For Ethnos our "homework" this week was to take a personality test. I was surprised to find that my personality has changed (!) since the last time I took this test. I thought I knew what the results would be. However, I think the influence of my husband (who I'm betting has a pretty similar personality type) has swayed me into become more of a "grown up" (according to us- i.e. being organized, following schedules and routines, etc).
Traits of an ISTJ:
-They place great importance on honesty and integrity.
-They enjoy structure, rules, traditions, and routines.
-Extremely dependable on following through with things they have promised.
-May have a difficult time saying "no" when they are given more work than they can reasonably handle.
-Often work long hours and will put a lot of energy into completing tasks they see as "fulfilling a goal".
-Will resist putting energy into things which don't make sense to them, or for which they can't see a practical application.
-Prefer to work alone, but work well in teams when the situation demands it.
-Likely to be uncomfortable expressing affection and emotion to others, but cares deeply for those around them.
-Tend to express affection through actions rather than through words.
-Faithful and loyal. Traditional and family-minded.
-Can take any task and define it, organize it, plan it, and implement it through to completion.
-Great sense of space and function, and artistic appreciation.
-Acutely aware of their senses, and want to be in surroundings which fit their need for structure, order, and beauty.
-Under stress, ISTJs may fall into "catastrophe mode", where they see nothing but all of the possibilities of what could go wrong. They will berate themselves for things which they should have done differently, or duties which they failed to perform. They will lose their ability to see things calmly and reasonably, and will depress themselves with their visions of doom.
(I put that last part in for Matt... if he read this far... because that is me to a T. He is fond of saying that I am not a problem-solver, which is not true, but I do have my moments where all hope is lost and there's nothing to do but despair and wait for the apocalypse)
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
reality check
This has been a rough week for me. There are so many reasons why, none of which need to be publicly broadcast... but a lot of things have not gone my way this week, and this morning I am pretty much at the end of my rope. I am so glad today is friday, because I just want to spend a couple of quiet days with my husband, daughter, and a large container of chocolate ice cream.
I would be lying, though, if I said there was nothing positive about this week, so I am taking my friend Sam's advice and focusing on the things I am thankful for.
Yesterday I had a really fantastic opportunity to join a mom's group that is happening at Sunset Pres. I had no idea how badly I needed something like this until I was sitting in a room surrounded by 40 or 50 other moms and babies. I was almost in tears listening to other women sharing their stories of first-time parenthood (which are surprisingly similar to mine). I met another mom who works from home and has a one-year-old son. She's probably at least ten years older than me, but I'll bet we have more in common right now than some friends I've known since high school. I am feeling very, very thankful to have found this group of women and I'm really hoping that both Kisa and I can make some lasting friendships. I think I need to put some more effort into building relationships with other moms, both for my sake and for Kisa's. I have a few acquaintances with young kids, but no one in my immediate community, and I'd really love to have play dates and women I can call up for advice or to vent or whatever.
Anyway, that was a HUGE blessing for me this week. I don't think I can even express in words how much it meant to me.
I have also been reminding myself that the past three years have been overflowing with God's provision and blessings in my life. I got married, bought a house, had a baby, and God has provided for our life together in ways that were literally beyond my imagining. I don't think I could have asked for more from Him. My relationship with my brother has changed and is growing into what I have prayed for years that it would be. I am brimming with pride over Daniel and the things he has accomplished in his own life over the past several months. I hoped for, but did not really expect, him to make such a dramatic change in his life. What a joy for me to finally be able to say that I have a deep respect for my older brother (for the first time in as long as I can remember)...
So, yes, I have an incredible amount to be thankful for. Even if I feel like a lot has gone wrong this week, I have a family I love, a roof over my head, food in my fridge and money in the bank... I have been redeemed by a God who loves me like crazy and has held this entire awful week in the palm of his hand. I guess life isn't so bad after all...
I would be lying, though, if I said there was nothing positive about this week, so I am taking my friend Sam's advice and focusing on the things I am thankful for.
Yesterday I had a really fantastic opportunity to join a mom's group that is happening at Sunset Pres. I had no idea how badly I needed something like this until I was sitting in a room surrounded by 40 or 50 other moms and babies. I was almost in tears listening to other women sharing their stories of first-time parenthood (which are surprisingly similar to mine). I met another mom who works from home and has a one-year-old son. She's probably at least ten years older than me, but I'll bet we have more in common right now than some friends I've known since high school. I am feeling very, very thankful to have found this group of women and I'm really hoping that both Kisa and I can make some lasting friendships. I think I need to put some more effort into building relationships with other moms, both for my sake and for Kisa's. I have a few acquaintances with young kids, but no one in my immediate community, and I'd really love to have play dates and women I can call up for advice or to vent or whatever.
Anyway, that was a HUGE blessing for me this week. I don't think I can even express in words how much it meant to me.
I have also been reminding myself that the past three years have been overflowing with God's provision and blessings in my life. I got married, bought a house, had a baby, and God has provided for our life together in ways that were literally beyond my imagining. I don't think I could have asked for more from Him. My relationship with my brother has changed and is growing into what I have prayed for years that it would be. I am brimming with pride over Daniel and the things he has accomplished in his own life over the past several months. I hoped for, but did not really expect, him to make such a dramatic change in his life. What a joy for me to finally be able to say that I have a deep respect for my older brother (for the first time in as long as I can remember)...
So, yes, I have an incredible amount to be thankful for. Even if I feel like a lot has gone wrong this week, I have a family I love, a roof over my head, food in my fridge and money in the bank... I have been redeemed by a God who loves me like crazy and has held this entire awful week in the palm of his hand. I guess life isn't so bad after all...
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
In the last couple of years, with the aid of a stable relationship and the pressure of motherhood, I have grown up a lot. I am still a young'un at 22 (I have a lot left to learn) but I have discovered some very simple pleasures that come along with growing up.
For the first time in my life, I think I can say pretty confidently that I know who I am. I can list qualities that I possess. I can tell you my strengths and weaknesses. I'm sure I'm still in denial about some of my more negative qualities, but, for the most part, I know what being me entails, and I am happy with me.
Which means... I really don't care if other people think I am cool or like the things I like. I am not embarrassed to admit that I listen to Kelly Clarkson or watch The Hills (both of which my husband finds completely ridiculous). I like what I like. I am who I am.
It is a very freeing feeling.
For the first time in my life, I think I can say pretty confidently that I know who I am. I can list qualities that I possess. I can tell you my strengths and weaknesses. I'm sure I'm still in denial about some of my more negative qualities, but, for the most part, I know what being me entails, and I am happy with me.
Which means... I really don't care if other people think I am cool or like the things I like. I am not embarrassed to admit that I listen to Kelly Clarkson or watch The Hills (both of which my husband finds completely ridiculous). I like what I like. I am who I am.
It is a very freeing feeling.
Friday, January 08, 2010
ski trip!
Matt and I received an awesome gift this Christmas (or rather, the promise of a gift). Instead of exchanging presents, my parents are taking the entire family on a four-day ski vacation to Black Butte over President's Day weekend.
I am so excited about it that I am literally counting down the days until we leave. I have not been skiing in over two years, and I think the year before that I went to the mountain only once.
I am not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination, but there is ONE sport that I love, and that is skiing. I love it so much that in high school I was on our school's ski team and I competed (albeit rather poorly) in downhill races. It is also the one sport that I LOVE to watch on TV and will become completely immersed in. Perhaps someday, if I am ever wealthy beyond my wildest dreams, Matt and I will be able to attend the Olympic winter games. It's kinda killing me that they are so close this year and I won't be seeing them.
Anyway... there are not many things I do well athletically (in fact there is nothing I do well athletically) except ski. I'm not fantastic at it, but I am a pretty decent skier and because I love it SO much I have always wanted to get Matt into skiing. We have never been up to the mountain together. To me this is the equivalent of being married to Matt and never hearing him play the drums or never seeing a website he had built. I am so excited to show him something I love and am good at. I really hope he loves it too.
I am also just excited to do something I love. It's sad that my one athletic hobby is such an expensive and complicated one. It's not like you can just drive down the street to a ski resort, and so I don't get to do it as often as I would like. Maybe someday there will be more time or money for this. But for right now I am pretty excited to be going on this trip. Time to wax my skis :)
I am so excited about it that I am literally counting down the days until we leave. I have not been skiing in over two years, and I think the year before that I went to the mountain only once.
I am not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination, but there is ONE sport that I love, and that is skiing. I love it so much that in high school I was on our school's ski team and I competed (albeit rather poorly) in downhill races. It is also the one sport that I LOVE to watch on TV and will become completely immersed in. Perhaps someday, if I am ever wealthy beyond my wildest dreams, Matt and I will be able to attend the Olympic winter games. It's kinda killing me that they are so close this year and I won't be seeing them.
Anyway... there are not many things I do well athletically (in fact there is nothing I do well athletically) except ski. I'm not fantastic at it, but I am a pretty decent skier and because I love it SO much I have always wanted to get Matt into skiing. We have never been up to the mountain together. To me this is the equivalent of being married to Matt and never hearing him play the drums or never seeing a website he had built. I am so excited to show him something I love and am good at. I really hope he loves it too.
I am also just excited to do something I love. It's sad that my one athletic hobby is such an expensive and complicated one. It's not like you can just drive down the street to a ski resort, and so I don't get to do it as often as I would like. Maybe someday there will be more time or money for this. But for right now I am pretty excited to be going on this trip. Time to wax my skis :)
P.S.
Really, my BIGGEST accomplishment is that my task list no longer includes things like taking a shower, eating meals or changing diapers. Not because I don't do them... but because they no longer register as "accomplishments".
ohhhhh mommyhood. How I have conquered thee.
ohhhhh mommyhood. How I have conquered thee.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Things that I did today
In order of completion:
-Cleaned the bathroom (sink, tub, toilet, mopping, etc.)
-Laundry (this was all throughout the day)
-Tidied up the house
-Did 3 work orders for Rezdex
-Took our comforter to the laundromat
-While the comforter was washing/drying: did a bit of grocery shopping at Thriftway
-Went to another store to buy new pillows for our bed
-Cleaned and dusted the bedroom, including putting away all the random junk that has accumulated in there over the past month or so
-Cleaned the kitchen, swept and mopped the kitchen floor
-Paid the bills
-Put my baby to bed
-Did another work order for Rezdex
-Worked on year-end statements for Ethnos
It was a very productive day for me. I am really, really tired. Hopefully I tired Kisa out just as much and we can both sleep soundly tonight!
-Cleaned the bathroom (sink, tub, toilet, mopping, etc.)
-Laundry (this was all throughout the day)
-Tidied up the house
-Did 3 work orders for Rezdex
-Took our comforter to the laundromat
-While the comforter was washing/drying: did a bit of grocery shopping at Thriftway
-Went to another store to buy new pillows for our bed
-Cleaned and dusted the bedroom, including putting away all the random junk that has accumulated in there over the past month or so
-Cleaned the kitchen, swept and mopped the kitchen floor
-Paid the bills
-Put my baby to bed
-Did another work order for Rezdex
-Worked on year-end statements for Ethnos
It was a very productive day for me. I am really, really tired. Hopefully I tired Kisa out just as much and we can both sleep soundly tonight!
Sunday, January 03, 2010
sleep training
So... day six of sleep training for Kisa (day three of the crib), and she is already going down much easier at night. The last 2 nights she actually put herself to sleep in her crib-- with no tears and barely any fussing. I went in and checked on her and gave her back her binky, but she did the rest herself.
We set up a routine for bedtime: bathtime, lotion, pajamas, nursing, swaddling, storytime, and then I rock her and sing to her until she's drowsy (mostly we don't get to this point cause she gets drowsy as soon as I read to her). It sounds like a lot, but the whole thing takes less than 30 min and she is out like a light with little to no fussing. It's also a lot more fun than rocking her forever. We start the whole thing between 6:30 and 7:30 every night, and there has not been a single night this week where she has not been in bed, asleep, before 8pm.
Besides going down easier at night, she is staying asleep for longer periods of time, and I am sleeping much better having her in her own room. The first night was just like it has been in the bassinet (waking every 2-3 hours), but Friday night she woke only every 4 hours, and last night she slept 6 straight hours when I put her down. That still means getting up 2 or so times in the early morning (this morning I got up at 3:30 and again at 5:30), but compared to how I have been sleeping, this is like sweet manna from heaven. She's now sleeping 12.5-13.5 hours total every night. Thank God she got Matt's genes cause I have never been a good sleeper.
This confirmed a couple of suspicions I had about her: first, that she would respond well to routine and structure (I suppose that's not really a huge surprise because I think that most kids do) and second, she has a bit of an independent streak. That's not really too surprising either, considering her parents, but it's cool to recognize her little personality traits as they develop. I'm sure I will not be too thrilled about that in about 15 years, but for now I am pretty proud of my little daughter. I have a pretty sweet baby...
We set up a routine for bedtime: bathtime, lotion, pajamas, nursing, swaddling, storytime, and then I rock her and sing to her until she's drowsy (mostly we don't get to this point cause she gets drowsy as soon as I read to her). It sounds like a lot, but the whole thing takes less than 30 min and she is out like a light with little to no fussing. It's also a lot more fun than rocking her forever. We start the whole thing between 6:30 and 7:30 every night, and there has not been a single night this week where she has not been in bed, asleep, before 8pm.
Besides going down easier at night, she is staying asleep for longer periods of time, and I am sleeping much better having her in her own room. The first night was just like it has been in the bassinet (waking every 2-3 hours), but Friday night she woke only every 4 hours, and last night she slept 6 straight hours when I put her down. That still means getting up 2 or so times in the early morning (this morning I got up at 3:30 and again at 5:30), but compared to how I have been sleeping, this is like sweet manna from heaven. She's now sleeping 12.5-13.5 hours total every night. Thank God she got Matt's genes cause I have never been a good sleeper.
This confirmed a couple of suspicions I had about her: first, that she would respond well to routine and structure (I suppose that's not really a huge surprise because I think that most kids do) and second, she has a bit of an independent streak. That's not really too surprising either, considering her parents, but it's cool to recognize her little personality traits as they develop. I'm sure I will not be too thrilled about that in about 15 years, but for now I am pretty proud of my little daughter. I have a pretty sweet baby...
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