September Goals

Guys, I'm officially the worst at blogging these days. I was recently listening to Jenna Kutcher's Goal Digger podcast with Rhiannon Bosse about walking through some new/tough/different seasons of life and it really hit home. I realize I touch on this a little bit each month in my goals post, but I'm still walking through this new season and trying to sort it all out. 

Sometimes I'll catch old Lane berating herself for not getting 37 things crossed off her to do list one day and the next I'll be in a more relaxed place ready to devote 100% of my attention to my little guy instead of trying to multitask. Guys, it's a fine line. This work-from-home-mom thing is not for the faint of heart.

Again and again, month after month I think there's no reason to keep up with the goal posts, but you know what? It's important to me. Even if I'm the only one reading the post back, it holds me accountable to put my best foot forward and live the life I want to live each month. (Even if I never get another blog post written!)

So, here's to September. And walking through this new season some more. And hoping it feels more and more familiar as the temperature drops and the leaves change. 

September Goals

  • Read Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
  • Blog three times
  • Edit 80% of my September work
  • Update tax document
  • Go to an Indians game
  • Decide on a Halloween costume for Nolan
  • Be mostly off and present with Nolan on non-daycare days
Cleveland Baby Photographer

July Goals

“It’s not hard to decide what you want your life to be about. What’s hard ... is figuring out what you’re willing to give up in order to do the things you really care about.” 

―Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet

I think I'll constantly be reminding myself of this quote over and over this year. It's hard for me to realize that I can't keep up the pace I used to. And at the same time, it's refreshing. Everything seems to be a catch-22 these days: I want to work again, but I also want to savor the slow life with the baby. I want Nolan to grow, but I want him to stay tiny. I want to set goals, but I also don't want to put too much pressure on myself just to check something off a list unless it means something. It's such a new season of life, and I'm wandering my way through it trying to figure out my new normal.

Thanks for sticking with me while I figure it out. (Even if I can't blog as much as I want to right now. :) )

July Goals

  • Finish Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
  • Take Nolan to the pool again (a little baby in a big pool is my new favorite thing)
  • Get my ring cleaned
  • Blog at least three times
  • Edit my July weddings
Cleveland Baby Photographer

June Goals

We're getting into a rhythm over here, guys! I'm saying that while knocking on wood because things could very well change tomorrow, but for now I at least feel like I kind of have a handle on this motherhood thing. ;) This month's big goal is figuring out how to introduce work into this new little life we've created for ourselves.

One thing I'm constantly reminding myself: Be present wherever you are. If I'm with Nolan, I want to be with Nolan (that means NO screens or multitasking ... it's SO hard)! If I'm working, I'm all out hustling to get my work done efficiently. I have a feeling I'll be reminding myself of this every day until Nolan's off to college, but I think the effort is worth it. I feel a lot less guilty and stressed if I can give 100% of myself to the thing in front of me. Mamas, give me alllll your tips for work-life balance with a baby!

June Goals

  • Read Lab Girl by Hope Jahren and Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child by Marc Weissbluth
  • Finish filing our personal photos on a USB
  • Clean out our windowsills in preparation for lots of breezy summer days!
  • Switch my closet over to warm-weather clothes (a little behind on this one!)
  • Take Nolan to the farmers market
  • Start a new workout routine
  • Blog at least five times
  • Prepare for my first weddings of the year

March Goals

It seems like spring is right around the corner ... which means that baby is right around the corner too. Eek! I'm fully aware that an early April due date could actually mean a late March baby, but I think I'll be OK waiting until April if Baby Baldwin is content in there. :)

I've got lots of last-minute things I'd love to get done this month so I can focus 100% on my maternity leave. Here's to a productive March and some flexibility too, if needed!

March Goals

  • Finish Real Happiness by Sharon Salzberg and read The Wonder by Emma Donoghue and On Becoming Baby Wise by Robert Bucknam
  • De-clutter the rest of the house (living room, dining room and guest bedroom)
  • Make freezer meals (as many as possible!)
  • Finish nursery and photograph it!
  • Clean car
  • Install car seat
  • Pack hospital bag
  • Finish our annual photo albums so we're all caught up
  • Blog ahead (so many pretty things to share!)
  • Update my website galleries

What does your March look like? Will it be relaxing or full of to dos? If you all have any advice for packing a hospital bag or waiting on a baby, I'd love to hear it! :)

Spring Goal Setting