One Year

It's been one year ago today that I started my blog, so to mark this momentous occasion (HA!) I will tell you 10 things about myself that I feel you must really know.

1. I'm extremely shy. So shy in fact that it's painful. I had a chance to meet Michele once. I was going to be in her neck of the woods with my children, had always wanted to meet her and had it all set up. As it got closer, I got more sick about the meeting. I would get lost, the weather was too hot, I wouldn't know what to say, blah, blah, blah. So I cancelled. My shyness manifests itself in two ways. I'm either so quiet that I come across as rude or I'm so talkative that you're wondering if I will ever stop talking. I also end up saying really dumb things that I regret and live over again and again in my head.

2. I've always wanted to meet Linda. I've known her and Michele the same length of time-about 9 years. I've only known them via on-line. We first met at the Nursing Mother's Sewing List. I think Linda would be a lot of fun to visit, but I probably never will. See #1.

3. I really like to read blogs. They make me feel like I'm having a chat with my friends, but without the pressure of having to think of something to say (see #1). I also love to learn new things and I'm so thankful to everyone who shares new recipes, patterns, sewing techniques, etc. so that I can continually learn from the comfort of my own home. It's also one of the few things I can easily do while feeding Kate.

4. I can knit and crochet. I'm much faster at crochet, but I'd rather knit. I rarely do either. They both make me sleepy.

5. I always weigh less than my pre-pregnancy weight right after having a baby. I start gaining weight soon after the birth though. I've gained 5 pounds since giving birth to Kate. I'm not happy about this at all. I find it hard not to snack while nursing and snack I do-on chocolate, cookies, leftovers, crackers, pretzels, whatever that's easy and tasty. Especially chocolate. I do like things like broccoli, but my family doesn't. So it's their fault that I eat too much chocolate and not enough broccoli. :)

6. I used to be a school teacher. I taught mostly kindergarten. I loved it. I didn't always like dealing with(some of) the parents/other staff/my principal. In addition to being shy, I'm also socially inept. I have this way of saying the wrong thing. It's awful. Most places I've worked, they probably threw a party after I left to celebrate the fact I was finally gone. People always want to know if I will go back to teaching when my children are grown. I don't know. Sometimes I think I would like to teach at our local community college and teach others how to teach children, but then again sometimes I don't.

7.As much as being pregnant made me so sick, I loved being pregnant. My favorite part was my big belly. Loved the big belly. Also loved being so skinny right after the birth. Hated everything else, especially being so sick.

8. I'm a terrible housekeeper. My messy house drives me crazy, but usually the only time I have to work on it is at night and by then I am too tired. I hope that when Kate gets older, I'll have more time during the day to keep it dusted at least. I think I'll always be messy. We try to have people over once a month so that I have to clean the piles of mess up, but it doesn't always happen. I spend the whole month dreading that the people are coming over (see #1) but most of the time it goes well and I'm glad that my house is less messy for at least a day. Five children can make a small house get messy in a very short time.

9. I no longer have a sewing room. I didn't have a whole room, just a corner, but it was somewhere I could keep my machines, material, etc. out all the time. Now it's packed away so that Ben can have his own room. So now any time I want to sew, I have to set everything up and then take it back down when I'm finished. This happens when everyone is asleep. Usually I'm too tired. If I'm not too tired, then I feel like I should do a bit of cleaning and by then I'm too tired.

10.I'm a Christian and I'm very religious. Sometimes I've done things that are very unChrist like and that bothers me. I'm not very good about forgiving myself for my shortcomings.
11. Okay, I know I said 10, but I have to just say one more thing. I am very blessed. I have a nice house, wonderful neighbors and the best husband and children anyone could ever ask for. I have especially enjoyed the baby shown above. She just got her first tooth this week. Who knew the fifth baby could be so much fun?