Day 181

All is not lost. I disappeared from this blog for a minute, but I haven't given it up!

What I have done is re-evaluated my list and changed a couple of things. A few were just not very realistic (I really will probably not be scheduling a pin-up girl style photo shoot any time in the foreseeable future) and I realized there were some other things that were more important to me that I make a firm commitment to (exclusive breastfeeding for Max's first 6 months).

I am often very critical of myself and, while I can be extremely flexible with everything else in the world, I don't often cut myself any slack. Done with the self-harshness! I need to give myself permission to change my mind and goals, starting with this list. (I even changed item #101 to reflect this.)

Along the way, I have managed to cross a few more things off my list. I have sent 25 postcards to postcrossing.com (#18). I have enjoyed this so much that I have no plans to stop. I'll be interested in seeing how many postcards I have by the end of Day 1001! I told my friend, Lily, about that goal. She is nine years old and signed up right away. Not only has she received 4 postcards aleady, but she has become a letter writer because of this. How fabulous! Although she lives less than 2 miles a day, I can count on at least 1 or 2 delightful letters tucked among the bills every week. I love writing her back. When I met my Sweetheart so many years ago, we wrote countless letters to each other; I have missed having a pen pal.

#14 (Attempt a drug-free, completely natural childbirth) has also been crossed off. I did not succeed at this - a Cesaerean section was neccessary to get Max here safely - but I did my best to try. I even went in for a (somewhat forced) induction that lasted two excruciating days, hoping that if the process was kickstarted I could deliver him without further interventions. Alas! it was not to be, but not through any lack of effort on my part, so I count this as worth being crossed off.

I love #30. I use my Moby easily with Max and he (usually) likes it. I have obtained a Maya ring sling but haven't had a chance to learn to use it yet. I am confident I will, though, and I still harbor dreams of getting a woven wrap and learning the intricacies of Babywearing.

In all, I think I have 14 items crossed off. There's a long way to go still, but I think I can do it. There are also a few more items I am considering taking off the list, but I'll wait a while and be sure I have worthy replacements for those things before striking them.

Day 83

I am not doing as well as I had hoped - thank God I have 918 days left!

I *have* sent 5 more postcards as part of postcrossing.com. I also purchased all the postcards I will need to send the total of 25 I want to send, so that's something.

I have done a horrible job of reading a poem every single day - or of recording it on the days I do. I think I need to just read a crapload of poems to catch up and then get the hell back on track!

I have also not done the best job of reading out loud to our unborn child. SHAME on me, Librarian Mama who knows better! SIGH. I know I will read to Tex once he/she is really here, but I haven't done so well lately. I *do* talk and sing to the Baby, though.

What else? Have brushed Mugz. Have called or visited my Grammy. DO tell my Sweetheart at least once a day that I love him (usually more than that). Tonight I wrote 7 more book reviews for my other blog, bringing me up to 14 total since I started this project.

This week I will catch up on my poetry and start on a play list for the hospital. Only 6 weeks until the Baby's due, so it seems like that's the task that needs to be tackled next!

Day 52

Got a bit more done this week. Visited Gram (#73) and brought her some really pretty white and red roses for no particular reason (#96). Went to tea with Barbara and Lily (though I am not going to count that as high tea (#39) and toured the McCormick Mansion at Cantigny (definitely counts as a museum for #40). I have also started (but not come near finishing) weeding my cds and dvds (#101). My Sweetheart and I have been talking a little about churches we might want to visit, though no decisions have been made (#41).

Cantigny was really lovely, despite the cold weather. It's clear that the grounds will be gorgeous once the weather is good and the gardens are in bloom. My Sweetheart and I are hoping to go back when the Spring is here for real. I think if I lived nea Wheaton I would go there often, especially once the Baby gets here.

I also had the opportunity to tell a few more people about this project. I did not include inspiring others to make their own lists on my list of goals, but it's cool to know that others are thinking about it.

Update: Day 45

Okay, so I am 45 days in and doing okay, I think. I've done my poem a day. Make a point to tell Johnny I love him (at least) once a day. Baby, too. I have read out loud to the Baby most days (have honestly missed a few days here and there, though that will NOT happen once the Kid is actually here).

I have also done okay with posting book reviews on book-kitten.blogspot.com (#2). I have done 7 since the beginning of this project and am thinking through how I want to write an eighth. #16 is to read a different novel from each of ten countries; Reading Maeve Binchey's Minding Frankie (Ireland) means I am 10% done with that one.

I have visited Gram every week but one, though I did call her that week (#73). Also been keeping up with brushing Mugzy (#91) (even though I swear that cat does not like me even a little bit). And I have thus far posted 3 notes for operationbeautiful.com (#71), which means I have technically completed that task, though I plan to continue posting those notes from time to time.

Need to get some Chicago postcards so I can send some more postcrossing.com cards; plan to pick some up next time I am in The City.

So, I need to move past just keeping up with the on-going tasks and work on something new. I have started on #101 - weeding my cd and dvd collections. Perhaps I can try to finish that within this next week. Oh! And I am going to tea with Barbara and LilyBelle (#39) this coming Monday, so I can cross that one off.

Slow but steady...