Seven.Caged.Tigers

2007 is (obviously) coming to a close. It’s gone by very quickly and it is funny how much my life has changed even in the last year.  I was a stay-at-home mom when the year started and am still as it ends, but I’ve become more comfortable in the role.  I am learning to cook.  I’m getting better at cleaning.  I’m starting to “fix” things when necessary.  I’m great at comparison shopping (and being cheap).  My son never leaves the house without clean clothes, a clean diaper, and combed hair.  He’s gotten big and is very happy (if you discount the fact he is sprouting four incisors as I write).

I’ve never been much of a housewife.  I’m not good at it, but I’m trying and working things out.  I also have two hobbies (that don’t involve reading or horror).  I adore pottery.  Not painting, but on the wheel and glazing.  It’s fabulous and I’ve been doing it for a year and a half.  My goal in the new year is to save enough money to maybe be able to afford a wheel.  Of course this is in direct conflict with my second hobby, photography.  I’m no pro but I’ve got a good camera (Canon Digital Rebel), multiple lenses (some better than others), an external flash, and a tripod.  I love candid portraits and flower/macro photography.  My skills are improving…or at least I hope they are. It helps that Zack is such a willing and adorable model. I just wish he’d smile when you are ready to take a picture rather than a few seconds later.

In the new year, I’d love to get a new house.  I don’t know when or what because we have to get rid of this house first, but we are really getting desperate for something more functional and a little larger.  We’d love to have a finished (or finishable) basement, a two-car (and possibly attached) garage, 3-4 real bedrooms, and even a dining room.  We’re in a 1350sq foot house now (the same one we’ve owned for almost 7 years).  It was built over 100 years ago and has some major character.  We like that part.  If we get a new house, it wouldn’t actually be new to anybody but us.  The newest house I’d consider would be from the seventies, but I’d prefer something a few decades older than that.  We’re good at home repairs and renovations.  Heck, in this house we put on our own roof, laid our own patio, built our fence, renovated our covered porch, and are in the process of completely gutting and renovating our big bathroom.  We’re not looking to move far.  We’d stay in either Hartland or Brighton (Michigan).

I don’t have any resolutions, but I have hopes and wishes I’d prefer to just keep to myself at this point.  My life, health, and family are all wonderful. I’m a very fortunate person.  Zack is really the light of my life (no offense to Jeremy).  Just yesterday he was playing in our front closet.  He’s a chatterbox and has been talking for a while and frequently (a few times a day) proves he knows a new word or two.  Whilst playing in our front coat/vacuum closet he started to open the door and go inside.  He would exclaim “bye bye!”  Then he would reemerge and say “hello.”  It was adorable.  I couldn’t be prouder.

So “bye bye” to 2007 and “hello” to 2008.

X-Mas around here has been great. We’ve been very busy with family and travel, but now we are relaxing. The tree is down (early, I know) but toys are spread evenly throughout my home. Zack really came out well. He got a load of fun things and has been having a great time playing with his new gifts. Anyway, here are a few pictures from the last week of festivities!

Cheryl has now come and gone from Michigan. Her stay was marked with lots of family time, a lot of shopping, and tons of fun. Zack became pretty attached to his Auntie. She taught him lots of cool tricks–he now does his own head-tapping and swaying routine. He also tickles because of her and has learned to say some new words–including “Cheryl.” She also witnessed him learning to throw things in the garbage and saw his first haircut. Zack cried when she left. He sat outside the gate on the stairs and tried to get her attention but she was gone. Poor little guy!

Things didn’t end well (to say the least), but I miss and love her and Zack obviously misses and loves her.

Zack got a new haircut two days ago!  He looks like a little man.  Of course he didn’t have a whole lot to cut, but it still made a difference.  As for the photo below, it is pre-cut.  Cute, but still prior to his recent shearing.

It’s funny, now that I’m officially middle aged (or at least I assume I am) birthdays just don’t feel special.  Don’t get me wrong–I appreciate all the well wishes and cards and gifts but the magic disappeared some time after age 21.  Today I turned 31.  Gawd.  31.  Once upon a time I thought once you turned 30 you were old.  I guess that makes me over the hill.  Anyway, from “the boys” (aka Jeremy and Zack) got me a big rolling toolbox for my pottery tools and glaze and stuff and a nice gift card to Borders.  Both are great–I wanted/needed both.

So yeah, I’m 31.  Tonight we’re headed to Border Cantina for dinner with the family.