Resolutions and Take Aways

Before the month of January closes out, I suppose I should comment on resolutions and lessons learned from the previous year.

My resolution is simple and the same as a billion other peoples': lose weight and/or not gain any more weight. When Anders was still on the boob and allergic to all the dairy and chocolate I ate (therefore removal from my diet), I was literally trying on size 0 and size 2 pants. Size 0, people. Zero!!! But given he stopped breastfeeding last year, it opened my world again to cheese and chocolate and increased beer consumption. And you know what comes with cheese and chocolate and beer? Not size 0 pants. Just a whole bunch of extra tummy love. You know what else it brings? Joy. Sheer joy.

As well, my resolution from last year stands to be more patient with the boys and cut back on the yelling. Choosing joy, blah, blah, blah. I guess I'm a work in progress on this one. How's the saying go? I, myself, am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions. Yes, that's the one.

As far as my take aways from 2013:

- Pick my battles with the kids' tantrums. I'm learning when to let them scream for 10 minutes on the floor vs trying to placate them. I'm not a master by any means, but I've been saving myself some grief lately.

- If you install a "no slam" toilet seat in one bathroom of the house, you may as well on the other toilets, as well. Otherwise you will hear a whole lot of errant slamming seats after getting used to the one that doesn't slam.

- Pay attention to the change in speed zones at the end of the year when there are quotas to meet.

- Being more positive for Erik when he arrives home from work (trying not to complain about the kids, etc) has overall been a better adjustment for us both. Am I holding in some choice words at times? Yes. Do I still feel the need to voice them the next day? No.

- I continue to feel absolutely blessed with my life. I know I joke about stuff all the time and can be self deprecating within my writings, but I honestly feel like a lucky soul and if I can mark that as a take away for every year moving forward, things will be just fine.