Motivation and Resolutions!

My friend, Erika, posted a blog about choosing a word for the year and I decided to accept the same challenge. I decided my word of 2012 is Motivation. I chose this word because I was in such a slump last year with all the crazy events that happened that I needed a mental facelift.

So I’m motivated to be the best mom possible to Madelynne and enjoy the next 7 months until she turns 1, because, *hopefully*, by that time, I will be starting a new teaching job. J Ways in which I've done this already, have been attending local mom groups, such as Little Angels through our church and the library has a baby reading program, as well. I’m also enrolling the two of us into a swim class come February and did Baby Massage for 5 weeks, which was fun!

I’m also motivated to keep up with my diet and exercise regime. I joined Weight Watchers Online, which transformed my life 3 years ago. I figured, it forced me to be accountable and it allowed me some wiggle room with my eating, so I never felt guilty. I’ve put together a pretty rigorous workout routine of swimming 45 minutes on Mon/Wed mornings and running on Tues, Thurs, and either Fri or Sat. The running depends on the weather. Madelynne loves the runs and the weather is pretty mild here, so bundling her up and plopping her in the jogging stroller works.

I’m *trying* to stay motivated with training the dog’s. This is quite the task, as sometimes I get to it and sometimes I don’t. My biggest feat is to be consistent with the training. I want them to just chillax more, and not be crazy, as they sometimes can be. Compared to my folk’s dog, I’m a bit jealous, and our kiddos need be better behaved. Basic commands are simple, it’s just little things, like Noelle’s jumping and being hyper around new people.

Another motivation for this year (and the next two) is to continue to pay off and get out of debt. Therefore, really looking hard core for a new job is my motivator. I sway a little on this because Brad loves his job here in P.A. and it is the only thing really keeping us around here, but we cannot live off unemployment and an adjunct salary forever. Granted, love the time I get to spend with Maddie, but unemployment will run out and then we will be a rut. So here is to a new beginning come August!

My last inkling in motivation is to keep to my resolutions which are all of the above, PLUS, my doctorate work, less TV/social media so I’m not so “obsessed” (lots of GREAT stuff out there, too, to keep me distracted), read a book a month, and WRITE. The OCD side of me has created mini-daily to-do lists. I feel accomplished if I get through them all. I have this app on my phone where I simply check off as I go. This keeps me completely “on task” and is a great way to keep me from going astray. J

So, there you have it! My “motivators” to stay “motivated”!

In the world of Madelynne, she turned 5 months today. Her 4 month milestones included turning over one time, and now she has the rock and roll, from side to side, going. Sooner or later she will turning completely over. She has really discovered her voice and how to control volume, which is pretty hysterical. She also has discovered her feet and loves to sit up. She is so close to sitting up on her own, but she would prefer to just topple over, if she’s not in her little Bumbo seat. She loves tummy time for about 10 minutes and then gets frustrated because she can’t go anywhere. She also loves her Step ‘N Play toy because she makes music, can watch the dogs and cats and laugh hysterically at anything they do, and can spin herself around 360°. Pretty amazing how much she has accomplished in a little over a month and how much she has changed, too.

So, with that, I am motivated to get my butt ready for church! Until next time…