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Month in Review and Goals

Morning sickness (aka all day sickness) returned with a vengeance this month, accompanied with weeks of sick kids. The combination was painful, and I feel like I didn’t accomplish much. The good thing is, I feel better now, the kids are healthy, AND spring has finally arrived in Massachusetts! It was amazing to have it warm enough yesterday afternoon that our final snow pile melted AND the kids could play outside without jackets for the first time in 2009!

My March goal was to get a routine going at home. I didn’t work out a routine per se, but I did start paying more attention to how we use our time. I tracked our activities for three days (see this post) and discovered that there is a routine of sorts. One reader sent me an email suggesting that I focus on habits over routine, and I’ve found that helpful. Emma is wanting more and more structure in her life as she gets older and I think structure in general will become more important with three kids under four, so this is something I plan to continue to work on.

My April goal is to make some maternity clothes. Emma and Johnny were both winter babies, so all of my maternity clothes are warm. And worn out, since I kept wearing most of them when I wasn’t pregnant because they were so comfy. I’ve looked in stores, but the clothes that are in my price range seem to have ridiculously huge necklines and/or to fit very strangely. I did find one great shirt, but it was only available in two colors: black and a horrid green color. So, I have one black shirt. Anybody have favorite maternity patterns or (even better) online tutorials I can try? I definitely want to try making this skirt.

As for annual goals…

  • Find places to keep all those odds and ends that get stashed in random places: I got nowhere on this this past month. But I did keep the kids’ toys mostly cleaned up.
  • Potty train Emma: We’re doing great here, except when Emma decides she doesn’t want to stop playing until it’s too late. But that doesn’t happen often enough that I’m worried about it, so far at least.
  • Get Johnny to eat more solid food: We’re getting there. Very slowly.
  • Be more patient with cooking/baking that involves a rolling pin: Still haven’t touched a rolling pin
  • Take the kids outdoors more: We were outside at least three times a week all month, and usually much more. Hooray for spring!
  • Get the kids to sleep through the night better: Emma nearly always sleeps through the night, finally! Johnny is waking up at least three times per night since he got sick early last month after sleeping pretty well for most of his life. I cope with sleep deprivation really well, but I would LOVE a night of uninterrupted sleep.

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

7 thoughts on “Month in Review and Goals”

  1. Hi MaryAnne! I’ve wanted to come and comment here for ages so am glad I can do it today. I love that you look back (and share about) how your month went and what you want to do for the next one. It’s inspiring and gives me hope, too, that motherhood is so hard and so good, all at once. I think you are amazing, doing all that you do while feeling less than your usual self when the morning sickness hits. I have potty-training for the middle child to look forward to this spring/summer myself! Ooo, I am not excited. About maternity clothes – I didn’t do very much skirts when I was round, but I loved pinafores! I wore regular LS tees under them that rode up my belly but the pinafore kept me decent! I didn’t sew anything maternity except one desperate evening dress so I could go to a wedding without looking like I was dressed as my husband. If I see any fun maternity patterns while websurfing, I’ll be sure to come back here and tell you!

  2. For maternity clothes I just go to goodwill or whatever cheap thrift store and buy some loose stretchy clothes that are big. It’s cheap, and I mostly wear tshirts anyway, which just stretch through my pregnancy.

  3. Ugh! I’m sorry to hear about the return of the morning sickness.I hear you about the sleep deprivation. I thought I was never going to sleep through the night again, but Rachel is FINALLY sleeping from 7 pm to 5 am, waking up for a quick snack, and going back down until 7 am. It’s wonderful. A friend shared the book “Good Night, Sleep Tight” with me, and I will be forever grateful.I need to sit down and make some goals like this, too. I’m still trying to get back into the swing of things after having had Rachel. With 4 kids, these things take time. :)Sorry it took me so long to get back over here.

  4. Heather - Dollar Store Crafts

    I think we're in the exact same boat. Needing a "routine" (although I know I have regular patterns for my & my two kiddos that are just stored in my head), heading toward potty training, needing to get some maternity clothes…

  5. Catherine Agnes

    I highly recommend cinnamon rolls to ease into using a rolling pin–the breadmaker can mix up the dough, you don’t have to roll it super thin or into a neat shape, and the kids would love to help sprinkle the sugar or make a glaze.

  6. I’m sorry to hear about the morning sickness. I’m really impressed with all the activities you do with your kids even when you haven’t been feeling well.

  7. I remember the “all day” sickness, glad you and the kiddos are feeling better! How far along are you?

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