Goals for 2012

   I've never been one for New Year's Resolutions. Just didn't find them necessary. Maybe I just made goals when I wanted to, not just when a new year started. But this year is different. I think it's the mom in me wanting to get a grip on organization. Maybe it's the OCD in me that has grown 100 times since becoming a mom. Above all, I think it's about starting something fresh and new. So here it goes, 2012, in no particular order:

• Get organized! I'm always striving to get our house organized. It's an unending, sometimes daunting task. I'm continually getting rid of stuff but we continue to add stuff too. With our precious new addition, we're quickly growing out of our house. My organizational goals go beyond the stuff. I want to get my schedule organized i.e. daily tasks, chores, routines. I've found some great tools, thank you Pinterest. Now I just need to put them into action.
• Make a family budget and make it work! Josh and I have never really had a budget, that was our first mistake. We have sat down a few times in the past to make a budget but it always falls through within two weeks. Second mistake. We have some financial goals, mostly large purchases to improve our home but we also plan to cut a car payment this year, maybe even both our car payments.
• Strive to become a morning person. I know this is going to be the hardest goal of all. I am not a morning person. Not one bit. I can stay up late, until 1am just fine but wake me up before 7:30am (this used to be more like 9am) and you'll see why I'm not a morning person. And it doesn't matter if I go to bed at 9pm or midnight, I still feel exhausted. But since Channing is beginning to sleep through the night (Yay!), I've set a goal to get up before the boys at least two mornings a week, striving for three. This still gives me my mornings to "sleep in" until the boys wake me up but also sets aside time to get chores done during the most productive time. Who knows, maybe the morning time will become my craft time! (see next goal)
• Get back into sewing. A few months before Channing was born, I started sewing baby products and then selling them to friends, family and online. I really enjoyed it and others seemed to enjoy my products. But of course, with a new baby, all sewing stopped. I'd love to set aside time to really get my business going, for personal fulfillment as well as the extra money.
• Take a Doula training course. I really became interested in all things pregnancy and baby during my best friend's first pregnancy. She researched a lot and naturally, I learned a lot too. Then I witnessed her natural childbirth and it terrified me! I told everyone it would be a long time before I had any babies. But just 6 months later, I was pregnant with my sweet Lucas. I began researching all that I could. I always knew I wanted to do a natural childbirth but the unknown was still scary. I didn't think I would need a Doula for my delivery of Lucas because I was delivering outside of a hospital, with a Midwife. But I quickly learned that a Doula was just what I needed. When I became pregnant with Channing, I spoke with my Midwife Susan (a different Midwife this time around) about a Doula and she highly recommended that I have one. She even gave me a list of women to call. I was lucky enough to find a perfect one for me and she was SO helpful, especially in the weeks leading up to Channing's birth. Fortunately, I didn't really need her at the delivery because Channing came within an hour of the first painful contraction. But I was so thankful to have the support and I would never do another delivery without a Doula again. I would love to be able to be that support for other women, especially women who really want a Doula but can't always afford one. The training is the easy part, a weekend class with the Midwife that delivered Channing. Once I complete all the requirements, the hard part will be the childcare for my boys since at times, I will be on call 24/7. I will be praying through this part but feel I should complete the training and God will take care of the rest!
• More date nights! Can I get an Amen?! Josh and I just went on our first date since Channing was born. We've been out a few times without Lucas but never without both boys. I planned a fun day to celebrate Josh's birthday and it was so nice to have a quiet conversation between ourselves for a few hours. We need to make US a priority and I want to pick a date at the beginning of the month so we don't push it aside.

I think that's it! Looks like a lot but I think they're all attainable goals over one year's time. And if I don't accomplish something, I'm okay with that. God may have other plans and I'm excited to see what He has in store for me and for us as a family! Happy New Year!