Hi everyone! I know it's been a while since I posted. But it's a new year, and with the new year comes resolutions, including keeping up with the blog!
So where to even begin? September 2015 was officially classified as "hectic," as my family saw the arrival of baby Elliot and suddenly we were dealing with the care and nurturing of a tiny human. That puts more stress on the human body than you can imagine! I spent a lot of sleepless nights caring for the little tyke who did not want to fall asleep and wished instead to be held constantly. But Elliot is now 4 months old and is pretty much sleeping right through the night, waking only once for a meal. During the day he is so active and cognitive, babbling baby talk and laughing more and more. That means more food, more naps, and, fortunately, more time for me (mostly to get chores done!). We are steadily falling into a steady routine that will hopefully become even more beautiful with every change Elliot makes!
Here are some changes were are implementing as a family for 2016:
1. For me, dressing modestly. Modesty is not supposed to compromise human dignity - it is supposed to glorify it. I am not against shorts, jeans, or even the occasional "sexy" outfit, especially when I'm with my husband! But my goal is to make cute outfits with skirts and thrift-store tops, and to attend church wearing a veil, as ladies used to do. This is a personal decision, not forced upon me by my husband, peers, or my religion. I want to do this because I feel this is a Good Thing. Besides, I'm pretty sure that by dressing appropriately, I can teach my son the value of respecting women!
2. Finances. Our medical bills were so ridiculous it wasn't even funny. During my pregnancy I had visited four different hospitals, so I was getting billed from several different places all at once, and living paycheck to paycheck simply wasn't enough to cover costs. Regardless of bills, however, Jeff and I are taking care of our budget in small ways each month. It really makes a difference in paying attention to the food you buy, the gas you spend, and how much air or heat you pump through your house! Sticking to a budget plan each month is also helping us put away money in our savings, which we hope to use by next year for a down payment on a house.
3. Investing More Time With Family. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but I am such a reclusive homebody, which could be detrimental to Elliot's development. It being winter doesn't help, nor that Elliot is still to young to really "play with," but just getting him outside to see the wonders of creation would be beneficial for my son, who needs to learn vocabulary beyond what he hears in stories, and see things beyond the walls of his home. It will be good for Jeff and I, too, to spend more time with the in-laws and our friends, when we can!
4. Organizing Life. This one sounds nearly impossible, but in the few months that I've been a mom, I have discovered a lot about myself that once before I thought impossible. I'm paying bills, making doctor's appointments (and keeping them), moving furniture, cooking healthy meals, keeping the budget, and, most importantly, keeping up with the laundry and the dishes. I'm also functioning on less than 7 hours of sleep, roughly. If I can do all that by myself, then I can do even more!
5. Trying New Things. Jeff wants to start a comedy club. I want to publish short fiction. Jeff wants to continue our weekly D&D campaigns. I want to continue my Steeped Tea business and keep current with my blog and Facebook page. And, of course, we want to spend more time with our son, together!
Those are just a few of our New Year resolutions. As you may notice, there's nothing in there about eating healthy or getting "fit." We keep fruits and veggies on our table, and our budget limits our eating-out. Otherwise, we're not into the protein shakes or kale salads. Some people adore them, and such things fit their needs and lifestyle, but Jeff and I are very laid-back people who enjoy pizza on a Friday night and our carrots with ranch dip (or our apples with caramel sauce, no regrets). As for getting fit, both Jeff and I are aware that we could afford to hit the gym at least once a week, but working out daily is not our thing. We are not overweight or unhealthy - we simply don't do weekend marathons or pull-ups.
Another family goal is to be more world-matter-conscious. Last year hit me hard in the emotions as I read with horror about Planned Parenthood. Both my husband and I are pro-life, but before Elliot came along I felt detached from the issues, though they do bother me immensely. Being pro-life is more than rallying for unborn children; it is the call to recognize dignity in every human being, and the rally to celebrate life rather than its demise simply for convenience. As I read about the atrocities being committed, I thought about the baby inside me, and I considered his development - I thought about how he was not just a "bunch of cells"; those cells grew and changed every single second regardless of my will. Jeff and I were poor at the time; we had a crappy apartment, no insurance, a meager income, and only a few hundred dollars when we married and conceived. Anyone would have encouraged us to have an abortion because of our situation. But women everywhere must be reminded that their situation is not without hope. If women are surrounded by love and propped up by hope instead of fat dollar signs and disappointments, they would not feel the need to kill their precious, precious children. We are living in an age where science has deemed a fetus human from the moment of conception. Any excuse otherwise is pathetic and a sad attempt to justify murder. Therefore, I am making it a personal goal to be more involved with the pro-life movement, and to raise my son in a household that prays for both enemy and victim - and to educate him in the value and dignity of human life, which is also both sacred and precious. The world can be a vicious place - but it doesn't have to be!
I will write more in the upcoming weeks. There is a lot to blog about, and I would write more tonight, but I'll probably hit the pillow when I put the baby down tonight. Mommy's exhausted!
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