Eleven Resolutions

I know some people don't buy into making resolutions, but as I've said before, I totally do.  Even if I fail.  I mean, why not at least try, right?

I should probably be very serious and smart and make some resolutions about being less of a control freak, and maybe less emotionally high-maintenance while I'm at it.  But those goals might be a little too lofty for a year that contains both the potential building of a new house and a pregnancy (I pray not simultaneously).  So.  I am setting the bar a little lower.  (No, eleven is not too many.)

1.) I will shower and get dressed every day.  (And  by every day, I mean I get one skip a week.)  It makes me feel more human and better about myself.  Plus I've gotten one too many compliments on my hair recently of the oh-it-looks-so-pretty-what-did-you-do variety, when the answer is um, washed it? brushed it?  Also when a friend hugs you and says oh you smell so clean, that's unus-- ... Yeah.  Likewise, the kids.  I'm totally going to bathe them at least once a week this year.  Really.  Hopefully.

2.) In an act of solidarity with my awesome sister Ashley and my favorite friend (Another) Nathan, I am going to try really hard to call this year twenty-eleven.  It's apparently important to them?  Or something.  And I'm inclined to agree: it's time to make the change.

3.) I fully intend to re-read all the Little House books and the Narnia books.

4.) I want to have a date night with Mark every week.  It sounds like a lot, but we did it this summer and it was so awesome and helpful and good for our marriage.  So when we have our 2011 family budget meeting (no it still hasn't happened **hangs head in shame**) we're going to prioritize this.

5.) No more profanity.  Eventually I would like to get rid of all of it (for realz, Mark is not a fan) but for now I'm setting the bar realistically low: definitely not in front of the kids.  I slip up more often than I should.  I need to nip it in the bud.

6.) I'm jumping on the Project 365 bandwagon (not in any official capacity though) and resolving to take a picture every day this year.  At least one.  Also this should give me lots of material to post new blog content every day which should keep some people (coughAshley) happy. The dailies just might become daily.

7.) I am going to be a less lazy housewife.  True story: I'm a decent mommy, but I'm not much for cleaning (see #1).  I'm going to get back in the pre-Anneliese habit of really cleaning one section of the house every week, so that it never gets so bad it becomes and overwhelming task. 

8.) Two people whom I love very much hinted that I should be more helpful.  Um, whaaa?  I think I'm pretty helpful already! Seriously?!  But after glaring at them for a minute then sleeping on it for a few nights, I decided it never hurts to be more helpful.  (I mean, I don't even have a job, right?)  So I am going to go out of my way to find one really helpful thing to do for someone else every day.  Someone hold me accountable to this and ask me how it's going in a month, ok?

9.) I'm going to ignore my phone less.  Truthfully, my default reaction when it rings is just to ignore it.  Yes, yes, there are times when I really can't or shouldn't answer, or legitimately am not in the mood to talk.  But I ignore it way more than just those times.  I mean, I don't even try to look at it while it's still ringing and see who's calling and discern if it's a good time to talk.  And usually I end up calling whoever it was back within a few minutes with a lame-o apology about not being able to get to it fast enough.  (Note: if I've fed you this line, it was probably just that -- a line.  I'm for real sorry.)  I want to make the effort to talk to people when they have made the effort to call me.  So I'm going to try really hard to change my default phone reaction from ignore to converse.

10.) I want to spend more alone time with each child.  Especially since we're about to have three, I'm going to have to be intentional about this.  I don't want alone time with mommy and daddy to become a precious commodity (been there, done that, handed down the t-shirt).  I want it to be normal and expected and routine and basically not a big deal or special treat.  I know this is really important to Mark too.  I'm not sure yet how to concretely state this resolution (half an hour every day?  one morning a week?) or the logistics of how to make it happen, but we'll be discussing it.  And prioritizing it.  Each of my children need me, and I want time with all of them individually, as well as family togetherness.

11.) I will get there in time for the epidural.  Basically if this happens, I'll call twenty-eleven a win.