I love the idea of having a word or phrase be your theme for the year. Last year many people came up with great words - relax or peace or joy. However, I feel like I'm in such a transitional place in my life right now that I can't think of a word that would help define or make my year more meaningful. (If you want to think of a word that will define or refine your year, please let me know about it in the comments or in your own blog post.)
As for resolutions or long-term goals, I've got two this year: 1) to push a baby out of me and 2) to not die of sleep deprivation after having a baby.
However, I have decided to bring back For Just One Week. At least for the next couple of weeks, because that's how long my long term memory seems to be working these days. Even though it is Thursday, I'm giving myself a week and a half on this one since it seems nearly impossible for me to do. Actually, I'm doing two things this week. First, I will participate in Stephanie's General Conference book club for this week AND next week (hold me to it, Stephanie).
The second part of this week's goal is much scarier: by Monday, January 11, I will clean my oven. Spic and span. With oven cleaner. And only a little bit of weeping and wailing. I haven't cleaned it since I moved in over a year and a half ago. And a couple of times this month I have set the fire alarm off in our house just by preheating the oven. I can do it! Wish me luck. (Oh, and by then I will know the sex of our baby. Woo hoo!)
Happy New Year, everyone!
Addendum: I have been informed by numerous blog friends that I should not clean the oven because of the fumes. Okay, then, I will find something equally horrifying (or nearly equally - cleaning the oven is the worst in my opinion) to do before next Monday.
35 people wanted to leave a comment:
I avoid cleaning the oven like the plague and the plague is probably just what I'm growing in there by avoiding cleaning it. Good luck with that one!
Cleaning the oven is one of my least favorite tasks! Do you put aluminum foil on the bottom to make it easier on you when you clean?
Also, maybe considering all you're doing this year, your word could be "adjust." :)
A baby! Then you'll have three kids, right? That's more than the parents.... (My mom always tells me that's when it gets really hard.)
2010 will be a great year for you!
Happy new year!
Apparently, my oven is self-cleaning. But, I have no idea how. :)
I think your ideas sound great. I never do resolutions on the years I have/will have a new baby.
I love new years resoloutions. That may sound weird, but I do. I really want to keep running (I am doing my first half marathon this year) and I want to do things I love, like read and scrapbook or be artsy.
I keep thinking of the word "clarity". It seems to encompass goals, focus, and self awareness. I may choose tis as my own secret theme this year.
And I have never cleaned the oven I have. Just so ya know.
Don't you dare clean your oven! The fumes are SO BAD for the baby! That is why I haven't cleaned mine for two years. I got the whim during my pregnancy, but didn't dare do it because of the baby. And maybe your word of the year should be "transition" or "change". Just a thought. Or even "acceptance" so that you can just accept whatever comes your way.
Don't clean the oven.
I think you should just move into another house that already has a clean oven.
I like your one week idea. I am a little sad my Nudity word of the year is coming to an end.
I agree with Brooke. Those fumes are a no-no with the baby. If you really think that it needs to be cleaned, now is the time to guilt trip the hubby (ok maybe I am the only mean wife that would do that). If you do have something that is burning in their just go in and scrape it off. Or turn up the oven really high and let it burn away. That is my method. I set the fire alarm off all the time. Good practice for fire drills. lol
Your supposed to clean your oven??
Crap.
Happy New Year! Maybe I should join you in one of your goals--NOT the cleaning oven part--my oven looks pretty good. UGH! But what a task...I wish you luck.
No the General Conference article book club. Trying to get more spiritual in my life lately--now that I am a primary teacher of 8 AND 9 year olds...
:) Hold me to it. I will do this! That is my FJ1W! :)
Erin-My resolutions are frightfully similar to yours! Way to think big! (it is big)
Also, to practice more patience, because after I push the baby out, my hormones are not kind to me.
I say go get a pedicure and hand the oven cleaner over to the hub!
I agree with all the "Don't ever use oven cleaner" comments. I've used lemon juice and baking soda, soak for a little while, and wipe. Some of the harder caked on places need it a couple times, but it's oh so much better to clean with non-toxic products. I'm made that switch for all my cleaners (and it totally helps my sensitive skin).
Oh yeah, and I like the resolutions. Pushing a baby out is nothing to shake a finger at! That's hard work!
Good luck with all your lovely goals. I need to think of a few, too. Like being nicer. That would be good. I've been too cranked lately.
Will you clean my oven too!?!
I feel so honored to be a part of your very first new year's resolution. I'll totally hold you to it. :) Send me your address and I'll stalk your house.
Just kidding. Really.
Is it not a self-cleaning oven? Self cleaning is SO the way to go. Just remove the racks and then turn it on. Then, when the fumes start to give you a little bit of a head ache, just head out of the house for an hour or two. When you come back -it's done. Sparkly like new.
Okay. I also read about a woman who soaks it over night with baking soda and water. She swears it more or less cleans itself that way too.
(I googled all this about 2 weeks ago, when I had to clean the oven before our move.)
Happy New Year.
yep! they are right... fumes are icky. even for non-prego people. dirty ovens rock!
Happy New Year!!!
Are you sure you don't have a self-cleaning oven? I think that's pretty much standard unless your oven is more than 10 years old.
If not, you should just use it as an excuse to get a NEW oven! Mine died last spring and my new one does the self-clean thing AND steam clean for lighter messes. I'm hoping to never need oven cleaner again. A new oven is definately the way to go on this one.
I love my self cleaning over, (once I figured it out).
I personally hate New Year resolutions, I nevr stick with them, and they're too demanding,lol.
Hope you have a great new year, and baby!!
I'm right there with ya! Except I have a couple more weeks before finding out the sex. :(
I haven't read any of the other comments, so I don't know what great words/phrases have come up... But I'd go with something like "Let It Go"... or "Cherish"... or "Flexibility"... But that's just me.
Personally, I don't make New Year's Resolutions. I do, however, make a focus each month - kind of a "New Month's Resolutions." Just things to focus on that month. Never more than 5 or 6. (Usually things I've let slip.) Also, I just wrote a post about what we do instead of resolutions! :)
http://blhvamos.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-predictions.html
I love Erin goals and resolutions so attainable for will-power challenged beings like myself.
Can't wait to hear about the baby.
Happy New Year!
We are SO on the same page. I've been reading lots of resolution-ish posts, and all I can think of for myself is to push a baby out of me by March and keep my entire family of five alive till 2011.
You reminded me. I did have a resolution last year to simplify. Huh. so much for that!
I really, really like your just one week idea. I'm going to copy you.
And maybe you could clean out the fridge. At least at my house that's a big ugly yucky job.
I really need to do both.
When is your ultrasound appointment???
Yes oven clean fumes not a good thing for pregnant momma's. Don't you love having the pregnancy as an excuse not to have to clean?? :)
I think you should be able to accomplish your goals.. though the baby is going to have to help with both. :)
I usually do not tell people what my resolution is so that I don't jinx it. I do tell people of how I fared with the past year's resolution. Feel free to stop by and see how I did for last year's resolution.
http://cajoh.blogspot.com/2009/12/inclusive-resolutions.html
Enjoy,
I think once every few years is plenty for cleaning an oven. Don't you have a clean option on yours? I am assuming it is new enough. No oven cleaner (so gross) needed. You just turn it on and when time is up you wipe out the ashes. So easy.
Hoorah for an excuse to not clean the oven!
I'm trying to think of good words for your new year, and here's what comes to mind:
easy.
Easy labor,(hoping for you!) easy baby, easy meals, easy recovery, etc.
I'm so excited to find out what you're having!
I would never clean my oven. It would probably explode in my face.
Happy New Year! You get the best resolution by giving birth and surviving those sleepless nights. I have a self cleaning oven and love it....
Good excuse for you to have a clean oven, and have your husband do it right!! When do you or do you find out what you are having?
I love the surprise You gave CHristian!!
liz
You don't have a self cleaning oven? Do those make fumes?
okay, just read about the ultrasound in this post. Wahoo! And, just a question, which is worse, fumes from oven cleaner for an hour of scrubbing? (I spray mine at night and let it soak in a cold oven until I wipe it out the next morning) or a fire in the house from burnt overflow??? Here's a thought - maybe you should have C on oven duty before the next ice fishing trip. :-) Now we're talking! A clean oven and a still-standing house without inhaling any pregnancy-toxic fumes! Not bad, if I do say so myself!
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