Some Twisted Resolutions

A lot of people dread making New Years resolutions, others think they're cheesy and pointless, and a small group of people actually commit to some significant life changes that they will accomplish in the next 365 days.

I don't fall into any of those groups.

I absolutely love New Years resolutions. I rarely follow through with them, but I am a firm believer that "it's the thought that counts." If I can strive for something bigger and try to make myself a better person, I'm taking a step in the right direction. Even if it never actually happens ;)

Believe me, I have A LOT to work on. But I think it's best this year to follow my favorite saying "KISS"-- keep it simple, stupid. I usually try to pack so much on my plate, I won't even be able to remember the first thing on my list, come January 2nd.

So, I'm going to do things differently this year.  Just work on 3 simple things...

1) Only ONE complaint or negative thought per day. I'm thinking that if I really have to save up and make it a good one, I might wait all day for that really bad thing that's worth blowing up over... and it may just never even happen :)  Wishful thinking, I know.

More realistically, I would have to choose between a series of blows, like yesterday... a hammer fell on my toe from about 8 feet high, I got a letter from the IRS that I owe $800 from the tax year 2007?!!?, and I was double charged by Verizon for the same bill.  Luckily, it wasn't January 1st yet, so I had a good cry about all of them.

2) More family fun on the weekends. Matt and I have done enough hibernating this winter for everyone on this entire block. It's time to get off our butts and take this boy outside for some fun activities, dang it!

3) Do one nice thing for someone every single day. For you regular people, that might sound like a lot and would involve actually doing things, but for me it will be easy.  It will be things like not screaming at someone who cuts me off or not telling the customer service person at Verizon that they don't know how to do their job.  Just simple things like that ;)

I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but I'm going to give it a shot.  I wish you all the best in your New Years resolutions and adventures.  Bring it, 2011! 


Click it or ticket! Just kidding, but please vote for us :)

Top 10 of 2010

Looking back through my hundreds of pictures of Niall this year, it's amazing how each photo really does tell a story.  Usually a weird and twisted story that I couldn't come up with in my wildest imagination, but there it is, clear as day.

I will completely forget about a lot of these funny (or not so funny) occasions until I glance back through an album- and I'm suddenly reliving the moment.

I'm so happy that I took hundreds (maybe even thousands) of snapshots of Niall so that I can do this, but I'm really kicking myself that I didn't get any of Matt and/or me with him.  I really wish I had some...

Oh well, I'll put it on my new years resolution list.  So here they are-- my top 10 favorite pix of Niall this year:

#1

fist pumping at 2 months old

#2

just one of my faves- from the big blizzard in February

#3

this boy loves to ponder

#4

what?  i like yogurt...

#5

...and goldfish

#6

Niall and jack-o-lantern: puke partners

#7

just bein' cute

#8

just bein' a goofball

#9

OMG LEGOS!!

#10

born to be bad (how many babies you know wear cut-offs?)

Link up your top 10 photos of the year: A Sorta Fairytale


Click it or ticket! Just kidding, but please vote for us :)

Wordless Wednesday {Slam Dunk}

Click it or ticket! Just kidding, but please vote for us :)

The Snowy Winding Road

It killed me last year to be home during the most amazing snow storm of my lifetime-- and not be able to play with my first born baby boy in it. What a tease. Niall was just about the size of a football, and his neck barely able to support his wobbly little head.

So while I wanted to throw a big snowball in his face and make matching mommy and baby snow angels, simple physics would not allow it. Instead, a little soiree in the car seat, featuring king of snowy mountain, did the trick... kind of.

Fast forward about a year.

We're at the bay for Christmas and what do you know, we're the only part of Maryland that gets any snow-- but I didn't bring Niall's snowsuit and boots that I got him just in case the perfect snow storm would hit again. Typical.

But it was so beautiful and peaceful, I didn't care. I just gazed out the window and soaked up all of the serenity (why is snow so perfectly quiet?). 

The old boat house with the choppy creek running behind it reminded me of a really old scary movie- but in a good way.

 

And I know that I'll have another opportunity to play with him in the snow this year and get that snow angel I've been dying for... and maybe even peg him in the face with a snow ball :)

I started snapping pictures right and left on our way home. Nobody was around; it was just me, Niall and Matt. And all I could think about was how fast a year goes by.  How this beautiful, snowy winding road is just like life... and how much I wish I were an amazing photographer.

How Niall is not a baby anymore, but a boy. With a personality. With likes and dislikes. With his own funny faces and expressions.

How could he have been that little football in my arms all those months ago? It feels like air now when I hold a 2 month old, but Niall is almost too heavy for me to pick up anymore.  When did that happen?

It's a happy time, seeing him grow and change. So why does it feel so sad sometimes? Like his little baby-ness is just slipping right out of my fingers. I love Niall as a one year old. I love that he is no longer just an extension of Matt and me, but his own little person.

And at the same time, I know that you only have your first child once. You only go through the whole clueless, hopeless mom thing one time.

It's scary to think that he's going to be a talking, running, screaming, hitting, toilet-using kid some day soon.  And even scarier to think that I will barely remember what it was like to hold and care for a newborn.

But for now, I'm enjoying and holding onto my numbered days with this little babbling bambino and stealing as many hugs as I can get :)

Click it or ticket! Just kidding, but please vote for us :)

The Perfect Christmas Gift

I've been getting a few different reactions to Niall's hesitation with walking--

A lot of surprise (Really?  He doesn't walk yet!?), quickly masked with reassurance (... uh, oh, well, he'll be up and about in a week I bet), but mostly a lot of pressure mixed with guilt (Come on Niall!  Are you gonna get up and walk for Uncle/Grandpa ___??)

I personally don't think it's a big deal.  He's 13 months now, and I got the impression that the norm was around 12 months.  I know that baby months are like dog years, but I'm pretty sure he's going to be ok.

Luckily, he sealed the deal on Christmas Eve, so we can all relax now.  He had taken a few steps starting just before his first birthday, but it was just a tease.  He would go weeks without doing it again.

But just like his daddy (at 15 months), he wasn't going to commit to this walking gig until he could get up and trek across the room like a pro.  Niall even took it a step further and decided he wanted to skip the whole sauntering thing and go straight to running.  Now, he's pretty much canned the 'all fours' sissy stuff.

Getting a little ahead of himself, but "A" for effort...



I have to admit, this Christmas wasn't exactly what I had expected.  Even though he's only a year old, I had visions of him at least attempting to rip some wrapping paper, or have some remote interest in the presents inside of the paper.

But all he wanted to do was play with the disgusting rubber dog slobber ring toy... which made me realize that what really makes Christmas special and fun are those imperfect moments that you're never expecting, but end up making better memories than the cliche picture most of us have in our head.

He was nice enough to act enthused for a few pictures, though...

not quite ready to give up that month old birthday balloon

nothing like chewing on a dog slobbery block for breakfast

who cares about presents?  just give me those glass ornaments

i guess i can make do with these... "presents"

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!



Click it or ticket! Just kidding, but please vote for us :)

Wordless Wednesday {Christmas Lights}

...on Thursday (oops, a day late-- I told you I would be lazy this week)

... and I'm sure you want to see my Christmas lights, right?

Maybe next year :)

Click it or ticket! Just kidding, but please vote for us :)