Labor Day Weekend: Mommy/Daughter time & Chapter 1 Reading:12 Commandments

This long weekend I had a lot of Mommy/Daughter time because my husband was gone for most of it weekend two-overnight sailing event.   It was a lot of fun just being able to do things with her - like go to the playground, the beach, and have playtime with some of her friends. I really savor those times with her considering I get to do them too little with me working a lot during the week.  The only downside?  My hips were KILLING me from being on sole duty and lifting her up/walking/playing and generally not resting.

This weekend also let me spend sometime with good friends (one of the things I need to work on)!  A close friend came out from the city to spend some time with us which was sooo nice!  She was my travel buddy in Australia and we reminisced about some of our favorite times.  This type of night always puts me in good spirits!  We went over to another friends house for dinner - Thai take-out - Yummy!

I also managed two playdates with friends (one at a playground, one for breakfast) - which is a nice combo of playtime for Mia and normal talk for Mommy :)

In between all of the above, I actually got to read the first chapter of "The Happiness Project" and I swear it could have been written by me (except I am not leaving on the upper east side, I am not a writer and I do not have two daughters - only 1 :))...  Basically, this woman has everything on paper: A great husband, great kid(s), a great job, nice house, financially stable - a perfect formula for perfect happiness.  She acknowledges how lucky she is (and so do I), but there is still this small space missing, but she just can't put her finger on it.  She starts with setting out 3 things

1) Her 12 commandments (what she needs to live by)
2) Secrets of Adulthood (what she knows about being an adult)
and
3) Resolutions that she will focus on Month by Month (her first will be "Boost Energy")

So, I think to get started on my Twelve Commandments and what Resolution to focus on first..

Here are my initial thoughts on my 12 Commandments- I will definitely need to fine-tune them:

1. Play more/Laugh more
2. Live Healthy
3. Don't let fear make decisions
4. Follow Thru
5. No day but today
6. Be Positive
7. Love more
8. Phone family and friends

I am still thinking about the rest....

Morning Hugs, Hectic Work days, Giggly Dinner

While waiting for the "Happiness Project" to arrive (estimated arrival is tomorrow), I had a good day today.

My daughter woke up and first thing she said is "I want to give Mommy a big hug" and then she gave me the biggest hug EVER!  *my heart melts every time*

Work was hectic but still managed to have some laughs with colleagues at work, commute was LONG with lots of traffic, BUT I walked in the door and my daughter and husband had just come back from a walk. My daughter was in the best mood and we laughed a lot because we role played "Don't let the pigeon drive the bus!"   It is a cute book about how you are always supposed to say "No!" to the pigeon as he tries different ways to get you to allow him to drive the bus.  My daughter always says very seriously "No pigeon, you are nawt to drive the bus"!  So cute and funny.

I did take one step towards working on something I know that makes me tick - catching up with old friends.   I caught up a bit with some friends over IM and made plans for this weekend.  I also made time to talk over the phone with my college roommate (this is something I rarely do).  It is so nice to actually talk to people and I need to make an effort to do this more..

OK, I need a plan...

As far as family and work time go, I give myself an A-.   Time for myself?  A BIG FAT F!

I want to be a good example to my daughter and future son.  I want them to have a Mommy that works hard, loves her kids and still finds time to do fun things and has a zeal for life.  My husband sails, is a die-hard Yankees fan (goes to games 2x a month), and has an endless list of the new things he wants to do (i.e. he is now learning how to kitesurf).  My list has one thing that has been on there FOREVER - rock climbing (not really a good thing to learn while 5 months pregnant).

I hate to admit it, but I think I have become *gasp* boring :(   I need to find things that make me tick.  I used to love trying new things:  traveling, skydiving, swimming with dolphins, sailing, knitting, crocheting, hiking, bike riding, sometimes just driving around to find new places that I have never seen.  I had endless "bucket lists" that I completed, and my top 3 have been there for a long time now (travel to Mauritius, swim in the Dead Sea, white water raft in the Grand Canyon)

My problem is, I can't seem to find the time to catch my breath - I go to work, come home, spend time with the family, watch some TV, repeat.  On weekends, we may go to the pool, beach or sometimes on the boat, but it isn't really ticking that "zeal for life" box.  I fear that I am going to be one of those helicopter Mom's if I keep going down this path.

This blog will hopefully help me get my groove back, find out what makes me tick...

Here is my plan:

1.  Actually blog about my daily life today without any changes to it yet, so I can figure out where my time is really going

2. Be realistic - I am about to have baby #2 in December - Alot of the things I like doing require either travel or extreme physical activity  - both of which will not be mesh well with my life for the next say 8-9 months), but I can come up with what I WILL do.

3. Actually come up with a plan on how to get myself to try new things - I really need to find something I love doing.

Let's see how this thing works out...