Disconnecting, Catching Up, and Resolutions

This time a month ago, we were in Georgia. We spent a glorious 3 weeks at my parents and siblings houses relaxing, lounging, celebrating, gaming (the old school way,) eating, and maybe most importantly disconnecting. I decided as I was packing for our visit that I wasn't going to bring my laptop. This in and of its self isn't really a big deal (I still brought an ipad, ipod, and cell phone,) but it did in a small way represent the break I wanted to take from the digital world. And. It. Was. Fabulous!

I remember after coming home from my mission, I went on a cruise with my dad and my brother. My dad was excited that for the first time everywhere we went, we had internet access. Me, not so much. When I go on vacation, I like to go on vacation from everything. Sometimes you just need a break, right? I did occasionally check facebook/instagram/email etc. during my stay, but it wasn't daily, and I never felt like I was missing out on anything. In fact, I felt more connected than ever to the things and people surrounding me. Instead of posting memories and watching others make theirs, I was living in the moment and basking in the now. I think I need to do it more often.

There is of course a downside to not staying on top of my digital life. I now have so much that I need to catch up on here on the blog: Our anniversary, Christmas, New Years, Oliver in motion, etc. This blog mainly functions as my online scrapbook of sorts. So there lies my catch 22: wanting to enjoy making memories without obsessively recording them in real time and wanting to make this blog a glimpse into the major/minor moments of our lives. A balancing act that I plan to take on in 2014. And with that, here are some of my New Year's Resolutions:

1. Get online less, live more

2. Go to bed earlier

3. Be proactive about my health: nutrition and exercise

4. Brush up on Italian before our trip in June

5. Utilize the whole week to prepare my Sunday School lessons

The year of 2014 is definitely going to be a year of change for us with Brian graduating and new adventures on the horizon. I think we are up for the challenge!

Oliver 7/8 Month Update

Our sweet Oliver turned 8 months old on Tuesday! He is growing up so quickly that I hardly feel he even qualifies as my little baby anymore. The 7 to 8 month transition has been a little overwhelming for us; Oliver has just bulldozed through milestone after milestone, and Brian and I just look at each other with each new trick and wonder how we are going to keep up with this little man?!? He is all boy: curious, messy, mischievous,  such a FLIRT, and fascinated with all things that roll (balls, cars, trucks, bottles) and all things electronic (just like his Daddy.) 

Oliver's Passport Photo - 8 months

Fun Facts from 7/8 Months:

- wears 6-9 month clothes

- size 2 diapers

- smiles all the time, even when fussy or crying. It's confusing.

- went from backwards scooting to army man to regular crawling

- pulls himself to standing and tries to climb everything

 - favorite song and video is "Old MacDonald" 

- favorite foods: yogurt, yogurt, yogurt, puffs, cream of wheat, grown up food

- least favorite foods: formula, sweet potatoes, carrots

- could stay in the bath tub for hours if we'd let him

- has his first tooth starting to break through on the bottom

- no longer eats at all during the night but wakes up at least once to practice standing in his crib

- can open up the tv stand and get to the wii remotes

- still loves to bounce

- gets mistaken for a 5/6 month old all the time until people see him move

- takes 2 consistent naps a day

- can now kneel for nighttime (quick) prayers

- doesn't want any help holding his bottle or sippy cup

- loves cords, hair, shoe laces, and hoodie strings

- has no stranger anxiety at all

- can pull toys out of the toy bin by himself

- cuddles only when we sing lullaby's before naps and bedtime

 

and 

he just woke up! Until next time...