2012 Goals Revisited

Although it's not a new calendar year yet, it's a new phase for me as a mom of three. I have been contemplating goals for myself and my three children, and here is what I have come up with for the next 3.5 months.

1. Get back to creating a monthly plan for dinner that includes new recipes and vegetables on a more regular basis. Work on getting Nadia and Ian to feed themselves a wider variety of foods without a fuss in a reasonable amount of time.

2. Help Oliver gain weight at a good pace. Hopefully he'll weigh at least 10 pounds by the end of 2012. Ideally, he will be nursing exclusiverly (without the shield or bottles), but if he has to have bottles hopefully we can at least avoid formula during this time span. Until that happens, I want to try to pump as much as he consumes by bottle each day.

3. Help Ian become potty trained at night.

4. Lose at least 15 pounds. To that end, I want to start regularly walking to the playground with the kids once the Weego arrives as well as watching what I eat.

5. Help Oliver develop good sleeping habits (day and night).

6. Continue to work with Ian on immediately following directions given by his parents and treating his sister nicely (no hitting, shoving, grabbing, etc.). I want him to be ready to join Nadia's gymnastics class in January.

7. Continue to work with Nadia on talking nicely (using manners, not whining, having a good attitude, etc.) and treating her brother nicely (not bossing him around, sharing, etc.).

8. Help Paul apply for jobs (an adjunct position starting in January and a tenure track position starting in August). Thus far the 2 tenure track possibilities include Lehigh and Lafayette.

9. Become more regular in having "preschool" with Nadia. Some parts (ex. calendar time and music) I want to do with Nadia and Ian together. In particular over the next 3 months I want to work on her cutting skills (scissors), begin the Handwriting without Tears curriculum with her so that she can learn to write her name, teach her to count to 100, and continue on the skills leading up to reading. I also want to get back to reading chapter books aloud to Nadia. I think Ian might be able to handle that as well because he can now sit through the 98 page Cinderella book being read in one sitting.

10. Follow the OT/PT suggestions to help Oliver achieve his developmental milestones. The NICU gave a referral for Early Intervention. For now, I have held off on that assessment. (Regina, do you know any reason why I should start that with him now?) He will still have OT/PT appointments at the hospital (not connected with EI).

11. Take extra precautions to try to keep Oliver healthy in light of his lung disease. I am going to ask the Pediatrician this week about Oliver having the Synagis shots starting in November to prevent RSV. I was told last week that he is eligible (they are very expensive).

12. Resume using the Motivated Moms weekly chore lists and stop using the cleaning service. Since Nadia has been resisting quiet time lately, I'm going to have her help me with a few chores during the week while her brothers nap. I also want to work with Nadia and Ian so that they can be primarily responsible for picking up their toys twice a day instead of me doing it myself.

 

13. Work on improving my photography skills when shooting in manual mode.

14. Have a regular time of Bible study and prayer even though I won't be joining a ladies Bible study group for a few more months.

As you can see from the pictures, we went to Knoebels yesterday. On our way home we stopped at OIP to have pizza for dinner. When the waitress was taking our drink orders, Nadia asked for milk. After the waitress told her that they didn't have any milk, she asked, "Do you have any water?". I smile every time I recall that verbal exchange. :-)