28 days of blah...

Dear February,

You are my Husband's least favorite month. You're cold. You're dreary. The lack of sunshine by this part of winter is overbearing. I know you're only 28 days long (most years), but for him, you last an eternity.

For some reason, he also hates his birthday. Yup, it's in February. I don't understand this hate of the birthday, because starting March 1st, it's "Happy Birthday MONTH" to me! Anyway, he doesn't like his birthday or any attention that it brings. So, what am I supposed to do with that? It's no fun trying to celebrate someone's birthday who doesn't enjoy it. Oh, and this year, his birthday happens to be on Super Bowl Sunday. Typically, I'd say that was a good thing because we can go to a Super Bowl party and spend the day with his friends, with good food, good drinks, and a good game. But no, not this year. See, we're not Colts fans. Shhh... I know we live in Indy. That's part of the problem. Do you know how much media coverage there is about this team? When you're not a fan: It's so annoying. So that doesn't make things better. And given that we're not fans, it's not like we're welcome at anyone's Super Bowl party.

So, February, let's make a deal. You bring the sunshine and warmer temperatures. And I'll try to get Hubs to even acknowledge your existence. Rather than him turning the calendar directly from January to March. That's right, his calendar is turned to March for two months in a row! Wait a minute... that means Happy Birthday Month(s) to me! Let the celebration begin! Maybe this February-hate isn't such a bad thing, afterall!

love,
punkinmama

saying it out loud

Not too long ago, I posted about wanting to be more intentional in 2010. I think about this phrase quite a bit every day. Unfortunately, I've come to realize that just thinking about it doesn't make it so. (If only.) Guess I need to put together some more concrete areas I need to focus on and come up with some steps to guage my progress.

So, in an effort to create some kind of accountabilty with my readers reader, I'm putting it out there and saying it out loud.

Things to be more intentional about in 2010:

Cooking - Menu Plan. Everyone's doing it - at least that's how it seems on the internet. For some reason, this is very daunting to me, but I'm not sure why. Probably because it's planning. Not something I'm terribly great at.

Household Maintenance - Create a "schedule" that will include daily/weekly tasks that need to be done. Then DO IT. (I could also add Organization - Figure It Out. I hate being so disorganized.)

Blogging - Do more than just "write posts in my head". Be devoted to spending time at the computer writing, rather than just reading everyone else's blogs.

Photography - Keep doing Project 360 - and miss less days (oops).

Spiritual Life - Figure out the best plan that speaks to me. Not what everyone else says I should be doing, but what I know helps me grow in my relationship with God. Something I heard at a conference several months ago: "Jesus never journaled.". It's not just something that lets me off the hook, but the point is - don't follow any man-created formula for your relationship with God, but find the thing that works to draw me closer to Him.

So, there's the start to my list. I know there's much more I could add to it, but for now, I think that's a good start.

What about you? Anything you know you need to take action on rather than just think about?

Project 365: 2010

I got a new (awesome) camera for Christmas from the Hubs. I have a lot to learn about using it, so to help me out, I'm attempting to do Project 365. This means I'm planning to take (at least) one picture a day every day during 2010. I'm sure I'll forget some days, but hopefully, I'll remember more often than not!

Anyway, I may not post every picture on the blog, but I do have a flickr stream where I'm uploading them, so they'll be documented somewhere. (I also hope that taking pictures of our days will inspire me to write more blog posts -- no promises though.)

While I'm here, I may as well post the ones I have so far, right? Why not?

January 1



January 2



January 3



January 4



January 5



January 6



January 7


These are all untouched photos, by the way. Another goal for 2010 is to get into photo editing!

ch-ch-ch-changes

I've never been a big fan of making resolutions at the start of the new year. To me, resolutions are things you promise to do or not do which you focus on for a few weeks and then as soon as something gets in the way, you leave them by the wayside. Once you break your resolution, there doesn't seem to be any going back. At least that's how it's always been to me.

For some reason, though, I've been thinking about the start of 2010 for several weeks now... maybe even months. I feel a strong desire to affect change in my life in 2010. Not that my life isn't great and all, but I know there are things that I could focus more on (or less on) and do more of (or less of), that would make me a better person.

So, I've been making random lists of goals in my mind for awhile. Unfortunately, I haven't written them all down as they've come to me. But an overwhelming theme in all of these goals is to Be Intentional.

I want to Be Intentional in everything I do.
- parenting
- marriage
- friendships
- serving God
- loving & serving others

I am really going to try to focus on Being Intentional every day of 2010. To help me keep my focus, I decided to pick a "lifeverse" for 2010. I wanted to pick a scripture that I could think of daily that would remind me of what my overarching goal is for 2010. I actually found several.

As I type this, I've settled on the following:

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:17

Some of the other scriptures that I'll use as supporting references are:

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" Colossians 3:23

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action" I Peter 1:13

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11

I'd love to have you join me in picking a "lifeverse" that is meaningful to you for 2010 - one that can inspire and challenge you. I'd love to walk this journey of change together. Please let me know in the comments if you're interested in joining me!

Happy 2010! I hope the year is full of Love, Peace, Joy, and Change! When you look at me a year from now, I hope you don't see the same person!


“This post included in Real Life’s Your Life Your Blog”

Christmas in pictures

This Christmas season was a lot of fun. Punkin really got into the whole Christmas season for really the first time. He wrote his first letter to Santa and left out cookies and water for Santa (yes, water - that's what he said Santa wanted). Though he didn't want to go to sleep on Christmas Eve (though, that's no different than any other night), he heard "Santa's sleighbells" during story time, which encouraged him to go to sleep with less trouble (along with the threat that Santa would pass by our house if he was still awake - hey, whatever it takes).

Decorating gingerbread house with Daddy:

Oh Christmas Tree:

The Stockings Were Hung:

Santa's Message to Punkin:

Merry Christmas Punkin!

Merry Christmas Papou!

Ooohhh...

Merry Christmas Great Grandma!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

merry christmas

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas. May you be surrounded by love, joy, and peace today and always.

ketchup, catsup, catch-up

Wow, it's been a month and a half since I posted anything. I know I've never been a "regular" poster, but this is ridiculous.

Hopefully, over the next few days I can add some posts that provide more details on what's been going on here.

I still need to post some pictures of Punkin's new big boy room that I referenced a couple of months ago. He's enjoying it, though having him out of the crib definitely presents some challenges. Getting him to go to sleep easily has been a struggle, as he often has to "go potty" - like 3 or 4 times within a 20 minute period, but we're working on it.

Speaking of "going potty", Punkin is thisclose to being fully potty trained (knock on wood). He is a champ in big boy underwear all day long. Our biggest issue is going #2. He's not a fan of doing that on the potty. I'm not a fan of him doing that in his underwear. He's still wearing pull-ups at night, so thankfully, he occassionally chooses to wait until then to do #2. But he's definitely not as "regular" as before, I'm sure because he's holding it in. But recently we've had some success with #2 on the potty, so hopefully that will continue. You'd think Punkin figured out how to create world peace with the celebrations we have around here when he does #2 on the potty. Miraculously, Punkin is usually dry in the mornings too. I thought that would be our biggest potty training issue - I've heard stories of boys not being dry through the night until around 5! So, I'm very thankful that he's doing that so well (knock on wood).

Okay, now that you know more about Punkin's potty habits than you ever wanted to...

Punkin also started preschool in November. He goes 3 days a week, all day. Punkin was in daycare from about 4 months until about March of this year. At that time, we pulled him out and shared a sitter with another family who had 2 boys. That was a great time for Punkin and the other boys. They really became good friends. Unfortunately, that family is moving to Pennsylvania, so we had to find another solution. While the sitter was great in helping Punkin try new foods (that's a whole other post), I also think it was a good time to find something with more structure and more learning opportunities. I was blessed to come across Primrose Schools. I was not aware of them previously, but I can't say enough good things about them. If you're considering a full-day option for your kids, I would highly recommend them. When I picked up Punkin after his first day, I asked him what his favorite thing was. He said, "EVERYTHING!" and proceeded to tell that to everyone we walked by. He's done some cute crafts as well.

Here's a picture of one of my favorites.

It was done around Thanksgiving. It's a turkey made from an apple, fruit loops, orange slices, and marshmallows. So creative and so cute.

So, anyway, I'm sure there's a million other things I've left out (like how Punkin got the flu after 1 week of preschool), but my brain can't think of anything else right now. My hope is that I will do a much better job of updating this blog. Because I kinda miss it.

Hope you are all doing well. Leave me a comment letting me know you're still out there!