a collective potty-break before resuming play. Miss H decided she wanted to go into the Family Restroom with her BFF, so I headed into the public restroom with Lil' B in the stroller.

After using the restroom myself, I proceeded to change Lil' B's diaper. I turned around upon hearing the restroom door open to see a man walk in to the restroom. I was about to say, "Hey Mister, you're in the Ladies Room," until I realized that he had walked straight to a urinal, and proceeded to relieve himself all with no knowledge of my presence behind him.

Utter and total mortification. I, in fact, was in the Men's Room.

Lil' B kept trying to talk to me, but I refused to utter a peep. I kept my back turned to him so that when he turned to leave, he would not see my complete embarrassment. But then I thought, "Oh no! He's going to have to walk over here to wash his hands!"

I don't know if he was just as embarrassed as I was or what, but he didn't wash his hands! Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!

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A few hours later, I headed to the grocery store with the Rosebuds. I only needed a couple of items, so we were in and out of there in 15 minutes. Even so, Lil' B was refusing to sit in the cart and Miss H was raising a ruckus of epic proportion. Needless to say, I was flustered and off my game when I reached my car with three bags of groceries.

I hastily opened the door to my trunk when Miss H says, "Mommy, what is dat?" In my haste, I had forgotten the Play-Doh playset that Santa was hiding in my trunk.

"That? That's nothing." I replied.

"Oooooh, I know what dat is! It's Play-Doh. I want to play wit dat later." Doh!

"Miss H, that is not for you. It is a birthday gift for someone at Daddy's work." Bad Mommy!

"But den I will never play wit dat again!"

"Well, if you would like something like that for Christmas, we'll just have to put it on your list for Santa, won't we?"

Her eyes lit up like Christmas morning. "Yes, Mommy! Dat is a great idea!"

Crisis averted.

Lost amid the snow

It is the day after Christmas. She looks up from the base of the mountain. She waits in line with others like her, others who are looking to get away from it all. Away from the lights, the noise, the paper, the toys.

Soon, it is her turn. With a clunk and a whirl, she is off. Up, up, up.

Above her is the bluest blue sky she has ever seen. Below her is a myriad of evergreen trees, coated in white fluffy snow. 

At the top, she glides off the lift on skis that swoosh and slide through the six inches of powder that coats the mountain. She takes a moment to get herself together, and then looks around.

Although there are many others there with her, she feels all alone. Alone to marvel at the beauty of the scene, to rejoice in the silence.

She skis down the mountain with only her thoughts and the snow to keep her company. It is a peace that she didn't know could exist amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays. The constant swish, swoosh, swish, swoosh, is hypnotic.

At the end of the day she is tired and sore, but rested and rejuvenated nonetheless. Now, she is ready to head back to the hustle and bustle. Merry Christmas, indeed.

Erin

Mama Rosebud's Christmas wish list

Dear Santa,

I'm sure you must be busy overseeing the construction of toys, the development of the Naughty vs Nice list, and the nurturing of your reindeer, but I thought I would send you a short note to put in a good word for myself.

There are only a few things that I want to suggest that you put under the tree for me this year. By all means, use your best Santa Claus judgement as these are mere suggestions.

For the stocking, how about the Bare Minerals Fabulous Eyecolor Palette in Plum Perfect? I love my Bare Minerals make-up and this would be perfect for the times when I feel like looking a little extra glamorous in my Mom-jeans and sweater.

Next, these super-soft Victoria Secret lace trimmed modal pajamas would really help me unwind at the end of a long day with the Rosebuds. I can totally see myself cozied up in bed wearing these, sipping a glass of wine, and reading this:

 

 

 

 

Oh yeah baby, the grand finale - the new Nookcolor. I have really been itching for a new toy. And honestly, I think I deserve it. I have been a great wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend this year, which was a particularly trying year for me.

Also, I have it on good authority that there will be some delicious treats awaiting you and the reindeer when you stop here this year.

And if it isn't too much trouble, do you think you could leave something for Mr. Rose and the Rosebuds, too? I wouldn't want to be the only one opening gifts on Christmas morning! Just sayin'.

Merry Christmas!

Erin

A picture is worth a thousand words

I am a huge fan of having pictures taken of my kids. Most of the time, the photos that I take aren't worth a darn. Hence, I usually let the professionals take them. As the end of the year approaches, I generally have lots of adorable images of the Rosebuds taking up space on my hard drive.

What to do with all those precious images?

It's time to share them, of course! And what better way to do that than with one of the hundreds of Christmas photo card options from Shutterfly. I have been perusing their site and drafting several different Christmas card options, and I am so impressed with how easy it is to use. Uploading photos is a cinch and you can refine your product search options by number of photos, format, size, paper type, and colors. Seriously, the hardest part of this whole process is deciding which of their designs to use for our 2010 Christmas Card.

Our Christmas cards usually look better in my head than when I actually design them, but I can't go wrong with the beautiful options from Shutterfly. I love this classy design with the monogram:

Shutterfly also has a plethora of Happy Holiday photo cards for those who don't celebrate Christmas. These are a nice option for us because we have several friends on our card list who celebrate Hanukkah.

Wait, there's more!

My parents are the kind of people who, if they want something, they buy it themselves. My mother flat out told me not to buy her clothes because she likes to pick them out and try them on before buying. All of this makes Christmas shopping more difficult. What do you buy the people who either have everything or want to buy it themselves? How about a personalized 2011 calendar with images of their beautiful grandchildren on it? Perfect! Shutterfly has a wide variety of wall or desk calendars for me to add my own photos and even all our birthdays and anniversaries. The best part? Shutterfly will remember those dates which makes creating future calendars even easier. Score!

I am so excited to show these products from Shutterfly to you. I honestly don't know what I have done in years past without them!

Happy Holidays!

Erin

Shutterfly has generously offered me 50 free Christmas photo cards in exchange for this blog post.

 

 

Pour Your Heart Out: A Sigh of Relief

It is no secret that Lil' B has been my "difficult" baby. She was a colicky infant who did not sleep well until she was 10 months old. Now at 16 months, she still does not sleep through the night every night.

Lil' B also had a hard time starting solid foods and is now an extremely picky eater. She is into carbs and butter (can I blame her?), but is only patient enough to sit in her high chair for 5 minutes at a time. Hence, there is very little actual eating going on around here.

As far as her weight goes, she has not been on the traditional growth charts for some time now. She is on her own curve below the zero percentile. Last month at her 15 month well check, B did not gain any weight, not even an ounce, in the three months since her 12 month visit.

My normally patient and understanding pediatrician came into our room with a worried look on her face. She started talking about allergy testing, specialist referrals, and endoscopies. "But first, let's try PediaSure. Come back in four weeks, and if she still hasn't gained, it's time for the next step."

I was terrified and cried right there in her office. I did not want to submit my child to a wild goose chase of tests and procedures when all other indicators of her health and development are normal or above normal.

So began the month of November. Every meal and snack was anxiety ridden. Every uneaten bite left on her tray frustrated and worried me. I felt like I was holding my breath the entire month.

Thankfully, she took to the PediaSure, which is God's gift to slow weight gainers, like a champ. I knew that the PediaSure was our only hope.

Yesterday, I took Lil' B for her weight check, and it was good news. Little miss gained a whole pound in a month! She's still not on the traditional growth curve, but she is back on track.

And Mama breathes a huge sigh of relief.

This post is Linked Up with Shell's Pour Your Heart Out meme at Things I Can't Say.