I reflect and resolve.

So it's that time of year again. The time of year that I make promises to myself that will be broken by February. The time of year I tell myself I will be much cleaner, much healthier, much nicer, and much more understanding. The time of year where I try and turn myself into someone I'm not, with good intentions of course. And it's not that I'm not a clean, healthy, nice, and understanding person. It's just that there is always room for improvement.

Regardless of past efforts and fails, I'll make my resolutions again this year. It's good to have goals, right? But this year, I'm going to make goals that must happen rather than things I just want to happen. Not only to achieve a happier me, but a happier life in general. A happier family. A happier husband. A happier baby. A happier future.

So while managing my money better, becoming more clean and organized, saving up enough money for a down payment on a house, working harder at my day job, become a world renowned photographer, and somehow becoming a stay at home mom... Big grin.

Pause. (If you listen closely you might be able to hear my husband laughing.)

But anyways.

My main resolution this year, the one that will help me achieve everything I've already listed, is to take better care of myself and like what I see in myself, inside and out.

I started with a haircut. No more chubby fingers tangled in the mangled mess that once was my hair.

But I want to add to that by spending both time and money on myself without the guilt that it needs to go towards my home or child. To fix my hair in the morning and put on clothes that don't make me feel and look like I just crawled out of bed. To be a kinder wife, a less dependant daughter, and the best mommy I can be. To ultimately be better in all of my roles and be happy with the roles that God has placed me in. And stay focused on all the little things in life that make up the greater picture.

As I said last time, 2010 was amazing to me and my family. It made our parents into grandparents, and our grandparents even grander. It made a man into an uncle. It made my husband into daddy. A wonderful one at that.



Evelyn (2 days old) with her Daddy



And it gave me the thing I'm most proud of and made me into the role I'm most proud to be.



Evelyn's mommy.

And that sweet little baby has cut a mean little tooth. See it?

It is sharp. Super sharp. I mean, I don't support her with my feet while I play around on the laptop anymore for fear of her biting my toe again, sharp.

And I have to mention that this adorable outfit she is wearing.

It's an Etsy outfit. Of course!

My friend Terra from Terra's Treasures makes very sweet children's clothing. It's incredibly well made and the clothes are soft and comfortable. It's wonderful to find one of a kind handmade clothing that has so much detail and love put into it.

And she accessorizes! Anyone who knows Evelyn, knows she is rarely seen without her bows!

And might I add... ruffles. We are very much into ruffle butts!

Check out her shop on Etsy: Terra's Treasures  She has lots of very unique and sweet clothing.

And last week I asked you to take a photo that represents your New Year's resolution and I'd like to share some of the entries.

Lisa submitted the following photo of her sweet little girl:

Lisa says: "My New Year's Resolution is to stop talking like a sailor so that my daughter's first word isn't the f-bomb. That wouldn't win any friends in our playgroup... So, we have this shelf of cookbooks that my sweet little girl likes to play with. Imagine my surprise when I saw her flipping through "Any B**** Can Drink". It was then that I decided I should hide that book and wash my mouth out with soap. You know, for the sake of the child."

Abbe submitted the following photo with the resolution of "having more fun and less mommy yelling!"

And lastly, a touching resolution from Bonnie Joe, and one we could all probably try harder at:

"My New Year's resolution this year is to "be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle" - quote from Plato. My photo is of my son Elijah who was born with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). There is a 50% chance of survival and although he was given great odds in the womb, after birth he needed extensive care. He spent his first five days on ECMO (life support) and after three surgeries and 69 days he finally came home. Spending that time with him made me realize that anyone you meet on the street could be going through something similar. During that time the kindness of my friends and family and even strangers is what pulled me though. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own life that I forget to be kind to those around me and you never know when just a warm smile will make all the difference."

Thank you ladies for sharing your resolutions, stories, and photos of your beautiful children.

Well in a little over 24 hours I'll be on my first flight with a baby in tow, alone, to meet up with my husband and visit with his family. In college I flew twice a month or more. Never blinked an eye. Now, all of a sudden, I'm freaked out of my mind. Not to mention I have to handle an increasingly rambunctious 5 month old. ALONE.

This should be interesting. Especially for whoever gets the pleasure of sitting next to me and Evelyn for a few glorious hours in mid-air.