I’ve never been the type of person who makes a New Year’s Resolution.  Each year New Year’s Eve rolls around and as midnight creeps closer I quickly come up with something like, “I need to have more patience this year” or “I’m going to try and workout more this year.” Then, October rolls around and I realize that I never really held myself to it.

This past December I was at a friend’s house and noticed they had written out a list of goals for 2012 and had it posted clearly where they could see it each day and be held accountable.  They had laid out goals for work, health and family.  That night at home I couldn’t stop thinking about their list and how I liked the idea of actually writing goals down and putting them where they’d be a constant reminder.  I started to think about what I would put into those categories and what my goals for the coming year would be.

I think a lot of people (including myself) don’t like to make a big giant New Year’s Resolution because it can be hard to live up to.  But, by setting a list of goals to work toward, it’s not such a daunting thing to take on.  I decided to make my own list of 2012 goals and so far I’ve only shared it with my husband.  I think by sharing my list with all of you, it will hold me accountable and hopefully inspire some of you to take on some new challenges this year.

Family Goals for 2012
1.    To work harder on doing nightly homework with Sophia. I know this sounds like an easy one, but surprisingly Kindergarteners get lot of homework.  Patience is not a virtue that I’ve been blessed with, so I dread this time each evening, especially when Entertainment Tonight is calling my name. This year, I’m going to work harder at carving out time for homework with Sophia and channel my inner teacher.
2.    To spend more quality time with my husband. Anyone that has children knows that a large part of your life is spent catering to their needs (I originally typed being a slave to them, but realized that sounded too harsh).  A week will pass and my husband and I haven’t had a conversation that didn’t involve iCarly, Barbie dolls or poop.  Enough said.

Health & Wellness Goals for 2012
1.    To run a 5K. I haven’t said this one out load except to my husband, probably because I’ll be forced to do it.  I’m not a runner, but I’ve always thought it seems like such an accomplishment to run a race.  I know a 5K seems small, but these goals are supposed to be obtainable.
2.    To do something active three times a week.

Work Goals for 2012
1.    To blog at least twice a month. I know over the past year I’ve slacked on this, but I’m committed to blogging more often!  If anyone has any topics for me to tackle, I’d love suggestions!
2.    To be a more positive person. I think this is something that I need to try to apply to my life in general.  I’m often a glass half-empty kind of gal and I think I need to be more optimistic and positive, like envisioning my glass half-full of wine.

So, there they are.  Those are my goals and now it’s time for me to start working towards them.  I’d love to hear from you about your goals for 2012.  Do you set them?  How are you working towards them?

Photo is courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/puuikibeach/3242828279/

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Stella at four weeks old

Today marks the end of my first week back on the job since having our second child.  It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, but it’s not the only thing that I’ve neglected over the past 10 weeks.  My blog joins my wardrobe, hair and make-up routine, regular exercise and the stack of Us Weekly and People magazines on the coffee table.  Yes, I know those things all sound superficial, but hey – come on ladies – you know you all care about Kim and Kris’ break-up or how Jessica Alba got her pre-baby body back.

Those who know me know that I have a Type A personality.  I like things organized, planned out, neat and done my way (in my opinion, the right way, though my husband begs to differ).  When we decided to have a second child, I knew it had been a while since we’d had a baby in the house.  Our older daughter, Sophia, is five and basically at a completely different stage of life, so I re-read all the baby books I had, scoured the internet for pointers on becoming “a baby whisperer” and tried to prepare the best I could for my life with two children.  Although I knew life would be busier with the new addition, I don’t think I was prepared for the chaos that came into my life on October 19, 2011, the day our perfect little girl Stella Elizabeth was born.

The first few days home didn’t seem too bad and I seemed to be able to keep things together, but as soon as my husband went back to work…..my harmonious world was rocked.  There were evenings when I found myself in tears trying to be the mom that “makes it all happen.”  It was tough having a husband that was working late, trying to whip up a half-decent meal, do homework with a kindergartener who would rather be watching SpongeBob or playing on Barbie.com and showing the dog we still care about her.  Oh yeah – I forgot about tending to our crying baby!  By the time John came home from work, I felt like a looser not being able to have it all done and having it done perfectly.

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Since our daughter Sophia found out she was going to be a big sister, she has been ecstatic.  She talks about how she is going to help take care of the baby, feed the baby and can’t wait for Baby Allen’s arrival.  As much as I’m excited that she is on-board with having a sibling, I also was concerned about her knowing what changes in our house to expect and how she can and can’t help. 

A few months ago a friend told me about a class offered at Spectrum Health for children ages 3-5 years old that are expecting a sibling.  When I told Sophia about it she said she “wanted to go to baby school” so we signed her up.  We took the class with her a few weeks ago and I wanted to share a little about our experience.

The hour and a half class started with each of the kids getting a lesson in how a baby is born and then explained what they can expect around the house.  It touched on things like lots of crying, babies being up in the night and new rules that you might have at home once the baby arrives.  Then the kids all got to practice some basic helping skills on dolls.  They were each shown how to swaddle a baby, properly hold them and even fed the baby a bottle, all while being reminded that they need to be with a mom or dad to do these things.

The class ended with a tour of the birthing unit at Spectrum Health and showed the kids where the baby would be born.  This was also a great way to get the kids familiarized with where they’ll be visiting their mom, dad and new sibling. 

Sophia had a great time and my husband and I had a lot of fun watching her as a big sister in-training.  This class really opened my eyes to the huge amount of resources offered by Spectrum Health and their Healthier Communities program.  You can learn more about the Siblings Class by watching Maranda Where You Live on Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22.  Maranda and our crew tagged along with my family to the class and documented things, so you can get a look at it for yourself in just a few weeks!

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Sophia eagerly waits for her copy of National Geographic Kids to come in the mail each month.  I remember thinking getting mail was so cool as a kid, so it’s fun to watch her get excited when something comes with her name on it.  This month the issue arrived with a cuddly koala bear and on the front cover and we sat down on the couch to learn more together.  As we flipped through the magazine I was caught off guard with a four page spread titled Remembering the Tragedy of September 11.  I was surprised that a magazine targeted at elementary school kids would feature this story in such a prominent way.  The article focused on college students that were young children when this horrific event took place and asked them questions about what they remembered about that day in history.  I tried to quickly turn the page and move onto the fun and upbeat story on harp seals, but Sophia wanted to know what it was about.  I immediately thought, “What do I tell her?”  “Do I tell her the truth?”  “Do I make something up?”  “How much do I want my five year old to know about this?”

I tried to explain things to her in a kid-friendly fashion, telling her that ten years ago something really sad happened and some people were killed.  I told her that there was an airplane crash and that the two buildings shown in the picture were no longer there.  She kept asking more questions, but I basically “sugar coated” the story and pushed onto the next article in the magazine hoping she’d forget about it and not bring it up again.

Yesterday on the way to school Sophia said, “I asked my teacher if she remembered when that bad stuff happened to the Twin Towers and those people died.”  Arg!!  Here we go again!  I was kind of embarrassed because here is my five year old talking to her teacher about September 11.  What kind of mom does her teacher think I am talking to my kid about this tragic event?  What will other parents think if their child comes home talking about this? 

I know as the 10th anniversary of September 11 approaches, Sophia will hear more on television and older children at school will be talking about it, so this week I’m asking for some help from my fellow blogger Kristin Kuipers of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services.  Kristin – how do you think I should address the topic of September 11 with a young child?  What is the appropriate thing to tell a Kindergartener about this?  Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated!

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/althouse/42298666/in/photostream/

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This past weekend was a big milestone for my family.  After a long three years of trying to sell our home we finally moved!  Though I don’t recommend packing up a home and moving at 28 weeks pregnant, it was still totally worth it to be in a new place in time for the baby’s arrival and Sophia’s kindergarten debut this fall.

Sophia was probably the most excited of our family to leave our cozy downtown abode and head to “the burbs.”  She finally is in a neighborhood with kids to play with and has a backyard to run, jump and get all her energy out.

After a long day of moving, unpacking and starting to settle in, we all turned in Sunday night for some much needed rest.  Sophia was snug as a bug in her new “big girl bed” until 1:30am when I heard a crash from the upstairs.  Well, the bump in the night was all 45 pounds of Sophia rolling out of bed and thudding on the floor….but not before her chin met the side of her bed.  Unfortunately after turning on the light and seeing it, I knew right away she needed to have it looked at and my blissful night’s sleep was now going to be replaced with a long night in the ER.

Before I even could think about it, the first thing that popped into my head was Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.  Although there is a med center and a hospital much closer to our new home, I knew from our half hour Where You Live special, how Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital caters to kids and Sophia wouldn’t just be put in a regular ER with adults.  I couldn’t think about bringing her anywhere else.

Although it was a bad circumstance to have to visit, my husband and I were more than impressed by the treatment and facility!  From the valet parking (which was a warm welcome at 2am) to the perky nurse at the check-in desk, everyone addressed Sophia so friendly and made her fears disappear.  The tears turned to giggles as she watched Monsters Inc. in the waiting room and her eyes lit up when she got into her cartoon character exam gown and was able to relax with On Demand movies on her personal TV.  The digs were so posh, she barely felt the doctor clean-up her chin and glue her boo-boo back together.  The highlight of her trip was probably the blue-raspberry slushy, a pretty cool parting gift at 4am.

Our first weekend in the new house will certainly be a memorable one.  The scar that will form on Sophia’s chin will be a story for years to come.  But, another memorable part was our experience at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.  Filming Where You Live there impressed me, but it wasn’t  until I was in the shoes of people we filmed and my daughter was receiving the treatment, that I realized how much of an asset this place really is.  Though no parent ever wants their child to have to visit a hospital, it is a great feeling to know that Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is right in our own backyard when we need them, even if it’s just for a bump in the night.

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About two years ago our daughter Sophia came home with some news for my husband and I.  She was excited to tell me that her friends Mars, Joey and Greyson all had moms expecting babies, but she was upset with the fact that she was now going to be the only one in her class without a sibling.  For the past two years I’d hear “Mom, when do I get to get a brother or sister?” on a regular basis.  For a while we’d respond with “you have a dog and that’s kind of like a sibling.”  Or, “don’t you like being the only one and having all of mom and dad’s attention?”  But that didn’t seem to cut it.

For a while, whenever the baby topic came up, my head would quickly flood with thoughts of those long sleepless nights, endless crying and functioning on zero energy.  We just weren’t sure if we were up for the challenge of another one.  But, it’s funny how suddenly your thought pattern just changes one day, almost like a light switch.  I’m sure all you moms know exactly what I’m talking about.  You forget about all the unpleasant parts of having a newborn and start to focus on the amazing parts, like holding your baby for the first time, or watching for that first smile.  For me, probably the best part is picturing how Sophia will interact with a little brother or sister.

Well, the light switch flipped for us and my husband and I (along with a very proud big sister) are happy to announce that we’re expecting our second child this October!  The first 15 weeks have already been filled with the ups and downs of pregnancy, but everyday is so exciting and something new.  Sophia can’t stop rubbing my belly, talking to the baby and already wants to share a room.  Note to self….remind Sophia of this when she is 10 years old and has an annoying five year old little sibling.

I hope to keep you posted on our exciting journey as we experience things for a second time around.  I’d also love any insights from moms on cool baby gear and gadgets, sleeping tricks, etc.  It’s been five years since I’ve done this and I’m sure a lot has changed!

Photo courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anotherpioneer/5252749975/sizes/m/in/photostream/

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From a young age my daughter, Sophia, has loved to have books read to her.  I can remember as a toddler her crawling up onto my lap with book after book to read.  Even now, one of her favorite weekend activities is going to the library on Saturday mornings to pick out a new selection of books (dog, cat or ponies are her fave) for the week.  For Sophia it’s not just sitting down and reading one book, but she’ll want to read, read and read some more.  Sometimes, the television seems so tempting after book number ten, but then I think about all the benefits that I’m giving my daughter by reading to her.

Research shows that kids who are read to regularly do better in school and develop a love of reading as they get older.  This weekend our show is all about literacy and the importance of reading in our children’s lives. 

Maranda recently came across this reading quiz and passed it along to me.  I think it’s a great checklist to use when reading with your kids.  It’s helped me become a more active and engaged reader with Sophia and I hope it helps you too.

 Answer yes or no to the questions below and see if you’re making reading fun for your preschool aged child.

1.  Do you pick books that will appeal to your child?

2.  Do you read with enthusiasm?  Use different voices for characters and change your tones in exciting ways.

3.  Do you discuss what you read?  Ask questions, such as, “what do you think will happen next” or “what was your favorite part of the story?”

4.  Do you let your child interrupt?  It’s good to let kids ask questions and fill in words that they’ve memorized.

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A few weeks ago Sophia asked if we could go ice skating.  At first I responded with, “sure honey, we’ll try it sometime,” thinking that she’d forget about it and move onto something else.  My hubby wasn’t too excited about the idea at first and I had hesitations too.  Neither of us had been on skates since elementary school and the idea of wobbling around the edge of the rink with a four year old didn’t sound too fun.  But when she kept asking, I thought we should all give it a try.

Some friends of ours were taking their son last Saturday so we thought it would be the perfect time to try it out.  We headed down to Rosa Park Circle around Noon, when the rink opened hoping to beat the crowds.  The timing was perfect because we were some of the first in the warming house to get our skates.  Rental was super easy and the cost is only $1 per person which is a plus.  We laced up and headed over to the rink.  So far, so good.

About half way to the rink my husband starting complaining about his ankles hurting, Sophia had second thoughts once she saw kid’s wiping out on the ice and I thought, “oh boy, so much for us enjoying ourselves on this fun family outing.”  Trying to be the family cheerleader I convinced them this was going to be fun and to give it a try.  Hovering around the edge and holding onto the ledge we slowly made our way around the rink.  Lap one wasn’t too bad.  We were moving at the pace of a snail, but no accidents. 

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I swear, McDonald’s puts something magical in their food to addict kids.  If you ask my daughter Sophia what she wants for dinner I guarantee you that “McDonalds!!” would come out of her mouth.  In her mind there is nothing better than chicken nuggets and apple dippers.  Her favorite is to dunk the nuggets in the caramel.  No wonder…..it’s a dessert in disguise! 

What started out as a once in a while treat, has quickly become a regular dinner.  When I don’t run through the drive-thru she asks, “Mom, can you make me McDonald’s at home?”  Hey, I’m a busy mom that doesn’t really enjoy cooking, so I admit that sometimes there is nothing easier than throwing a few frozen nuggets in the microwave, cutting up an apple and blobbing some Marzettis caramel dip on the plate.

I decided that if this is going to be a weekly meal at my house I have to find some way to make it healthier.  I decided to go to Where You Live’s nutritional expert and fellow blogger, Shari Steinbach, with the challenge.  Find me a way to make a healthier chicken nugget for my daughter?

Here is what she recommends:
Homemade Healthy Chicken Nuggets
• 1 package of boneless chicken breast, usually a little over a pound
• 2/3 cups of Meijer Italian bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup Meijer grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp powdered garlic
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 egg
• 1/4-1/3 cups low fat milk

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At our house, Sophia has been counting down the days until Christmas.  Over the past few weeks we’ve hung the garland and lights outside, got the tree decorated and are in full Christmas mode. 

One of the things that I did this year was purchase an “Elf on a Shelf.”  If you haven’t heard of this before it is something I totally recommend!  It was recommended to me by a couple of friends as a behavior modification tool and a fun tradition to start with your kids.  You can find them at Barnes and Noble or at most Hallmark stores for about $25.  The idea is that he’s sent from Santa and watches your kids each day.  Then at night he flies back to the North Pole and reports back to Santa.  Parents hide the elf in new places around the house each night and then in the morning, your child has to find where the elf landed upon returning.  “Red” the elf came the day after Thanksgiving and has been a huge hit with Sophia.  She hunts for “Red” each day, tells him what she wants for Christmas, and is convinced that he is reporting back to Santa every night at the North Pole.

This morning a friend of mine forwarded me a link on Facebook that is the perfect compliment to our Elf on a Shelf.  It’s a way to send a personalized message from Santa to your kids.  No lie, this took me less than five minutes to do and is adorable!  I just wanted to share this because if you have young kids they will think this is so cool, plus, it keeps the magic of Santa alive!

I’d love to know what Christmas traditions you do with your kids?  Or, any fun things that bring the holidays alive at your house?  Have a Merry Christmas and let me know what you think of the Elf on a Shelf or Santa video if you decide to give it a try.

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