2012 resolutions? Bucket List?

So I don't do resolutions nor have I ever written a bucket list because I have never once kept a resolution and I find that I'm so unambitious that writing a bucket list seemed pointless. However, after the major events that happened in 2011, I definitely want to set some goals for 2012 and somehow writing them down for others to see makes them more concrete. I sincerely hope there are a couple people along the way who might be willing to help me and hold me accountable.

Big news of 2011:
1. started a new job- teaching parttime at Madison Traditional Academy. LOVE IT!
2. Became pregnant- February
3. Gave birth to my first child- Oct. 14th
4. Almost reached goal weight (6 lbs to go) before realizing I was pregnant

Very short list but big things happened. I don't anticipate the same huge events (afterall what can top having a baby?) but there are a few things I'd like to accomplish this year while I am not pregnant

Goals for 2012:
1. loss of some pounds and inches. Last year I lost about 45 pounds so my goal is to lose that by December 31st (because I know I can). I also plan to lose the following inches in certain body parts:
              waist: 12 inches
              hips: 6 inches
2. finish my master's and graduate (dates for walking and finishing classes are set)
3. drifting school- there is a place in Phoenix where you can learn to drift. I will do it since I won't be pregnant this year (at least not planned).
4. complete at least one project from pinterest (possibly Kenzie's first birthday party).

I may add more items to the list but I think these 4 items will take the all of or at least the majority of the year to reach. I guess the next step is to figure out how to make these goals happen.

New Year... new job... new things to come

In Aug. 8th I officially start my 6th year teaching. I can't believe that, how time flies!!! I am working at a new school in my district this year and am really excited about the opportunity to try something new although my heart is broken to leave my students behind. I will be teaching only middle school this year so it be interesting to see if I miss my little guys terribly or fully embrace the older students.

Mike and I only have about 14 weeks left before our newest family member comes home. I feel like I've been pregnant forever but at the same time I can't believe I am almost in my third trimester and about to be a mom. I can still vividly remember the day I moved away to college.

I am also plugging along on my master's degree and am excited to work with my new principal mentor. I have 5 classes left including the two classes that consist basically of my principal internship next fall. This next year should be quite a ride.

A new blog for a while

I have not posted anything on According to Leah for a while because I've been busy posting on a new temporary blog "The Fertile Myrtle Journal" as I am going to be a mommy and am excitedly write about the new experiences along the way.

Follow my new blog at Fertile Myrtle Journal

I'm sure I'll post here again :)

Universal Truths as learned from 13 year olds

After returning from my second leadership conference but first time planning the trip out-of-state I realize that I've learned some important truths about teenagers and trips:

1. If you put 4 13 year olds in one room and 3 12 year olds in another and those rooms are conjoining, they WILL consider the two rooms ONE large bedroom.

2. 4 girls will share a bed with  no problem, 4 boys will not. They will opt for the floor, the closet, or the bathtub

3.  4 cell phone alarms being set will ultimately equal none of them going off on time.

4. if hotel staff leaves an extra roll of toilet paper in the bathroom, that is automatically interpreted as wrapping for a person.

5. if you ask students to save seats, one should specify that those seats should be saved for the rest of your group.

6. No matter how many times you ask students to hold on to their room keys, they will start disappearing mysteriously throughout the weekend.

7. If you challenge students to rise to a standard and set an example for others, they will do it.

8. It is sometimes more beneficial to choose to NOT ask questions.

 Interestingly these are the same truths that myself and all my classmates taught our teachers when we were 13 years old but apparently I forgot until I was the one learning the lessons. I gladly repeat this weekend again!

I need some winning outcomes

This year I tried something new, I didn't set any resolutions because I have NEVER ever followed through on even one of them regardless of how manageable and well-intentioned they were. In weight watchers, we were encouraged to envision winning outcomes instead. I realized that even with my success with weight watchers over 11 months, I had become very lazy in my routine, occasionally to the detriment of my weight loss progress.

I thought about what I could and want to accomplish this year and started brainstorming steps to get to those outcomes.

1. Norman's health (and mine)- I do not have time to commit to a gym regiment nor the money to pay for a membership but I live in quite a lovely apartment complex on a breathtaking golf course and my pug is pretty roundish in the middle section. I want to start taking him for more walks, I can't state a certain number of times per week but this is something I can do and Norman needs it as well.



2. Reducing my number of cups of coffee and soda. I have successfully
switched to either all decaf or all but maybe one cup a day but the
problem remains...I drink so much coffee. It's a serious comfort blanket
for me. I love love love holding a warm coffee mug in my hands.
There is no excuse for soda though (nothing therapeutic there).
I've had someone suggest switching to hot tea.  Maybe... ideas?

Class of 2012

3. Maintain a 4.0 GPA. This may seem ridiculous and there might come a time that this has to drop if other tasks take priority but I want to say I graduated with my master's in Education Administration with a 4.0 GPA. I know that employers won't care but I do.

Cause it works!

4.  Average 1lb weight loss per week until I'm pregnant or until I reach goal weight. This is not unreasonable at all! I started losing weight Feb. 22, 2010. Had a maintained the recommended and healthy weight loss of 1 lb/week until now, I would have lost almost 48 lbs and I'd be painfully close to goal right now. Instead, I'm still about 15 lbs away. There are always weeks of gains or losses but 1 lb a week is achievable.