2013. You were memorable yet I want to forget most of you all at once. There were a lot of smiles and fun times but right now I am just kind of reflecting on the things that are on my mind now. The year started with finding out we were unexpectantly expecting our second baby just a few days in. Will had just came back from 4 months in Afghanistan and we already knew we were going to be moving back to Dayton, Ohio in the summer.
We tried to enjoy the rest of our time in Tampa but when we know you are moving it makes it difficult to not kind of have one foot out the door already. You know you are going to have to say goodbye to people and I was trying to be happy about going to Dayton when I really wanted to be going somewhere new. Plus, in my case, since we were leaving Florida again, I knew my family was going to be upset about being far from the girls.
The actual moving process took a lot out of us this time. I have had some digestive track issues for a while and after Kelsey was born I ended up having my gallbladder taken out. I had been having issues with the pregnancy kicking into high gear but I think the stress of the move and driving and summer heat just made me feel horrible by the time we got to Tennessee and I was starting to feel like I was going to need to go to the hospital. I was feeling a little better by the time we got to Dayton and it calmed down little by little as we got settled in. So, I am still waiting to find out some test results and get to take that baggage into 2014.
We are still discovering items that were “lost” in the moving process. How does a 10×12 rolled up carpet just vanish into thin air? Or, a full size ladder plus most of our outdoor tools? How about a professional style car jack? Of the items that did make it, a good chunk of it was damaged in some way, shape or form including part of the crib being cracked. It’s just been hard feeling like you’ve been ripped off.
It’s been a little difficult getting settled in. Everyone I knew in Dayton before works so I have been trying to find a new group of friends of the moms but it has been proving difficult between my husbands work schedule and the baby’s feeding and sleeping needs. The snow most of December hasn’t been helping since I really don’t like driving in it. I am hoping to get out more in the coming months especially as Aubrey starts interacting with the world more.
Aubrey actually getting here has been a bright spot and is one of the few things that consistently brings a smile to my face. I dare anyone to not smile and laugh when she cracks a toothless grin and you! Even at 3:30 in the morning I can’t help but smile back. I am so happy that overall she has been an easier baby than Kelsey at this point, the glaring difference is that I get majorly spit up on at least once a day, like take a shower and change your clothes. I can’t wait for that to stop. She has slept from about 8:30pm to 6am most of the time since she was a few weeks old so even though I rarely get a break during the day at least I get a couple hours of sleep each night (except that Kelsey still wakes up at least once a night most nights).
So, 2014, you have nowhere to go but up. Kelsey is hopefully going to be starting a couple hours a week preschool program. She’s turning 3 in a week so she’s finally old enough to try some classes and sports so hopefully we can find some activities that teach her some focus while burning lots of energy. I am looking forward to Aubrey learning and growing and hope to be able to carve out some regular one-on-one time with her. I am hoping to get better at getting going in the morning so we can actually do some things from time to time. I still can’t really think past spring at this point, but I just hope to look back at the end of 2015 and think, wow, we had fun this year.
I am hoping to make a plan to stay on top of housework while decluttering throughout the year. I plan to post once a week. I plan to do something crafty once a month – it gets my brain working and I am usually proud of what I make even if I am cursing at the sewing machine in the process. I’d also like to go somewhere or do something new at least once every other month – spring is going to be one big experiment as I think we are actually going to try to have a plot in a community garden and grow some vegetables. I am weirdly excited about that one.
I guess being in the middle of a cold after two children having the cold (and coughing and sneezing so hard they make themselves sick) so we haven’t really been out of the house in a week on top of getting a touch of seasonal affective disorder is kind of making me focus on the negative right now. I am, however, eating my 12 grapes and dumping my water outside and toasting the new year in hopes of a great 2014.
Happy New Year to all and I hope the new year brings you happiness and joy! Happy 2014!
Domesticating Michelle 