33 by 34

Today is my 33rd birthday. Not the greatest day ever, as it would appear my husband forgot. No "happy birthday," and no card. That stings my heart....a lot.

Despite the lack of meaningful birthday wishes, I'm doing something meaningful for myself. A list of things I'd like to accomplish in the next year. One for each year so far.

1. Lose xx lbs (only I know the number)
2. Read 30 books
3. Join weight watchers
4. Get contact lenses
5. Get teeth whitened
6. Double wedding ring quilt
7. 7 pairs socks
8. Nolans blankie
9. Etsy shop
10. Long arm quilt class
11. Paralegal certificate
12. Apply for graphic design degree
13. Enter quilt contest
14. Get 4th tattoo
15. Learn to preserve and can
16. Use crockpot more
17. Start veggie garden
18. Do Christmas shopping before christmas eve
19. Use sewing patterns to make tops
20. Hand quilt something
21. Make a list of books to read
22. See cirque du Soleil show
23. Figure out how much tv I watch and watch less
24. Be kinder to strangers
25. Get rid of the toys Nolan has that require batteries
26. Go vegetarian for a month
27. Go 1 month without using credit cards
28. Shop secondhand more
29. Make nolans growth chart
30. Make a project Linus quilt
31. Make an appliqué doll quilt
32. Figure out if I believe in god
33. Get pregnant

Fabric Giveaway contest

Here's a chance to win some awesome fabric...

http://www.psiquilt.com/2011/09/sponsor-giveaway-shabby-fabrics.html

New Beginnings

For me, September is all about change. It's the month of my birthday, wedding anniversary, and it's when most kids head back to school-new beginnings. The season finally shifts to fall (my favorite) and the days become shorter.

As September arrives, and the possibility of very big changes in our lives loom ahead, I think about where I was 10 years ago, and where I am today. Of course, that was 2001--and I will forever remember being glued to the TV and horrified at watching the Towers fall from the TV at the job I had just started.

2001-I had just finished college, and started working as a legal secretary. It was always my goal to go to law school, but working in a law firm opened my eyes to what being an attorney meant, and a resounding "hell no" rang through my brain. I worked my way up, and am close to receiving my Paralegal Certificate.

As I think about the potential change ahead, there looms a paradigm shift in my brain. My son will be 2 in November. He has been in daycare since he was 4 months old. He has been happy and has thrived, but there is a part of my heart that breaks every morning when I drop him off because I don't get to spend my day with him. It just has not been financially possible for me to stay home.

The job opportunities aren't that great where we may go, so I have been looking at the possibility of homeschooling. The more I read about it, the more I love the idea of it. There are preschool programs that we can purchase when he hits 2.5--and I get excited just thinking about it. I never knew how much fun having a toddler would be---I love watching him learn new things, and seeing the wheels spin in his head when he figures things out. To be able to be the one that teaches him things, and to be able to be there to see him learn and figure things out would be a blessing.

We shall see. Keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for an awesome new adventure.