Several blogs I follow have talked about embracing a word for the year rather than making resolutions. While I still have a few things I’d like to do such as watch more movies with Lance or finally move beyond episode 2 of Breaking Bad, I like the idea of embracing one word for the year. Hopefully, it will help me to become a better mother, wife, and all around person.

Another…favorite…Big Love. I am so flipping bummed that this is the show’s final season. I LOVE all the sister wives. And while I generally relate to Barb in her no-nonsense organizing way, I also a huge fan of Nikki, and totally related to her bullying the kid that picked on her kid. Because let’s be clear, anyone who messed with my kid would get the same treatment.

A picture thought or two…



I am so not a fashion person, but I love dressing this little girl even though we are home quite a bit. I never seem to catch good shots of Baby Z. To be honest, she is cutest when sleeping right now, but she only sleeps in our arms which prevents a lot of pictures.

The big yawn…proof that she doesn’t always scream.

Today I caught you staring at me. Just looking so intently at my face as if you were trying to figure me out. I couldn’t stop staring right back at you. I want so much not to forget any second of your sweet life. I know how it goes…I will forget lots of the details I so desperately want to hang onto because we will make new memories, you and I together. But I know I will remember how your face looked today. I wanted to capture it for everyone to see, but alas, it is only a picture imprinted on my heart. I love you, my sweet little girl. Mom

Monday a glass bottle broke as I was trying to get out the door. I stayed calm.

Tuesday, we discovered the dog was gone as we were trying to leave. We finally had to leave to get the kids the school. We last saw her in front of psycho lady’s house.

This morning, some guy hit me with his Honda accord. No damage to my car, some to his. Happened a block away from school, major language problems.

For Today…January 10, 2011

Three weeks in, and I’m finally tired. And cranky. The crankiness is made worse by people, meaning family members, asking what’s wrong. My first impulse is to scream, “what the eff do you think is wrong?” Do I need to remind you know that I just had a kid, and that school started and I’m getting up for the day at 6, showering, pumping, feeding a baby who screams pretty much all the time, plus getting kids ready to school, plus coming home and teaching the Baby Hulk. Without any help at all. Side note: I hate when people assume that my 15 year old is a great help. Yes, he is a great kid, amazing kid, but helper he is not. At all.

So yes, I’m a bit cranky and sorry that the great mood I’ve been in since birth seems to be ending. I honestly can’t wait to return to the gym. That hour of alone time working out will do wonders. I hate to sound ungrateful because I am thrilled with our new baby, but I so wish she would sleep in her crib. I have never wanted to co-sleep, and yet five kids down the line, here I am just so that I get some sleep. I don’t know how people do it. Both Lance and I were commenting that while we are sleeping a bit, we have yet to really fall asleep because we worry about rolling onto her.

And I know this phase will soon come to an end, and I’ll be lamenting the end of it, feeling sad that I won’t have an infant in my arms, but for today, I’m tired, have no interest in pumping, listening to boys fight, No David fuss nonstop. I do feel slightly bad, I normally relish in motherhood, but for today I’m tired. And I think that is understandable. If not, there is always Xanax.

Today is the actual Feast of the Epiphany. I managed to make a super simple version of a King cake. And by simple, I mean I opened a can of Cinnamon rolls and shaped them into a circle, frosted it, then put colored sugar on it. It tasted good, looked decent except the purple sugar turned out black.

For Today…January 2, 2011

Outside my window…it’s dark and chilly outside. I love this weather, although it’s a bit harder to enjoy with a two week old! I worry about it being too cold for her.

I am wearing…black pants and a black shirt. I can’t wait until I fit into my clothes. I am not a fashionista, but I am over wearing maternity clothes!

I am grateful for…these past two weeks. Thank goodness Baby Z arrived when the kids were out of school and they could spend some time with her! We have had the best Christmas break. The boys are in love with their new sister and have alternated between singing to her and running outside to play football.

Also grateful…that I have such an easy time after my c-sections. I have been fine since leaving the hospital less than 48 hours after surgery and am ready (I think) to get five kids up and out of the house on Tuesday. But let’s say a prayer just in case I’m not ready…

I am listening to…Liz Phair.

I am thinking…we are so not the Holy Family. A resolution of sorts is to become a better family from the top down to the bottom.

Speaking of resolutions…I resolve to start watching Breaking Bad. Lance loves this show, and I have only watched two episodes. I promise to watch if only to know why Jon Hamm keeps losing the Emmy to the guy on the show. I also resolve to go see a movie with Lance at least once a month! And then there is that patience thing…I’ll work on that too.

On keeping home…All of the decorations are packed away. I never take down decorations before the Epiphany, which is January 6th. I figured since the Church celebrated the feast today, I could too. So everything is packed away and in the attic. I am so glad that I didn’t unpack all my stuff this year. It was much easier to put away. As it was, I still had several tubs of decorations. Now comes the deep clean again. I keep telling Lance he doesn’t realize how lucky he is that his wife is so neat and clean. And that I heal from my sections so well…because let’s be real, I am the one who has kept this house clean despite being told to take it easy for the past two weeks.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty…is there a real rhythm in the house when you have a newborn? I guess next week, we’ll start with a schedule because kids have to be at school, but other than that we’re at the mercy of the baby as it should be for now. The beauty is staring at me every time I hold her. I am so thankful for this baby!

I am creating…plans for Baby Hulk and No David. We’ll take it easy this week, but then we’ll be back in business the following week. In looking over my blog from last winter, we really had a great time celebrating the saints and I hope to make some plans for that as well.

From the kitchen…menu planned and back to a regular diet. We finally went to the grocery store after not going for two weeks. I have no idea how we lasted that long.

One of my favorite things…Castle. My mom bought me the first season on DVD, and I have been able to catch up on everything I have missed. Normally, I wouldn’t like a show like this, but I love it. Both Lance and I find ourselves laughing out loud.

The most romantic thing I did recently…danced with Lance to our wedding song. I was listening to Lenny Kravitz earlier and our wedding song, Heaven Help, came on and we both had the same idea!

A few plans for the week…show off the baby to the ladies at the gym. (No I’m not working out, just going to show her to the caregivers.) playdate, back to swim lessons, clean and enjoy my kids.

A picture thought I am sharing…


This is the picture I used for her announcement, which has yet to arrive. I am totally annoyed because I did the combo Christmas card/birth announcement and now it will arrive possibly on the 5th, one day before Christmas ends.

While 2010 wasn’t perfect, it did end on the most positive note ever: the birth of our first daughter. Everybody is in love with her, and while we can’t imagine a life without her, there was indeed a life. So here is my “Best Of” for 2010. Happy New Year and many blessings for 2011!

Such high hopes before reality set in.

We celebrated the liturgical year so much as a family, but the Feast of St. Joseph is one of my favorites.

Proudest moment of 2010.

One of five visits with our favorite people in the world.

My favorite thing to complain about is obvious.

A love note!

The ultrasound that changed everything!

My 40th birthday.

This kid hasn’t changed one bit, might be into even more now.

Best Date Night of the year.

The one football highlight of the year. Despite how low the Longhorns went this year, I still laugh at Nebraska.

Kids.

My two favorite posts of the year about my kids and raising them.