2011 Reflection

I started doing this reflection last year.  Let's see how 2011 was..... 

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Survived as a full-time-working mom of 2 (not easy, for me at least) and ran my longest run (10 miles) at a 7:56 min mile average pace.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?


Last year's:
~Lose all my baby weight after baby's born, and gain back muscle, get back into good shape. I lost all my baby weight and then some, but lost even more muscle due to running and no time for lifting.  I'm far from being in shape and realizing that I have to pick between running and just working out/lifting, as I do not have time for both. :(

~Run more races, starting with a 5k and working my way up to a half marathon. A couple months ago I started training for a half marathon and I realized I really enjoy running.  Feeling your body gain endurance feels so good.  But it's so time consuming and it's hard to choose between dedicating the limited time I  have when B is home to running or spending it together with my family.  Also, it's super hard on my body (getting old!) and if I don't lift weights and eat enough, I just wither away. So I'm probably just going to stick with shorter races..5, 10, 15 k'ers. I'm hoping to do the Shamrock 15k in March.

~Although this may be out of my control- try to figure out work schedules between B and I where we aren't working complete opposite shifts. Possibly going part-time, fingers crossed!! I dream of seeing my husband more! Nope. But I have to find a way to get on a day shift by next Fall.  The next open day shift that becomes available, I will be all over it.  Otherwise I will never see Peyton during the week, as he will be in Kindergarten all day.

~If B and I are home together more evenings this year, cooking and eating more meals together. We only get one or two nights a week at home together, which I try to always make a good, healthy dinner. I feel like my boys need more home-cooked meals than that! (I do have to give B credit though, he tries really hard to cook healthy meals for the 2 of them when I'm at work, which I know isn't easy). I feel like I've done my best with this.  I really have taken on cooking as a hobby and I love trying new recipes.  I feel like I've really broadened my cooking repertoire. We've also tried our best to go organic with more foods where we can.  It's expensive!

~Patience and prioritizing. I'm sure it will take some adjusting to having 2 kids, a newborn and a 4-year-old. I really want to try to have a ton of patience. I want to make sure that Peyton has a lot of one-on-one time and not feel neglected with a new baby at home. I'm hoping I'll be able to juggle caring for a newborn, keeping Peyton entertained/engaged, spending quality time with B, keeping the house in order, making time to workout, etc etc etc. It will take some time to get a schedule down, but I'm hoping to stay organized and prioritize well. FAIL. I'm still trying to figure out some sort of sanity here.  I've been getting organizing/cleaning tips from this crazy lady.

~More date nights with B and a take a weekend or more away with just the two of us. Fail. We don't have many days off together.  We definitely need more date nights and a weekend away would be awesome.

This year's goals:
~Gain muscle mass back!
~Plant an herb/vegetable garden.
~Get our yard in better shape.
~Develop a budget and stick to it.
~Take a weekend to get away with B.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Becky! Yesterday actually...a baby boy, Alexander.  My niece Brittni had a baby boy Andrew a few weeks ago, and my friend Tiffany had her baby boy Riley 5 days after Olivia was born. Lots of boys!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Grandma.
5. What countries did you visit? None.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? Patience and less stress. More activities and outings with the kids.  I seemed to have holed myself up in the house due to a number of reasons...adjusting with a newborn and learning to move on without my mom, both which have been really hard for me.


7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? February 3, 2011.  The day my baby girl was born.  I can't imagine life without her.  


8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Gaining running endurance.  As I'm on my long runs, I'm thanking all my coaches and hearing them in my ear yelling: "Turn your brain off and just SPRINT!  Mind over matter!" After the hell of basketball conditioning, I'm thankful that I've learned what my body can handle, which is more than I ever can think it can.

9. What was your biggest failure? No patience and letting the grief of losing my mom and the stress of life get in the way of being the best wife/mom I can be.  No mom-of-the-year award here.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I've was very lucky to have an uncomplicated pregnancy/delivery. The only sickness I had was just last week with the stomach flu.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Best money spent was tuition at Peyton's new school. We're hopeful to be able to continue to send him to private school along with Olivia for the years to come.

12. Where did most of your money go? House mortgage, as usual.


13. What did you get really excited about? The birth of Olivia and my visit to see Becky in Colorado was a fun anticipation.

14. What song will always remind you of 2010? Any Adele song. Peyton has ingrained that CD into my head.


15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? About the same.

– thinner or fatter? Thinner

– richer or poorer? Well we both got our annual raises, but cost of living always rises, and more expenses always creep up. So the same probably.


16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Weight lifting, date nights with B, gardening.


17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worry/stressing and try to be more than I'm capable of.


18. How did you spend Christmas? With both of our families and with a sick little girl.

19. What was your favorite TV program? Anything on the Food Network.

20. What were your favorite books of the year? Water for Elephants, Heaven is for Real.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?
Whatever was on the radio.

22. What were your favorite films of the year? Bridesmaids, Breaking Dawn Part 1.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? My sister had a birthday party for me at her house. I turned 31.


24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Having my mom here.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? Lacking.
26. What kept you sane? My kids, even though they were the source of my insanity at times.  I love those two.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:  Family is the only thing that matters and who will always unconditionally be there for you.

Christmas Day 2011

B and I stayed up after midnight putting stuff together/wrapping everything.  I went to bed so excited! BUT...at about 1:45am, Olivia woke up throwing up.  I just couldn't believe it.  After Peyton and I were sick with the stomach flu last week, we were joking "Watch, Olivia will get sick on Christmas."  (Not really believing that she really would).  She continued to throw up until 7am until she finally went to sleep for more than 30 minutes. Poor girl, I felt so bad for her, she was miserable.  B and I were sleep deprived but still excited for Peyton to get up and see what Santa brought.

Walking out...

His big gift from Santa was a new bike, he also got a Dyson ball vacuum, Cars 2 stuff, Transformers, Legos, remote control Finn car, clothes and and some new art stuff.

Around 10 Olivia finally woke up and had a little formula and some water and opened a couple gifts.  We could tell she wasn't feeling too hot but she played for a while with her new stuff.

Then after a good long nap for Olivia, we headed over to my Dad's house for the Prazeau family Christmas. (We really should have stayed home as now a few people are sick with the stomach bug! :(  )

Peyton got a bunch more gifts, all that he was super stoked about.  I have to somehow reorganize the kids bedrooms to make room for all this new stuff!

Olivia playing with her cousin Drew.

She loved this little lamb from Aunt Susie.

Waiting for my siblings to all hurry and unwrap so we can open our gifts from Dad at the same time!

Cute bowl set from Pier 1, and a family cookbook with family recipes...and some cash!

Mayhem..but I love it. 

B opening his gift from the adult drawing.

HA, not sure what she is doing here

Peyton stripping down to help clean the kitchen with Aunt Bonnie.  He was in there for about 45 minutes rinising dishes and polishing the sink.  Silly boy

Aunt Bonnie and a tired Olivia..

Exhausted.

Merry Christmas! And sorry to everyone that got sick, what a crappy Christmas gift! :(

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve after I got off work we headed to church with my dad and then went to B's parents to have dinner and celebrate Christmas!

Baby girl all dressed up for church

Big cheese from Peyton

Telling Great Grandma Barb all about his elf Fred

Peyton got so much stuff and he was excited about all of it.  Pogo stick, clothes, roller skates, movie, gift card, new sheets, and some other small stuff.  His favorite toy of the night was his Cars 2 Finn car he got from Uncle A.  You can see him in the top right pic giving him a huge hug.

Olivia did great opening her gifts.  She got lots of baby snacks, a rolling horsey, stroller with a baby, clothes, books, etc.

We were spoiled! We got lots of fun kitchen gadgets, gift cards, a big picture frame, candles, etc..

My favorite gift of the night.  I've been looking for a wooden salt pinch pot forever and B's mom found the perfect one. 

Olivia loves to look at Grammy's Christmas village.

Adventures with Fred the Elf

We've all had so much fun with Fred this Christmas season.  He's been in some fun spots in the house and has gotten into some of our things.  It's so fun to wake up to Peyton's excitement every single morning trying to see where Fred is.  We just have a few more days with him until he goes back to the North Pole with Santa.  Here are a few of our favorite spots with our little elf. 

He snuck into Peyton's room and got his colors and he somehow found an elf coloring page and did an awesome coloring job.

Sippin' on some Mrs. Butterworth's.  Just like Buddy the elf, Fred LOVES syrup

This one freaked Peyton out-first appearance in his room... on the curtain rod.

The kids loved being able to see him up so close in the entertainment center cabinet.

Trip(s) to see Santa

Today we finally made a unsuccessful trip to see Santa.  This past weekend, B and I took the kids to Clackamas Town Center to visit him.  As we got of the car, Peyton upchucked his lunch in the parking lot.  Wow, ok. We asked Peyton if he wanted to go home. "No, I want to see Santa!"  So we go in, and the line is ridiculous. We tell Peyton the line is too long and we'll come back at a better time the next day.  He said ok and seemed unusually eager to go home.  On the ride home, he's complaining that his tummy hurts and as we're on the freeway...more puke, and lots of it....on his lap in the car.  B at this point is gunning it and we finally get home and put Peyt in the shower and get him settled on the couch with a bowl by his side. He was sick for the next 24 hours. 
So today, he's feeling better and finally eating again so I decide to take the kids to Lloyd Center to see Santa.  We get there at literally 1:01pm.  Santa's on lunch from 1-2pm.  Wonderful.  I have to work today so I didn't have time to wait.  Peyton was super disappointed so I drove to Mall 205 and this is what we got:

Olivia, not amused~Santa, not looking at the camera and hard of hearing ("Merry Christmas Peyson")~Peyton, with a creepy smile.

Oh well! At least we got a picture.  Hopefully we'll have better luck next year. :)

Christmas program

Wednesday morning Peyton's morning class and the afternoon class did an awesome job singing in their Christmas program.  It was so cute, they sang super loud and at the end Santa came in for a surprise visit. Then afterwards, we had cookies and refreshments, it was nice.  It was fun hearing all the songs Peyton's been singing to himself for the past couple of weeks come together. We are very proud of Peyt, he is really thriving in school. {I'm hoping to figure out how to get the video from my video camera on here, stay tuned...}

Peyton and his two buddies from school Ethan and Beau

Taking cues from Mrs. Horne



Giving me a great smile...our sweet boy sang so great!



Zoo lights

Last Thursday we met my brother Randy, Amy and Austin to zoo lights.  It was COLD! But it was dry and the kids didn't seem to mind one bit.  Olivia sat perfectly content in her stroller taking in all the lights.  After making our way through, we decided we had had enough of the cold and so we left and got dinner at the Taco House.  Delish!

The purple tree out front was my favorite

Austin and Olivia

Chilly but happy girl

Peyt checking out the lights

Our sweet boy

With time completely flying by, I feel like Peyton is growing up so much lately! He is learning so much in school and he is just so fun to sit down and chat with.  I feel like he's crossed that line from being a toddler to being a full-on boy.  He is still so stubborn, but is the sweetest boy and an unbelievable big brother.  He often gets annoyed with his sister and loves to annoy her, but he truly adores her.  He's already asking when he can have another one.  Sorry buddy!  

PBJ face

Reading sports illustrated today when we went to the doc for Olivia's flu shot booster

Giving kisses

10 Months

I'm not sure how another month has gone by, it's so hard to believe our baby girl will be one in two months! The time is flying by, I feel like Olivia has been growing before our eyes.  She is all over the place-speed crawling, cruising along furniture, and this past weekend she stood unassisted for a few seconds! (And I  missed it as I was in Colorado! But she did it again for me today for a couple seconds).  Once she realizes she's standing on her own, she flops down on her bum.  She'll be walking in no time I bet.  She is sleeping great still and eating like a champ.  She is kind of over bottles and baby food and wants whatever we eat.  I still give her some puree's but usually give her bits of whatever we're eating.  New foods she's tried are: broccoli, pumpkin, turkey, garlic bread :), spaghetti, and many more that I can't think of right now.  She likes most foods which is great.  She's mastered her sippy cup and drinks lots of water.  She is babbling a ton.  I think she's knowing that I'm ma-ma and B is da-da when she says them.  And she'll say ba-ba while waving.  She is very strong-willed and will shriek when she wants something or if something is taken away....YIKES. (See video below) 

She is growing so much, she's wearing 18-24 month clothes that fit her perfectly length-wise.  She's still in size 4 diapers.  She still has 6 teeth and still drooling like crazy.  Her new tricks this month are pointing, giving kisses and peek-a-boo.  The last week or so every morning I ask her where the Christmas tree is and she points to it.

She has become quite the thumb-sucker and all she needs is her bun-bun (see pic below) and her thumb and she's ready to snuggle in for the night. 

Loves:

*Her bunny (bun-bun)

*Keys

*To be held

*Peyton's room

*Other babies or kids-she will point at them and babble.

*Her baby doll

*Snacks

*An open dishwasher-she makes a bee-line to it if it's open.

Hates:

*Her teeth brushed-more than ever lately, she freaks out crying.

*Putting anything over her head.

*Wearing her heavy coat..I would too if I had to be stuffed in a car seat with a bulky jacket.

*Peyton pestering her

*Us walking away from her.  She likes us right by her all the time. 

Eating some snacks with her bun-bun

Her and Tootsie (my pre-washer)

Although they both annoy each other, her and Peyt are constantly laughing with each other

Eating peas...her fave

Clearly teething.  Notice her soaked shirt.  Most of the time she's got a bib on.

Love my baby girl



Looking at books with her comforts in place.

Peek-a-boo!

I got a box of samples of Aquaphor wash from our pediatrician and Olivia was playing with one in the tub.  She just loved to hold it for some reason and kept wanting it while I got her dressed and completely freaked out when I took it from her.  So random

This is such a fun age and we are enjoying our girl so much these days.  We love you Livs!