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

May Goals

April was a bit of a whirlwind for us. A good whirlwind, but still. It went by quickly and slowly all at the same time. Those first couple weeks of Nolan's life we were running on pure adrenaline. It really is true that each day and week gets easier but it's also easy to get lost in the will-my-life-EVER-feel-normal-again?! haze. 

Now that we're in week four, I've hit the how-is-my-baby-this-big-already?! cliché. Having a newborn really is so bittersweet. You live to see them develop and grow but you also simultaneously miss their tininess from just a week ago. 

Oh, how life has changed. I think we're in for the ride of our lives. :)

In other news, I have a couple small goals for this month while I continue to enjoy maternity leave and soak up every minute with little Nolan. Cheers to spring and all the beautiful weather and blooms that come with it!

May Goals

  • Finish On Becoming Baby Wise by Robert Bucknam and Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
  • File our personal photos on a new external hard drive
  • Design and order one of our annual photo albums
  • Update client galleries on Pixieset
  • Order and mail Nolan's birth announcements
  • Take Nolan on his first road trip! Nathan's sister gets married in Indiana in a week!
Goal Setting

April Goals

April 2017 seemed like such a long way off last summer. It was always dubbed "Baby Month," something that was inevitably coming but only partially seemed real. It's probably the most cliche thing to say, but I can't believe we're about to meet our little guy! I'm excited but I'm also a bit anxious. I know the next months will be filled with newness, love and some frustration too. In light of all that, my April goals are short and sweet.

April Goals

  • Have newborn photos taken
  • Enjoy this new season for what it is!

That's it! What about you? What are you most looking forward to this spring? Anyone else have a baby on the way? And just because I can't post a blog without a photo, here's a little sneak peek of Baby Baldwin's nursery. More to come, of course!

(Also, I should mention that I'm officially on maternity leave starting today. I'll be slowly responding to e-mails as time allows, but it won't be my first priority the next couple months. Thanks, in advance, for your patience with me!)