Goodbye 2010

It's been another great year for my family and me:

• Bryan and I turned 30!


• Anna turned 2 - and has grown and changed so quickly.


• We welcomed 2 nephews: Drew and Brady.


• I started my 5th year of teaching - yes!!! I now have tenure at a job I love.


• We enjoyed a vacation with my dad and family in Michigan.


• We bought a new car - thankful for the extra space and the 4 wheel drive.


• We saw our friends get married in the Bahamas.


• We became super tech-savy with our iPad and iPhones.


• We enjoyed fun trips to the Cincinnati Zoo and Kings Island.

I'm very thankful for all our blessings. We are healthy and happy, and always finding fun things to do. I'm looking forward to what 2011 brings!

I'm thankful for:

• a really wonderful family
• my new iPhone
• Anna has officially started successfully potty training this morning
• a fun morning playing with new Christmas presents
• getting caught up on sleep
• a new year and new adventures

Top 10 Books of 2010

My favorite books that I read in 2010:

10. 20s Girl - Sophie Kinsella
9. South of Broad - Pat Conroy
8. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter - Tom Franklin
7. Girls' Poker Night - Jill A. Davis
6. Plain Truth - Jodi Picoult
5. Salem Falls - Jodi Picoult
4. The Bride Quartet (Vision in White, Bed of Roses, Savor the Moment, and Happy Ever After) - Nora Roberts
3. Room - Emma Donoghue
2. Fortune's Rocks - Anita Shreve
1. The Help - Kathryn Stockett

I am thankful for:

• a trip to the library
• a clean house
• sleeping in

Spirited - revisited

Last year my mom gave me a book, Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide For Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic, and when I read the first few chapters last year, I wasn't convinced Anna was Spirited - I thought just Spunky. Well, I revisited the book this week, and am now convinced that Anna is a Spirited Child. She's normal, but like the title says, MORE. I've always wanted Anna to be who she is, the person she was put on this Earth to be; I just want to be able to handle her better.

This book is really helping me. It's helping me to see that Anna's not the only child that does these things that drive me crazy and then leave me thinking what is wrong with her? or what is wrong with me? There's nothing wrong with either of us. Anna may not be the calm collected child that makes easy transitions and accepts the word "NO", and that doesn't make her bad. She is a remarkable child with her own set of gifts that help her be energetic, sure of herself, intelligent, and perseverant.

One valuable lesson so far: understand her warning signs that show it's all too much and she's about to blow, then get her to a calming activity (running hands through water, bubbles, back rub, bath, time alone, dry beans in a bowl) before we all lose it. Eventually she will have to identify those feeling when she's having them so she can calm herself down before moving on. I also need to stay attuned to my warning signs that I'm about to lose it so I can get to a calm place, if only for a few minutes.

I also learned about introverted and extroverted children (people). Anna is an extrovert: she needs to talk to and be around other people to reenergize herself. That's why she talks so much and needs to be right in my space when we are home - she's reenergizing. It's a simple concept, but it taught me a lot. Bryan is an introvert (and also spirited); he reenergizes by being by himself - he has to think about things that happened for a while before he's ready to talk about it.

I feel good about this book. I feel better about my parenting skills. I feel great about my child.

Today I am thankful for:

• a fun snow day with Anna
• the book
• it's not going to snow tomorrow

My Pants are Too Tight

I haven't been thrilled with my body over the past year or so. I don't know what happened. I don't think I started eating more or anything, but BAM! there it was - 8 lbs. that decided to make themselves at home on my stomach, butt, and thighs (notice, my lbs. never make it to my boobs!). And yes, I just wrote boobs on my blog :) So, I've been trying to get around the exercise with dietary changes or do a little exercise here and a little there, but I have to face it - regular exercise is the only way these 8 lbs. are going to leave me. Now, what kind of exercise? I guess my video since it's the only thing I can manage time and effort wise. Here's to me and my latest push to have a happy and healthy body!

Today I am thankful for:

• a fun day at home with Anna
• 2 hr. delay tomorrow
• Nora Roberts' Bride Quartet - seriously so fun to read

Weekend Wrap-Up

What I didn't do this weekend:

• ride in the car 5 hours each way to and from New Riegel, Ohio
• go to our friends' wedding
• hang out with out-of-town friends
• wear my super cute dress and high heeled shoes
• go to the Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo
• play in the snow

What I did do:

• got some Christmas shopping done
• got caught up on Glee
• lounged around
• played with Anna
• cleaned the house
• took a the personal day I had planned and had a date day with Bryan: a little shopping, lunch at The Pub, and saw Due Date (which I highly recommend - so, so, so funny)

While I'm sad I didn't get to see our friends get married and hang out with out-of-town friends, I'm glad we didn't make the long trip. We were just there for Thanksgiving, and the trip can be a little much in so short a time. Bryan was sick with sinus/cold stuff on Friday, so it wasn't going to be a good idea to make the trip. I guess I'll have to find somewhere else to wear my raspberry high heals!

Today I am thankful for:

• watching Anna use her imagination to make and eat cake in her kitchen
• Secret Santa week at school - it's so fun to give and receive fun gifts
• a relaxing weekend
• hearing Anna sing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"