My 11 in '11 wrap up!

So I wanted to do a wrap up of my 11 goals for 2o11. Overall, I want to say that I am pretty proud of the ones that I did accomplish- I accomplished some that were most important to me and I did a pretty good job on the others. So here's the list with a few notes :)

1. Complete Jaelynn's alphabet book that I have been wanting to make (6/26 letters complete)- I started it and I just wasn't totally happy with where I was going with it, so I just left it for the time being. She is soooo into letter sounds right now that this is something that I really do want to do, I just have to find the right way to do it. Hmm...I'll have to think about this one some more. (adding on to this now since I wrote it at the beginning of the month-my new photo project will help me with this one this year...)

2. Complete my alphabet photos (0/26 photos)- This has been a photography project that I have wanted to tackle for so long, but I just cannot find the time to do it. I need time to get out and shoot by myself-or at least without Jae. I need to be able to go on photo walks and at this point in my life, and in the coming year, I don't have that time. I'm going to keep this on on the back burner, because I do want to do it...eventually!

3. Read at least 25 books this year (I will increase by 5 at a time if this goal needs to be revised) (12/25)- When I got pregnant, reading dropped off the planet for me, lol. Between the first/early second trimester and trying to keep up a toddler, I just didn't have the energy to read before bed (which is the only time I really have to do it). I have been picking up my books again lately (and finished two in the last month, so I'll probably have a new reading goal. Plus, I like sharing the books I read.

4. Pay off at least 4 debts, no matter how big or small (4/4)-Finished! Very proud of this one!! (I think it may actually be 5, but I can't remember) Joey and I have been tackling this one head on! We don't have huge, major debts, but just little stupid things that need to be done! It was just a matter of making it happen and we did and still are.

5. Try at least 20 new recipes (8/20)- I really wish I had gotten a little farther on this one, but again, pregnancy did me in. I am not a big pregnant eater at all. And during the first part of this pregnancy food was not a top priority. I didn't/don't get sick, but I can handle all the smells-blagh.

6. Finish/start decorating and furnishing our basement and front sitting area- This one is a little tricky. We found out we would have a nursery to decorate, so I wasn't worried about the other rooms. The basement needs to wait until we really decided what's going to happen with the playroom/toy situation. Within the last couple weeks, we have ordered furniture for that room (that came yesterday) and ordered the new blinds (which we had to get custom) and they should be ready for install in a few weeks. Joey says that even the tax companies give you a grace period, so maybe I should count this one as done ;P Plus we're decorating a nursery, so the really goal of just having my house a little more "decorated" is working out.

7. Sew at least 10 different items on my new sewing machine (0/10)- This was a major fail. I haven't even taken it out of the box, but I just don't know where to put it. Anyway, I do have plans for things I want to sew for baby, so it's going to get done!

8. Finish Jaelynn's 1 year book and maybe get started on year two-Finished both!! Again, very proud of this. I got Jae's 1st year book done and just kept on trucking with her second book thanks to a great Groupon I had for printing (which gave me a deadline).

9. Complete a 52 week photo project (pics for every week) (52/52)-Done! I love projects like this. Gives me something to focus on with my photography. Sometimes it can be tough to feel like you "have" to take pics, but I'm glad I do, because I have so many fav memories of Jae and the photos to cherish forever.

10. Create and stick to a budget withing a certain percentage every month (TBD) (2/11 months-starting in Feb.)- Blew this one for sure, but since we were totally focused on #4, it wasn't a major concern.

11. Give nail biting the boot! I say this every year, but it never works!!-Cautiously saying complete! Again, super proud of this one. I have been a nail biter for my whole life. A bad one. I knew once I had Jae that I just had to stop. I didn't want her to see that and develop the same habit. I've been done for a long time and even get regular manicures, something very new for me. I was always super embarrassed about my nails (which I still am a little), so letting someone do something so "intimate" for me is a big deal, lol.

So there it is. My wrap up. I loved thinking about what I wanted to accomplish for the year and keeping up with it, so I will definitely be doing something like this again this year. Some of my goals were so "big" that they were hard to accomplish. I need to start them smaller with plans to add on if I get them completed early. I'm working right now to finalize my list of 12 things. Some the same, some different. I am having a mommy day tomorrow with a few doctors appointments (one baby and one chiropracter) sprinkled it. Hopefully I have time to get the new blog look up and share my new 12 in 12 goals! Anyone have any great photo projects or goals that they are tackling for the new year? I would love some inspiration!

And because I hate posting without pictures, here some funnies of Jae that I don't think I've shared, but can't remember. She gets her feelings totally hurt when you get onto her for anything or even when you just tell her to be careful. This particular day I told her to be careful doing something and she immediately buried her head in the sand ;)