This is Our Happily Ever After....: The Start of a New Year

Last year was such a BIG year for us. The biggest highlight would be Ella coming into the world May 29th. I feel like I have changed a lot since the year previous...and sometimes I feel like this is all just a dream.

I am not one of New Years resolution's because, very few people actually are true to them. I can however say these are the things I would like to work on.

1. Be a better mom/ Significant other

2. Try and be more patient

3. Lose the rest of the baby weight

4. Start School again

5. Find a new job

6. Go to the park with Ella

7. Find a bigger place to live

8. BE MORE ORGANIZED

9. Improve my writing skills

10. Get back into photography

These are the ten things I think I should work on this year. This year is going to be another big learning year. Ella will be walking, talking, and causing even more trouble.

I think the being more patient is going to be the thing I should work the hardest on. I find that I get easily frustrated and then take things personally.

Losing the baby weight will be a big goal. I don't have that much to lose, but I also really enjoy food now but, I also dislike working out. So I am sure you can see that the last bit of weight will be challenging.

Starting school again is something I really want to do. It's all a matter of balancing everything. I haven't yet found how I will be able to do that but, I know I can if I really set my mind to it. I miss school, I was the kid that actually did like going to school...but, I was also the kid that didn't like to study ;)

Find a new job...I have been at my current job for about 2.5 years. I feel like my time there is coming to an end and it’s time to start a career.

Go to the park with Ella, this may seem like a silly thing, but I love the park. Some of my favorite childhood memories stem from going to the park. The swings, the lake, the ducks, and the togetherness...what's not to like? I want Ella to enjoy things like this too. I feel like kids today are so consumed by technology that they don't enjoy the minor things anymore.

Find a bigger place. Well we need a bigger place, we are currently busting at the seams. Not only that, but we're also not in the best of neighborhoods. I hate buying a house is so difficult now. They look into EVERYTHING. They pretty much want you to give them your soul....I am just hoping that when our lease comes due we can either find a nice little town home to rent, or a bigger apartment. I don't think we're exactly in the position to flat out buy a home.

Be more organized, well that's easy enough. I am a clutter bug, Devin can tell you that. The problem is he kind of is too. I feel like I always say "well we don't have any space" is that really the issue?? Or am I making excuses? Bottom line...I need to try and be more organized.

Improve my writing skills; I think this is on here only because of this blog. I don't think that many people actually read this...I think they just come here for the pictures. I used to love writing in fact; when I was young I wanted to be an author. I suppose as I got older I just stopped. Now when I write I feel like it is all jumbled and could use a good proof read. So I guess I just want to brush up on my skills...which would go hand in hand with going back to school :)

Get back into photography. There was once a time where I was going to school for graphic design/ photography. I loved taking photo's and would never be anywhere without a camera. I didn't take photos of people. Typically, I took pictures of nature. I took pictures of random objects. I took pictures of things I thought were beautiful. Things I felt other people were too "busy" to see. My photography teacher said I had an amazing gift. Well that gift seems to have left me as well. I miss photography, I miss the excitement I would feel when I’d here the shutter click. I miss going over and over hundreds of pictures just to find one I liked. I liked some of my photos because they had feeling. You could usually tell the mood I was in by the picture that I would take :) I guess I just miss being so passionate about something.

I think a part of me is scared to get back into school, photography, and writing because of the fear of failure. Perhaps this year I won't be so afraid.

I saved the first for last, to be a better mom/significant other. I have an explanation for this but I feel as if it will go on forever. Mostly, I just want to be the best for my family. I want to feel like I provide more for my family. I also want to make sure that I don't take them for granted. My little family is more than I could have ever asked for and, I feel so lucky to have them. I would like to work on the ten things above for them and, for me.

This was much longer than I intended it to be, looks like I got a bit carried away. This post was intended to show off Ella in her New Years outfit my mom and dad got her.