Resolutions - Month 2

I can't believe that February came and went so quickly.  I feel like I just wrote my first resolution update yesterday, but it was over a month ago.  And it hardly seems like two months have past since I first wrote my New Year's resolutions. 

February was a crazy month for me.  I was at school 12+ hours a day on many occasions.  That's what parent/teacher conferences, working on a teacher leadership group presentation for the school board, and planning a trip abroad for students will do to you...oh yeah, and just trying to keep up with my kids on a daily basis!!  ;)  However, even with all of the time I spent away from home, I don't think I did all too badly.  I'm sure you'll see where I slacked...

• Weight loss - Still down 4 pounds, but that's all.  The first thing to go when I got busy was my gym routine that I've had since November.  At least I didn't gain anything back...Gotta look at the bright side, right?!?!?!
• Being a better organizer/housekeeper - This has been pretty easy actually.  I'm in a great routine, and M is helping me out a lot.  I feel so much more together now!!
• Spending more quality time with M - I was embarrassed that I did so poorly at this in January, especially when I found out that M read my update on February 1 where I admitted that I did a terrible job at keeping this resolution.  I am HAPPY to say that I think I made up for it in February.  We were home a lot more this month, which made it much easier.  We also hired a babysitter on TWO separate occasions so that we could get out together: once for a Badger Hockey game that M won tickets to, and once for a friend's birthday party.  It was so nice to hang out together more again.  I think it's just what we needed!
• Making more quality time for myself - I feel like I put myself on the back burner a little more this month, but partially because of all of my work obligations.  When I'm not getting home until 7:00 or 8:00, then frantically trying to spend a minute or two with Evie before bed, then picking up around the house, saying hi to M, and thinking about maybe working out (see weight loss goal, I only thought about working out...), sleep became my "me" time.  March is a lot less busy, and the first week of April is spring break.  It will be easier to take care of myself this month.  

I feel like I can keep 3 of my 4 resolutions without really trying, but there is always something that doesn't seem to fit.  Even though I'm not reaching the level I'd like to each month, I really do feel better about myself.  I just have to keep working at it.  I know that simply by trying, I'm better for my family, my job, and myself!!  

Favorite toys

For Christmas, Evie received several new toys.  These have come out as some of the favorites over the past couple of months.

First, the Jingle Interactive Book. It is a regular children's book, but it came with a stuff dog.  When you are going to read the story, you turn the dog on, and it responds when you read certain lines.  For instance, you read the line, "And Jingle loved to sing," and then the plush dog howls like it is singing.  I'm not sure how this thing works, but it works well and Evie loves it.  We had to take it out of her bedroom because she became too wound up if we read it before bedtime...lol!!

Evie and Jingle

The other toy that she really loves is the LeapFrog Xylophone Zoo.  You press the animals and it will play a song so that you can follow along with the mallet.  It's a little bit beyond Evie's ability to completely follow the song, but she tries, and she likes to dance to the songs too.  

I like that the mallet is attached to the xylophone so you can't lose it. 

Evie with the xylophone

She also received a tent that she really likes, which I've posted about before.  I feel like our house has turned into a play land, but I guess that's what happens when you have a baby!

One & done?

It seems like baby fever is everywhere lately.  Some good friends from college just had their second in January.  My sister is expecting her first in April.  Two acquaintances that I see about once a month are both pregnant with their second child.  Two of my co-workers (both of whom are close friends of mine) are currently trying to conceive.  It's no secret that the thought of a second child has crossed our minds in the past few months (see here or here), but I haven't really been on board with the whole idea.

Back when M and I were first married, and we talked about having kid(s) someday,  kid(s) was always plural.  My sisters are my two best friends, and I can't imagine what my life would be like if I were an only child.  M has two older brothers and a younger sister, so the idea of being an only child is foreign to him too. 

BUT....now that I have Evie, I honestly wonder how I could ever have another child. I don't know if it's against the "mommy blogger code" to admit this or not: I don't know if I could love another child the way that I love Evie.  It scares the crap out of me to think about it.  Evie is my world, how do I divide that to include another child?  How could I take anything away from her?

It's hard for me to explain what I mean.  I want everything to be fair, and I worry that I wouldn't be able to do it.  I never want to deny Evie anything because "the baby needs us right now."  I'm probably over-thinking this...or I have weird resentment issues or something because I'm the oldest. 

Is "one & done" right for our family??  I have been wondering this a lot lately.  I am not committed to the idea of having only one child any more than I'm committed to the idea of having a second child.  Some days I think our family is complete.  Other days I think about how much I want M to have the son that he's always wanted. I suppose only time will tell...

Waffle Fail

I had a major craving for waffles on Sunday morning, but we were out of the box mix that I usually use, and I was WAY too lazy to run to the grocery store to pick up some more.  So, I was resourceful and I turned to the trusty internet to solve my problem for me.

I found a waffle recipe that had good reviews and I gave it a whirl.  The batter turned out really runny, and kind of chunky.  I usually like to eat some of the pancake/waffle batter (totally gross to most people, I know, but we all have our sick little vices, right??!!?!), and I wouldn't even eat the batter, so I knew that this was not going to end well. 

Gross-o batter that I wouldn't eat.

I put it in the waffle iron anyway, and what came out was an awful, not a waffle.  (That's M's pun, he has to take all of the credit for that  great pun.)  I didn't even take a picture of it because it was just a pile of sort of cooked batter...it was pretty nasty.

However, the waffle craving was so strong, that I actually started over with a new recipe.

This batter was edible...by my standards.

And the waffles turned out great too!!

Evie and M both loved them.  I was so disgusted with the fact that I spent over an hour attempting to make about 6 waffles that I didn't have much of an appetite to eat them anymore.  Oh well, at least I found a recipe I can use in the future.  Or, I'll just get off my lazy ass and go to the grocery store.  :)

Family photos

Evie is officially 19 months old today, and we haven't ever done family photos of the three of us.  I'm not really into the staged, posed, everyone has their hand awkwardly placed on someone's shoulder type of pictures, so Sears (or any of the other ones like it) has never crossed my mind for family pictures, or for pictures of Evie either.

I'm lucky to have a coworker who does photography on the side who does amazing work.  She took Evie's one month pics, six month pics, one year pics, and our family pictures today.  She always makes everything look so natural.  I love how they turned out!!

She took quite a few of Evie by herself too.  When did my baby girl get so big?!?!?!?!?!

P.S.  I am looking for anyone who is interested in a sponsor swap!!  Send me an email at makes_perfect_sense@yahoo.com