Month 2: Gratitude

For my 2nd month of my year-long happiness project I focused on writing in a gratitude journal everyday.  As expected, it really helped me with perspective as I focused each day on what I would write in my journal and therefore was looking for the good.  I also tried to think about how I recognized God's influence in my life each day--mostly those observations turned out to be our safety and health.  I know these are precious blessings that I hope never to take for granted.  This month's project was especially enjoyable as I was able to focus on all the things I love about newborns.  Third time around, I feel like I'm able to enjoy a newborn a lot more due to being an experienced mama.  I love all the grunting, stretching, and cute cooing noises.

Each month I'm trying to read a spiritual book as well.  This month I read: House of Learning: Getting More From Your Temple Experience.  Several good thoughts and ideas included that I know will improve my experience in the temple.

Exercise also is a daily goal because it makes me happy.  At my two week OB appointment, I was shocked when my doctor gave me the go-ahead to start running again.  So you better believe I was out there running the next day!  I'm 4 weeks out from having a baby and have run 4 and 4 1/2 miles for my Saturday runs, and I'm running 2 miles during my weekday runs.  It's tricky to do my running when Matt's at home to watch the kids so it usually happens at night as I'm not getting up early these days.  I'm still working on getting my time down; I can run 9-minute miles on my short runs, but about 9:45 miles when I go longer.

I set a goal to index 200 names a month as well.  That didn't happen this month. :o)

Next month my goal is to work on being calm and controlling my anger.  Carter is not always very nice to the baby, and I can't take my eyes off of him--ever it seems, which just isn't realistic.  I've noticed that Mama Bear comes out when he's too rough with the baby or he does something really naughty when my back is turned.  I need to work on my patience and control as I remind him how to act around the baby.  (I never had this problem with Caleb when Carter was a baby!  And my boys are all the same distance apart.)  Patience is an attribute that's lacking right now anyway when I'm going on little sleep each day.  I figured this would be a good month for this goal especially as I have Elfie, our elf on the shelf, to help encourage Carter (and Caleb at times) to behave so that they don't get any Christmas presents taken away. :o)

I've also gotten behind on my blogging, so I hope to catch up in the next few weeks.  Especially the exciting news that I'm a new aunt--my sister has adopted a baby girl!