Oh gosh, where do I start?  There have been so many times that I use an extraordinary amount of energy and end up exhausted…start with now…raising a baby.  I feel tired, completely exhausted every night and somehow, manage to wake up every morning and do it all again…never even fully rested from the day before.  Such is the life of an older mom.  I can barely keep up with the baby now.  She’s so quick…one min she’s in the living room playing with toys, the next, she’s in the kitchen playing with the refrigerator magnets…lol.  It doesn’t take everything I’ve got to get up in the morning…but I would like to sleep past 7 am…

No, I like my sleep.  I don’t remember most of my dreams, but I do remember some of them and I am still haunted by a dream that I had while I was in Iraq in 2003.  That said, I do love my sleep and I would never give it up, no matter what was promised.

Today, we have to run errands.  I need a new dress for the memorial and my hubby needs his hair cut since he’s going back to school tomorrow…he also needs to get a few school supplies and I think I want to get a bread maker.  Just a cheapie one, should work, at least that what all my friends say.  I looked at reviews for a $40 bread maker and they all say that it works great, except for one person who was not happy with it.  Well, anyway, if it doesn’t work, I’ll be taking it back to the store.  Still, if it only lasts for a year, that’s still quite a bit cheaper than buying the crap bread at the store.

Speaking of crap bread, my husband and I are working our way towards eating better…eating real food rather than processed crap.  Don’t get me wrong, we still eat SOME processed food.  We’ve cut out drinking soda.  We figured, if you’re thirsty, drink water.  We still drink coffee, though and I use cream in it (and that cream is a processed product).  We try to eat real food for meals.  We eat cereal, but it only has 2 ingredients:  wheat and vit e as a preservative.  We pour certified organic soy milk over the top and it is yummy.  We eat fresh greens at least once a day, sometimes twice.  This list could go on and on.  We are trying to stay away from genetically engineered foods.  Both of us were highly disappointed that Prop 37 didn’t pass in California.  That would have twisted manufactures hands in labeling outside of California, because it wouldn’t necessarily be cost effective to JUST label in California…anyway, that’s another blog for another time.

DH is taking a citizenship test online and so far, he’s only missed 2 questions out of 57 so far and there are 96 questions total.  The funny part of that is…we’re not sure how many people in the US could take and PASS this exam.  He stated that maybe each citizen should take AND pass this quiz before being able to vote…I don’t think that’ll work, but good in theory, anyway…

oh well, time to get a move on…

Preparing myself and my 10 month old daughter to take a trip to Georgia for my uncle’s memorial this weekend.  I am leaving on Friday.  This will be the first time that my girl will meet my dad’s side of the family, besides my dad of course.  It’s unfortunate that a tragedy brings families together.  The last sort “family reunion” like this was my grandmother’s funeral in 2005.  My husband was able to go to that, but unfortunately, he is not able to come to this.  😦  Oh well.

I used to be a morning person, but I prefer late afternoon to actually getting stuff done.  I find it quite difficult to get up before 8 and be very productive.  Although, I do love mornings…I’d just rather not DO anything.  Most of my inspiration and motivation is later in the day right around 1-2…which ironically is when my daughter usually takes her 2nd nap.  That is when I try to get most of my stuff done.  However, I used to run errands around that time BC–that is “before child”…haha!  😉  Now, it’s everything I can do to actually get a shower daily or get that load of dishes or clothes washed…ugh…

Funnily enough, I am a better test taker first thing in the morning, though.  I typically do better on any exam at 8 am.  Knowing this, I tended to schedule my classes (when I was in school) in the morning.  Besides, I usually got a better parking spot by having an 8 am class…sneaky, I know…but…whatever.

Anyway, my uncle passed away early this morning, so most of my day has been consumed by trying to make arrangements for travel.  I have a flight for the baby and myself.  My brother and sister-in-law and I are all going to share a room and a car to save a bit of money.  This was an unexpected trip.  My husband would have come with me, but I’m not sure that we could have afforded both of us going.  Now, as well, I’m not sure I can attend my 20 yr high school reunion.  I guess we’ll have to see what the finances look like in a few months.  As of now, I’m not changing my RSVP until I know for sure that I can’t make it.  I really want to go.  I missed my 10 year due to the fact that I was in Iraq at the time…I guess that’s a pretty darn good excuse, but still in all…I was sad to miss it.

Well, it’s my daughter’s bedtime and she doesn’t want anything to do with Daddy at the moment.  Have a good day ya’ll.

My favorite way to recharge is to sleep.  Even though I do get energized from being around other people, sleep is my favorite way to get recharged, esp at the end of the day.

Hope everyone had a wonderful new year!  Hope that this year is starting out well for you and if it’s not, I hope that it improves quickly!

The daily task that takes up most of my energy is cleaning.  I hate doing it.  There are toys scattered from here to Timbuktu and while I NEED to get it done, I am sitting here staring at the mess, typing away…I can always find something else better to do…and the baby is sleeping, so really, this would be the perfect time to get it done.  I will.

Have you started your resolutions, yet?  I wouldn’t call them resolutions more than I would call them “things I need to do anyway…” on that list is unplugging everything for 1 full hour.  I thought that I would turn the phone off, but considering that I don’t have a home phone available, I can’t really turn my cell off…I don’t know if something might happen to my husband or someone in my family…but I have to be able to be reached.  Then, there is a 365 day photo project that I am working on.  I take the pictures, anyway…might as well make it a project…lol…and, of course, NaBloPoMo for January, anyway.  We’ll see how I feel about continuing to do this for the next month.  It will really depend on whether or not I have the time to do it…things will be getting back into the full swing next week.  Although it’s been nice not having a whole lot on my plate right now, I’m eager to do Baby School again next week and start coffee’s back up.

If you’re the praying type, can you keep a good friend of mine in your prayers.  She just recently had her 2nd baby, full term, but my friend has found herself back in the hospital due to an infection that they aren’t quite sure what it is.  They are not sure if it is breast infection or c-section or blood clot, but she is currently separated from her 1 year old, her days old newborn and husband.  Thanks, in advance.

Hope you have a great day! 🙂

First of all, Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2013!  What a great start!  Hope this blog finds you well, happy and healthy!

So, where do I draw energy from?  Well, I guess first I should tell  am an extrovert.  I get my energy from those around me.  If you are an introvert, you may feel as though your energy is being sucked away.  You need to go into your own space and recharge your batteries, so to speak.  The extroverts, such as myself, probably suck some of your batteries dry!  My husband is an introvert and he finds that sitting on the computer helps recharge his batteries, while I feel the constant need to be around people.  This is why I like facebook so much.  I can recharge my batteries, so to speak, while my husband recharges his.  I’m a weird extrovert though.  I’m a homebody by nature and I am perfectly comfortable staying inside for days at a time (especially if the weather is less than ideal), but I have a constant need for human contact.  Hence, I go shopping a lot.  Whenever my husband and I are in a group situation, we are always one of the last ones to leave.  Drives my husband crazy, but that’s the extrovert in me.  Him wanting to leave early is the introvert in him. 🙂

I am an ENFJ-Myers-Briggs personality types.  I am classically this type.  This particular personality type is very people oriented and externally focused.  True that I could use my powers for evil, rather than for good…I’m just not very good at manipulating people.  I still have a quite innocent outlook on life and while I am a people-watcher, I don’t often recognize the-not-so-good-stuff until after I’ve thought about it for a while.  But, I do make decisions based upon emotions.  My decisions are usually very quick and not very thought out.  This leads to some regrets later on, but by in large, I’ve done pretty well.

Now that I am a parent, I feel that I should get out everyday.  I love exposing my daughter to lots of new situations.  We attend Baby School-which is nothing more than a playgroup with other children her age.  We sing and the other moms commiserate with each other as our babies go through milestones and developmental leaps.  The baby and I have made some pretty great friends at our time there.  I definitely feel like I get recharged there!

Well, here we are.  2012, the best year of my life so far, is drawing to a close.  This was the year that my baby was born and we have spent the last 10 months watching her grow and become her own person.  She’s been a joy to watch and it is sad to know that the first year is almost over.  That my tiny baby is no longer “tiny”…my gorgeous baby is so smart and such a sweetheart!  I can’t believe it.  2013 holds something…I just don’t know what yet…it’s going to be a great year, too!

Here’s to all the great years that have past and all the new years to come that hold a year of promise and hope!