Checkin' in

Not much terribly exciting to write about, but the boys are at swim class so I wanted to check in here, since it's been a few weeks. And one of my intentions for the year was to write in here at least twice a month. So here I be.

Nothing terribly exciting is going on right now-- my life seems to largely revolve around attempting to get Max to take naps so I can take a breather. Or play with my coupons. I recently discovered that if I put him down on his tummy for naps, instead of his puny little 20 minute nap, he'll often sleep for anywhere from 40 minutes to over an hour. Good, good, good stuff!

And it's been almost a year now that we've been parents. People have been asking if it feels like a year, and I say it feels like when Scott and I were first dating. (And by dating I mean living together.) It both felt like we'd known each other forever, and also like it was impossible that time was passing so quickly. And that's what it feels like with Max. Don't get me wrong-- I most certainly remember my life before him. Days of puttering around the house, sometimes reading a book a day,watching a season of TV on dvd in a weekend, going to movies with Scott... yes, I remember those things. Some days I miss them. It's not that I don't remember my life without Max, I just can't imagine it without him now. There are these amazing little jewels of moments scattered throughout days that are a little more domestic than I used to be comfortable with. Like he's waving now, and he waves with both hands at the same time, which is probably the cutest thing I've ever seen. Or how he likes to be dipped upside down-- he makes this half-wry, half-delighted smile that makes him seem much older than his 11 months. Or how he kicks his legs and makes appreciative little noises when I'm feeding him something he really likes-- this week, it's baked pears with a little olive oil.

So life is pretty good. The house is somewhat tidy. I slept more than two consecutive hours last night. I'm warm and cozy on the couch with my monkey sock mug full o tea. By the time Scott and Max get back from swimming, I will have started to miss them.

Bye Bye, 2009

2010, wow! Wasn't it just, like, 1992?

So I know it's just another day and all, but I'm among those that likes to take a moment to pause and review what's come to pass and think a bit about any course corrections that might be called for in the new year.

2009 was a particularly big year for me as we became parents, which is probably the biggest single change of my life besides my brother's death. So we welcomed Max, stopped sleeping, I had a (gracefully pretty short-lived) time with post-partum depression, went to a crap-load of mom's groups, stopped eating anything fun, saw Max smile for the first time and forgave it all. I saw some old friends much less than before, and made some new friends with similarly aged little ones. I ate meat for the first time after 20 years. I made phone calls for work while holding my breath that Max wouldn't scream. And this year, what with all the nursing of my nursling, the world has become my personal Mardis Gras-- my boobs have been out on boats and in churches and restaurants, in the backseat of my car and at the mall. My boobs get out more than I do!

And for the coming year-- a few intentions/goals:

Keep using coupons and sales so I can keep within our grocery budget.

Track our finances for the entire year (usually I do this for awhile and then stop).

Write in here at least twice a month!

Deal with mail and dishes daily. Or at least bi-daily. : )

Relax and have more fun (when not tracking finances, or dealing with mail and dishes).

Go on dates at least once a quarter. (Yes, with my husband!)

Ask for, or at least accept offered help-- especially around childcare so I can spend time with Scott or do nice things for myself.

Happy 2010!