Llama Readers Missing Mama!

Sorry about the absence! I understand that this can happen to bloggers from time to time though. We had a wonderful holiday, a boring New Year, and a few even more boring weekends after that. But now I'm back!

I've made quite a few resolutions this year, and suprisingly I haven't slacked off on any of them yet! Here we go:

(1)Getting healthy - I've joined a gym and have been going everyday during the work week. I'm trying to get into running and so far it hasn't sucked. I'm doing the C25K program and it hasn't gotten hard yet. Soon I'm sure. I had a few free sessions with a personal trainer and I'll give her program a try too.

(2)Save $$$ - I re-set-up our budget spreadsheet to track our spending and I've been clipping coupons. We need to save some serious money and put it to work for us or we'll never be homeowners again. I really just don't know how people are buying houses these days. We want to do it the right way, put down at least 20%, and not be house-poor. We just want to be responsible.

(3)Be beautiful - I've been flossing and using mouthwash everyday, brushing twice a day, I've even been to the dentist already. I do have two cavities that will get fixed and then never again. I'm kinda mad at myself because it's going to cost a lot of money to get those cavities filled. See #2 above. I've also been putting on lotion after my shower which leads me to my biggest obsticle of all: showering everyday. I don't have this one down 100%, but there have been great strides. Getting dressed everyday is another thing to work on. Showering and putting on clean pj's doesn't count.

(4)Take care of the house - This has been a great failure so far. Honestly, I don't think the house has been cleaned at all in the new year.

(5)Quilting - This has also been a failure. I need to make time for my projects and start getting stuff done!

(6)Call my grandma once a month - She's old. She's lonely. And I'm a crappy granddaughter. The least I can do is call every once in awhile and check in.

I just started re-reading the post and saw my claim that I haven't failed on any of my resolutions yet.

(7)Be honest with myself about my resolutions and how they're coming along.

(8)Blog - This blog is also a resolution. I really want to stick with this and get my feelings and perspectives out there. Being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever done and it just begs to be written about. The joys, the concerns, the messes.

I just thought of another one and it's really sad that it's #9.

(9)Have sex with DL - Once a week, minimum. I've told him that I will never turn him down. No one likes to be rejected. It's hard for me to initiate, but I need to get over that. If we're ever going to have another baby, we need to have sex. I'm really sad that things have gotten so bad. :(

I really should have one more to make it an even ten... I feel like it should have to do with LL, but really all I do everyday is already about him. Hmmm... I'm a pretty good friend, I think. I guess you can always improve. But now I'm just thinking of something to have it there. My heart isn't into it. I can always add to the list if I come up with something good.

So. I'm going to do an extended post about each resolution, coming soon. Gotta get my thoughts all in order. Does everyone have as many thoughts swirling around as I do?? I could go crazy sometimes.

NOT Me Monday!

I've actually been very good this past week. Let's see what I can come up with...

Back to that Christmas budget... It was NOT me who completely threw the budget out the window and bought extra presents for some kids in our lives. Sure, I love shopping for kids, but I'm an adult and I CAN keep my spending in check.

It is NOT me who is struggling to get a couple baby quilts done in time for Christmas shipping. I would have had these quilts done in time for the birth of these babies, so I would NEVER be caught sewing well into the wee hours to get them done in time.

I also did not feed LL fish sticks and crispy rounds for dinner the other night. We are very diligent about LL's nutrition, and DL being gone for a holiday party is NOT a good enough reason to have a "junk" dinner just for fun.

Looks like I haven't been as good as I thought. *sigh*

WHERE is Baby Jesus?!

Remember how I said I wouldn't take a week to update again? Well here you go.

LL got the Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set for his birthday. I just love the idea of having a nativity scene that he can get his little hands on and run around with. Put in his mouth. Drop. Hide.

Hiding is LL's newest and most fun game yet. Of course I keep a good eye on him all day, but somehow an item or two gets hidden everyday that I can't account for. He has a good handful of hiding places that I check every evening, and that usually solves any mysteries. But this nativity set...

First it was the Virgin Mary. She went missing for 4 days. Maybe it's the dull colors of her outfit? She doesn't stand out like the brightly colored wise people (one is a woman). Maybe it's her quiet nature? She doesn't like to draw attention to herself.

You'd never expect Mary to cry out from under the couch, "Here I am! Please get me back to the stable! There's a dust bunny under here that's larger than I am!!!"

That's where she was. Under the couch. This isn't one of LL's usual hiding places, so I suspect Mary was accidently (or not) dropped under there and was rendered unretrievable by LL's limited problem-solving skills.

So for quite a few days our Holy Family was happy and together. Their smiling faces warm and comforting. Oh sure, a donkey or camel would go missing here and there, but no one had to spend a night alone or scared.

But what is a nativity scene without Baby Jesus?! I'll tell you what. There's a big empty hole in the stable. All the people and animals are gathered around... nothing. A bright silver star and shimmery angel mark the birthplace of Someone special. But that Someone is nowhere to be found.

He's not in the dog's toy basket. He's not in the Tupperware cubboard. He's not under the seat of LL's ride-on firetruck. He's not under the dog's bed. He's not tossed over a baby gate. He's not between the presents under the Christmas tree.

DL is convinced this is just the story playing out. Baby Jesus will reveal Himself on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning at the very latest. I know He'll turn up. I'm just worried that He might need a little help. From me.

Every night I sit here and gaze around the room. If I were 12 months old, where would I hide something that fits just right in my little hand? I scrutinize every drawer, every cupboard, every container. But I've checked them all. And I know I'll check them again.

Afterall, this is why we got this particular nativity set. So that LL could have a decoration of his very own without any "Don't touch!"'s attached. I just hope Baby Jesus knew what He was getting into.

NOT Me Monday!

Last week I did NOT cancel all cleaning so that I could nap when LL napped. I'm very commited to this stay-at-home-mom thing, and that includes taking care of the house every day.

I also did NOT spend double what we were planning to spend on our family Christmas gift this year. We've set a budget and I absolutely always stick to our budgets. I was NOT at all overcome with greed when I saw the Super Fancy model and did NOT decide that I just had to have it, budget be damned!

Finally, I did NOT completely neglect my blog for an entire week! *ashamed* I promise to do better this week!

NOT Me Monday!

It was NOT me who went to see the new Twilight movie, New Moon, last night. I mean, really. The books and movies are for teenage girls. I am a grown woman, in a loving marriage, with a toddler. If I were to make time to go see a movie, it would NOT be New Moon. And if I did see it, I would NOT actually enjoy it!

After deciding that LL needed to see the doctor this morning (he woke up with the flu), it was NOT me who left the house without brushing my teeth. I always make sure I'm clean and presentable, with fresh breath when I go out into the world.

And those were NOT mittens on LL's feet this morning. My son is also always presentable in public. I always wrestle to put his shoes on his feet, even when he's sick. I NEVER would consider just putting a pair of mittens over his socks so that we could get out the door with warm feet but with minimal tears.

So very very thankful...

DL and I have the flu. LL is (finally!) getting his top two teeth, so he has diarrhea and consequently, diaper rash.

Everyone is feeling at least a little miserable.

We moved our big dinner to Saturday, when we're hopefully feeling better.

But I'm feeling so very very thankful today. My family is healthy (usually) and beautiful and I'm so proud of them. Everyday I get to watch LL learn something new and grow into being a super little boy. We have a warm, comfortable place to live. DL works hard and provides for us everyday. We have amazing family and friends both near and far that care about us.

It might seem like this Thanksgiving was a bit of a failure, but I really wouldn't change it one bit.

The Little Llama is 1!

We had LL's big birthday bash this past Saturday. It was a great time. He was the perfect host! We got him up from his nap and got him some lunch, just as people were arriving. When he got down from his high chair he circulated around the room saying hi, presents over here, cake over there... He was quite the charmer. He got quite a haul of toys too! Toys For Tots will be getting a donation from this family for sure. :)


Singing Happy Birthday


Somebody get this kid some cake! He's falling asleep!


He didn't get too messy because he actually ATE most of the cake!


Opening his favorite toy, the Busy Zoo Cube.

I won't write anything sappy about how my baby is growing up. That might have to be a seperate post. But trust me, I'm feeling sappy!

Also, sorry for no Not Me Monday post. This weekend was just too hoppin to get one ready!