Goals Revisited

In this post I wrote 9 days before Lou was born, I mentioned some goals that I really really really wanted to try my best at. I figured now is the time to own up to how I have been doing with them! Now, let's keep in mind, when I wrote these goals - it as pre-baby time. I naively imagined tons of free time and a life of sunshine and lollipops while skipping along cloud nine. Being a "take home" mom has been amazing - I have loved and treasured every second of it.... every exhausting, sore, can I just please have a few more hours of sleep minute :)

So I smile at the sunshine - and love the lollipops- but I am too tired for the skipping!

Here goes!

1) Cook a delicious dinner one night a week.

Alright this one has been a fail. I have made honest efforts here and there- but I haven't succeeded in the whole one night a week thing.

What I did do: perfected stuffed mushrooms. These will be a staple in the household for years to come. I had never made them before but after tweaking the recipe a few times - I have a hit!!! Serve with some spaghetti and salad and delish!

I also had a failed attempt at chicken curry (came out AWFUL), fine tuned my stuffed chicken and nailed a vegetarian black beans & rice dish. So this goal is still a work in progress. Christmas morning I am going to attempt a French Toast Casserole. An amazing girl I work with made one for our Christmas party and I will admit, I was horribly sceptical - but it was awesome! Perhaps it will become a Christmas tradition here??? Well see....

However, I did start making the baby's food myself - and now he is almost 9 months old and I am still straining all his peas and chopping his squash. His favorites are: bananas, squashy bananas, squapples (acorn squash baked with apples) and peas. His dislikes: CARROTS and grean beans.

Grade so far: C (but the baby food is bumping it up to an A-)

( I Love My Squash Mommy- I am a Big Boy and can do it all by myself... and if you try to help me I will scream bloody murder)

2) Read little boy classic books

Eh, another fail. Well, I did decide we would still read him classics, but when he is a bit older. Right now I Love You Stinkyface is his favorite - and I love reading it to him. Grade so far: Incomplete

3) Work on Grant's back.

This we have actually done well on! He still has most of the weight to lose - but he is so much more active and uses stairs instead of abusing his back. He is not getting any table food - except what Lou drops of course - and he is on par to have a healthy back. Grade so far: B

4) My health.

This has been a giant success!!! Woo hoo!!! I am off all blood pressure meds, do not have diabetes (that was one scary test to take), have amazing cholesterol. My weight loss goal of 75 pounds, how am I doing with that? I have lost 40 - 50 pounds :) I say 40, even though it has been 50 because the last 10 have not been lost in a healthy manner so I expect them to come raging back on. I have working a lot of on call shifts and honestly don't eat much some days. I would rather crawl in bed. I did promise my doctor I would make a point to eat more while on call and the days around it. If I want to lose the last 35 pounds, it needs to be in a healthy manner or else it will never work. Grade so far: A

Lastly,

The one goal that is the most important and will need to be worked on every day is finding a new balance in life as a family.

This has been the hardest. I am no where near having this balance down. I work too much and sometimes miss seeing Lou for 36 hours :( It doesn't happen often, but when it does it really hurts my feelings. On the other hand, we need to money desparately - so I guess I am prioritizig. When my baby isn't with me - he is with my mom or his dad. he knows love from many people :)

I am not even going to grade myself on this one - it will remain a work in progress - probably for the rest of my life!

(4 Generations!- Lou, Mommy Great Grampy and Nana)