Baby Steps

I can safely predict that James is now just DAYS away from walking on his own.  I have witnessed him taking a step or two, and he is becoming much more comfortable with his center of gravity.  I can hardly believe that he is coming up on 11 months of life, we have already started throwing out ideas for the first Birthday Bash!  I am thinking a Packers victory party would be appropriate; especially considering James' love for Cheese!

The new year has brought on a lot of TO DO items.  1.) Find a place to live in Rochester 2.) Organizing Tax info. for the accountant 3.) I desperately need to see the dentist (which is kind of ironic considering I am married to one).  I can blame my lack of dental office visits to being pregnant, and then being too busy after having a baby. 4.) Organize parties for both Jake and James (Graduation and Birthday).  On top of these items; I have been working a full time job, cleaning and tending to a 4-bedroom house, and chasing James all over the place!  I am ready for a cocktail everyday by about 3 p.m. (but usually forget to have one-because I am always thinking about ticking items off the to-do list).

About two weeks ago, I looked at my calendar and decided that I needed to take a vacation day.  Essentially a day to do WHATEVER I desired.  I decided today would be a good day; seeing as I had to leave the house at 5 a.m. yesterday to make it to my morning meetings in Chicago.  James spent the day playing with his sitter, and I did some good old fashioned pampering.  I don't even feel like myself right now, I am a completely relaxed individual without a care in the world and not an ounce of stress in my body.  My day consisted of waking up to breakfast cooked by the hubbs, playing with James, working out, mani/pedi, a little accessory shopping, and then a movie with a girlfriend.  We saw Black Swan, I highly recommend the movie.  I will be stunned if Natalie Portman does not win an Oscar for her performance.

I should probably try to sleep.  I have Bethenny Frankel at the Pabst Theatre tomorrow night and the Dental Ball at Marquette on Friday.  Helllloooo social life, I have missed you!

Bath Time Stories

There is one thing I really miss since becoming a mother, READING.  Upon completion of the work day we have the following activities to tend to: make dinner (or PICK up dinner from Papa Murphy's or P.F. Chang's), clean the kitchen, bath time with James, books with James, bottle and bed for James, and then I try to pick up the assortment of toys that are sprawled throughout the house after James is in bed.  This is all usually complete by about 8 p.m.  Considering my day starts anywhere between 6-6:30, I am usually ready to collapse in exhaustion by this time.  I can start reading, but find that I usually only last about 10-15 pages before my eyelids get heavy.

So, I have come up with a simple solution to my problem.  I have started reading my novel out loud to James when he is in the bath tub.  We are currently reading, "Last Night at Chateau Marmont," By: Lauren Weisberger (same girl who wrote "The Devil Wears Prada.")  I realize that it is not exactly age-appropriate material, but I cannot get him to sit still to listen to "Goodnight Moon" to save my life. So I figured that he is getting the benefit of listening to all of those vocabulary words, and I am getting to enjoy my book before the feelings of exhaustion set in.  Bath tub really is the perfect time, because he sits nicely and is very relaxed (which is more then can be said for his behavior out of the tub).

Speaking of his behavior out of the tub, holy TANTRUMS!  If I am forced to take something away from him, or remove him from a room that he should not be in......I better be prepared to deal with the wrath of James!  He will throw his body all over the place, and throw his head back and wail for added dramatics.  This is completely uncharted territory for me, and I welcome any insight people could provide on how to deal with baby tantrums.  I have a very strong feeling that James is going to be a strong-willed child (he must get that from his Dad...seeing as I am the most laid back person in the world.)

Did the mail come today?

This is the question that was asked by my frantic husband at about 2 p.m. this afternoon.  I didn't even consider checking because I assumed that the USPS had an extra day off since New Years fell on a Saturday.  I could barely believe my eyes when he came in with a stack of mail.  He frantically ripped through the mail looking for a specific envelope; as he was in the process of opening said envelope I thought he was going to have a heart attack.  Well.........he was opening the results to his boards exam........he passed!  I am so absurdly proud of him, he put in more study time in 2 months then I did in my entire last year of college!  I think we can both see the light.........

Jake was en route home from the Packer game this morning (hungover...just as I had suspected).  So it was just James and I on the home front.  James decided that despite being exhausted, he didn't want to take a morning nap (this makes two days in a row).  So the hopes of me taking a shower, completely out the door.  I also saw my plans of attending the museum slipping down the drain; one cranky baby+an absent husband= frazzled mama (desperately in need of a hot shower).  I threw myself together as best I could; while keeping James distracted with a tube of Mascara, a contact case, and an empty Kleenex box.  I have developed the skill of making myself look somewhat "put together" in about 5 minutes.  This skill has proved to be a necessary one, seeing as James' napping schedule can be tricky.

I had intended to get some good cleaning accomplished today, since I somehow managed to put all of the Christmas decorations away last night.  That did not happen, nor did the workout I had planned.  I did take a glorious 30 minute nap.  So....I kind of felt like my vacation day went to waste.  The way I look at it.....there is always something that needs to be cleaned.....and it is not going anywhere......so it will have to wait until after work tomorrow.

Laundry List.....

If my ridiculous amount of laundry piled up in the basement serves as the reminder as to how busy we have been over the past week and a half....7 FULL LOADS.  Yes, I said SEVEN!!!!  This has never before happened....I think the most I have done in a day is four.

Jake is up in Green Bay, where he watched the Packers spank the Bears to secure a place in the playoffs!  I am very jealous, but if I were to be celebrating the big "W" in Green Bay....who would be here to deal with this laundry?!  Luckily, I have one more day of vacation tomorrow and I don't have to complete it all tonight.  I would like to get all of the Christmas decor put away tonight, James went to bed earlier then usual since he decided that he did not want to take a nap this morning.  He was a BEAR......which meant we missed 11 a.m. church.

I really feel bad missing the first Sunday mass of the New Year, so I decided that we will attend the 8:15 a.m. service tomorrow.  If I can get all of the Christmas stuff put away, that leaves us with a full day of no plans!  I can't even imagine the possibilities!  I would like to try to get down to see the Frog Exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum!  We also need to go shopping (shucks) for a baby shower gift and birthday gift.

Well I am off to switch out the loads.....

Resolutions

Last night we rang in the new year with a small group of friends.  We had a great time with plenty of good food and some cocktails of course!  My Mom and sister came down to help celebrate as well!  I have had the MOST crazy holiday season on record, between hosting two Christmas celebrations and throwing together a last minute New Years shin-dig.  I was ready to throw back a few drinks last night, Jameson and I had some quality time together.  I was feeling it this morning, but Jake decided to start 2011 with racking up a few brownie points (he cleaned the whole kitchen and fed the baby before I woke up).

So let's see....I guess I should take a moment to think about resolutions.
Workout 3x per week
Get more sleep (at least 7 hours per night)
Save MORE money (by trying to stick to our monthly budget)
Spend more time with family
Read to James EVERY night
Get more actively involved with our Church (probably won't happen until we get to Rochester)
Join a Mom's Group (again- this won't happen until Rochester)

2010 was really a life changing year, we welcomed James into the world!  There have been some challenges along the way but I have enjoyed every minute of motherhood.  I had to say goodbye to my grandmother, who was one of the most graceful women to ever live.  She was like a second mother to me, so it was a very difficult loss.  I continue to hold the memory of her rocking sweet Baby James to sleep during one of our visits.  I am so happy that she was able to meet him.

I am looking forward to all that 2011 has to offer.  Jake and I will be moving to a new city, and we will become Minnesotans (which I NEVER thought would happen).  James will be turning one!  Jake will be graduating from dental school (after 4 long years)!  I get to take the trip of a lifetime with my Godmother to Italy!

Wishing all of my friends and family a very Happy New Year!