Positive Changes - so far

So far I am pleased with the changes I have made so far.  I type this with a smile on my face listening to my daughter yell from upstairs in 19mo old jibberish that basically she is not going to take a nap without her cuppy.  I think "I am not giving in to this tiny tyrant!  She will not get a cup at nap time  anymore  today."
Yup, I am smiling about it because that is my change for today.  I am not giving in to my daughter today.  Okay, Okay - some will argue that this is not a positive change, but hear me out because this decision comes from knowledge of the past.  According to my sister, I took a bottle/cup/drink of some kind to bed until I was about 5 (or older maybe).  I know that I let my son & daughter take cups to bed for a very long time (to be honest they still take a drink to their rooms at night).  I don't want to have to fight with her anymore on this.  She has to learn to nap/sleep without a drink.  And - one more huge decision - I am not taking the DVD player on our trip to Seattle and when I get back it  will no longer be in her room.  She will not get a movie at nap time either. 
So, just to update, here's where I am at so far:

1. I am still working on getting out of bed in the morning before the older kids leave for school.  I was doing great, but it just hasn't happened since last Thursday. 
2. I have been doing great at cleaning up the living room every night before bed except one day I decided last week was my day off, and then the other night I wasn't feeling well so I left it.  **BONUS** Last night when I started getting the house ready for bed Mike actually got up and helped.  I will not let this go unnoticed!
3. I have been trying to take care of the dishes myself and not make it one of the kids chores.  At first I wondered if they noticed that they weren't having to do it, but SAW proved to me that he had noticed because when I told him I would do it he said no, that it was his "turn".  I try to make sure that I get the dishwasher emptied and filled at night before bed, and I try to wash all the hand wash dishes at least every other day (I know, ~gasp~ I leave dirty dishes overnight.  Hey - it's a work in progress)
4. I have begun to make sure I am not leaving clothes in the washing machine overnight as well.  It is a chore that Bug offered to take over, but I am not sure I want to give up all the laundry to her, so I decided that the kids could be in charge of their own laundry, and I will take care of the rest.  which reminds me - I have to finish what I started this morning.
5. We are also selling what we don't need.  We all have the potential to be on the TV show Hoarders in my family.  I also married into a similar family.  I am trying to get rid of the clutter by either donating it to our local Airman's Attic, or by selling it.  Right now I need all the money I can scrounge up for our trip to Seattle, but it's also great just getting things out of the way.
6. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise.  I have avoided it for years because of my previous life (1st marriage).  I have started going to the gym at least 2 times a week, or getting outside for some exercise.  I haven't lost a lot, but I can feel my jeans getting a little looser.

So, Halfway  through January and I am pleased that my small changes are also causing small changes in the rest of my family.  I have a few more changes planned in my head, but I don't want to weigh myself down with too much so I am still taking it day by day.  I know that these things may seem minuscule to some of you, but to me it is a HUGE step in the direction of the life I want!

Thoughts:

• it's okay if she doesn't nap right now, she will eventually
• I wish I could have gotten up on time to see the kids off to school, I hope they know I love them
• is it horribly irresponsible of me to take Bug out of school for 10 days for a vacation so soon after Christmas break?
• Nah, other parents are doing it too!
• I hope I have enough money for a hotel in Seattle
• I hope my husband knows I love him.
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!
• thank God for spell check!

MJ Time

May and I have been having a rough time spending all day together and not seeing anyone else.  When SAW walks through the door I shed a little tear and say "Thank GOD you're home!" and I think May says it too!  He comes right over and scoops his baby sister out of my tired arms and instantly she's all smiles!  It's a special love -the love between a big brother and his sister.  I miss my brother terribly.

I planned on inserting touching pictures of SAW and MJ and of my brother and myself, but alas, my POS laptop has decided to eat all of my pictures... *sob* *sob*

Anyways...

When Bug comes home she scoops MJ up out of SAW's arms and plays with her for a few minutes too.  I am truly lucky that they all get along so well.  I'm not delusional tough, I know it won't last.  She comes back to me, a little happier after a break.  Then I make dinner, all the while trying to make sure that nothing hot gets splashed or spilled on her because she won't leave my side.  Then I feed her.  Yes she can feed herself, I just like to do it.  Here's a little video of her feeding herself yogurt just to prove it! Luckily this wasn't on the computer, still on the SD card. OK, so the video might not load either... I guess you'll just have to take my word for it! LOL!

So, anyways... I love having her back on a schedule of sorts.  She gets up anywhere from 6 to 8 am.  Nap time is around 11am, and if I'm lucky, again at 3pm.  Then bedtime is usually around 8pm. 
Well, after a long, particularly stressful & grouchy weekend she woke up around 7:30 and at 11:10 grabbed her new Penguin Pillow Buddy thing that she got from the East Idaho State Fair and said "nap".  She was headed for the couch until I reminded her that she naps upstairs.  She turned to me with a "oh, yeah" and we headed up the stairs!  No tears, no coaxing into bed, no nothing.  She was more than happy to take a nap with her new buddy and her "woobie" (blanket).

Thank you to my mother and sister for making sure that I know the importance of having your children on schedules!