New Year's Resolutions

I am typically not a New Year's resolution type of person.  I usually just treat it like any other day, make myself stay up until midnight, say happy new year, and move on with my life.  This year I am going to make a couple of modifications to that routine.  I am going to put some goals out here, goal, not resolutions per se.

This year, I will find my niche.  Whether it is making jewelry, as an Independent Consultant with Arbonne, blogging, etc.  Whatever avenue I am destined to be pursuing, I will figure it out this year. 

I will be weaning my youngest this year.  She will be two years old in September, and it will be time at some point this year.  I have loved nursing her for an extended period, but I am really starting to want my body back. 

Speaking of my body....yeah, that ole thang.  I will commit to losing the last 10-15 pounds I want to lose this year.  For once and for all I will figure out how to combine diet and exercise instead of mastering them separately at different times.  I will combine the two for the body I always knew I had inside.

I am going to keep in better contact with family and friends.  It is hard when almost everyone is at a distance.  There are only so many hours in a day that I am available to talk on the phone.

And in that sentiment, I am going to increase my circle of local friends.  I am going to join MOMS Club in my area, and meet some new people with little ones the same age as my littlest princess. 

I am going to continue to work to make the situation between myself and my ex better.  That is a two way street, so I know I can only do so much to change things.  But I am going to do what I know is my best, so that I can continue to sleep well at night, well at least as far as that issue is concerned.

I vow to speak up more, and ask for help when I know I need it.  It is okay to stumble, it is okay to fall flat on my face.  As long as I pick myself up, dust myself off, and ask for a hand when I need it.  I am not Superwoman, and I will stop pretending that I am.

I will continue to work on bettering communication with my hubby.  Things are really good now, we seem to have a good system in place, and I will continue to do my part to keep things moving in a good direction so that we may always be a good example to ourselves and our kids on what a relationship should look like.

There are so many specific things I want for this year....more financial freedom, less stress, more creative endeavors, less drama.  I am sure of one thing, whatever is meant to happen, WILL HAPPEN. 

Happy New Year everyone.  I hope all of our dreams come true. 

It's me again Margaret....

So I guess I took a little impromptu hiatus...sorry folks.  Being pregnant, planning a church ceremony, having two great little girls, and the family pup home with me all Summer, while pregnant, had me a little tied up...sometimes literally.  But I am back to my regularly scheduled blogging, and hope to keep up with things, eventhough I am currently 34 weeks pregnant.  It's hard for me to be too active, so why not blog, right?? 
My girls are spending the next two weeks with their Dad, which means, it's just me, the hubs, and the pup, and of course, the resident in my womb...lol.  Some people say to me, "Well, at least you get a break."  You know what, I don't look at it that way.  I have two amazing girls, and a great hubby, so I really don't ever feel like I need them to go away.  That being said, I miss them like crazy, and often find it very emotionally trying when they are not here.
I think that comes from how I define myself.  I know we are not supposed to lose ourselves in the titles we hold, but I truly define myself as a Mom, not in totality, I do have other hats obviously...but I am Mom.  It is ingrained in my being, there is nothing I can do about that, nor would I.  But it does make it harder to say goodbye to them for extended periods.  So, what do I do to cope?!?!  Well, I usually try to save projects that I know they have no interest in, or at least would be more of a hindrance than a help with, for when they are gone.  At least that way, I feel productive, and fill my time pretty well when they are not here.  Soon enough, the new little baby will be here and I will be searching for time to get certain things done...but for now, that is what I do.
It's hard starting over, we are all certainly better off, God knows that, but it has been more challenging than even I imagined.  The girls have handled life's circumstances so well...I admire their strength...and I am proud that they are my daugthters. 

It's A Balancing Act...

Being a Mom, whether stay at home, work at home, work out of the home, etc. is a balancing act.  Finding a balance between being cooking, cleaning, parenting, and on and on is not an easy task.  It goes beyond time management, because you always have to be able to expect the unexpected.  Being pregnant right now also adds to the difficulty of balancing this act.  I am thankful to have a husband that works his hardest to be supportive, help me whenever he can, and takes care of our family financially....taking one ball out of my juggling act.  I was a single Mom for a couple years.  It was so hard, but it was doable.  I worked at a private preschool and had my kids there with me in some way, whether it was before and after care or their preschool year.  To me it was more important to be there with them physically, then to try and make more money working longer hours somewhere else.  I didn't make a lot of money, but I had more opportunity to be with my children than any other single, working Mom I know.
Having run the gamut, stay at home Mom, working Mom, and single working Mom, I will say, love being a stay at home Mom the most.  Not because I feel it is the easiest, because honestly, it isn't.  There is a whole emotional, psychological fear that can come with staying at home.  You have to work through the idea that if, God forbid, something happens to your hubby, you may be in a really tough spot, and you are totally reliant on your spouse, financially.  It is an adjustment....and of course, there is also the stigma from society that stay at home Moms are all sitting around like the various casts of The Real Housewives of WHEREVER.  My days are pretty full, some more than others, some totally over-flowing.  I do my best to keep the balance between being Mom, Wife, Homemaker, and just plain ME!  One thing I learned the first time around being a stay at home Mom was NOT to lose ME in the process. 
Don't ever lose who I AM while finding my way through this life....that goes for everybody!

The Joys Of Pregnancy...

I often feel sorry for my hubby, living with two little girls, a goofy pup, and a pregnant wife.  I am 16 weeks along, and the first 12 were horrible.  I was sick almost all the time, which was completely different from my first two pregnancies....color me SHOCKED, and green...very green...

Now, I am no longer nauseous, thank goodness, but I have that pregnancy insomnia, and I am also dealing with limbs falling asleep through the night, which wakes me up.  I don't have a whole lot of energy, and I know I am not as active as I was before I got pregnant. 

I love my hubby, and he is great for being patient and as understanding as he can be, considering this isn't really an experience he can relate to.  He does a great job, and I appreciate him very much. 

We are heading to Puerto Rico next week, some sun, fun, and best of all, relaxation! I am looking forward to our getaway....