Hugs and kisses all around

So, I want to bring resolutions up again because I have been examining what's worked and what hasn't in the first month of 2009.

I really only have one resolution for the year, as I have mentioned before, but I decided to write down goals for the days, weeks, and months also. Most of these are things that I have wanted to do for a long time, or things that I used to do before Ida was born, or before I got pregnant. Here is my list:

Daily
Personal prayer and Book of Mormon
One load of laundry
Pick up house before bed
Go outside
Hugs and kisses all around.

Weekly
Clean (even if superficially)
Talk to a family member
Check finances

Monthly
Birthdays
Pay rent
Pay tithing and fast
Temple with Matt

Year
Grind wheat and bake bread.

So far, I'm doing OK. The monthly ones are pretty easy because they are ingrained habits. (Except that I will never enjoy trying to find a babysitter. It is my least favorite chore.)(Also I usually remember family birthdays but forget to send a card.) The year one is easy because I still have 11 months left.

Probably the biggest breakthrough for me--the thing that I am most proud of--is that on my daily and weekly goals, I am skipping things here and there, particularly if I have an opportunity to sleep instead, and I am not feeling guilty. And then I try again the next day and the next until I actually do it. Going to bed without the house picked up, for example, or skipping a day, or two or three, of laundry. Both of these things can lead to headaches later on but sleeping is definitely worth it. Oh yeah and going outside every day? Maybe when the ice melts and/or we stop getting sick.

I built in "even superficially" to my cleaning goal, because before Ida was born I was slightly obsessed with cleaning. I was one of those supremely annoying people who were like, "I'm such a clean freak, I can't help it, I hate germs and dust, my house is just SO CLEAN!" Kind of like the people who are like, "I am such a nerd. I am so bookish and geeky. For some reason I am just SO SMART!" Or the people who are like, "I am so hygienic, I take a shower every day and I wash my hands frequently!" OK, sorry, getting carried away. ("I can't believe you're bringing that up at a time like this. It's like those people who brag because they're tall.")

But now what I used to do, long ago (spend all of Friday morning cleaning) is too daunting. So instead I clean when I have the energy. I use Clorox wipes and a Swiffer. Not very green and neither is a load a day but it's better than living in squalor. Someday I will get the bucket out again. Maybe. Matt has been helping a lot with dishes and keeping general clutter at bay. Also, I have been "trying" to improve our budget for like the past 2 years. Maybe sometime in 2009 I will actually open and update Quicken. Talking to a family member shouldn't be hard because I love my family, and actually it isn't hard. However, I am not a phone person. I go days without using my phone. Reason #547 why we should move to California. (and then I'd go outside every day too! even in the winter)

Now that Ida is almost 4 months old and a little easier to take care of, I am actually doing pretty well with my goals, despite the days or weeks that I have skipped...or maybe because of them. When my mom came to visit in December, she cleaned my apartment for me. Scrubbed the floors and everything. I apologized that it was so dirty in the first place and she said, "If it was clean, I'd worry you weren't taking care of yourself."

Occasionally I have read Oh Judy's blog--someone I don't know but who is pretty funny. Her blog subtitle is "Lowering the bar, and being awesome." I like that.

Anyway, so, working on the goals, and skimping on some. Luckily the kisses and hugs one isn't so hard. Most of the time anyway!