New Year's Resolution

It is a new year and I feel like 2013 is going to be the best year yet.  I don't usually make resolutions, but this year I feel like challenging myself and stepping out of my normal every day boring routine.

In no particular order:

1. Read 12 books.
- I frequently see posters talk about doing the 52 book challenge or 100 books in a year.  Those all seem absolutely crazy to me.  Last year I probably read 2 books maybe 3.  I think one book a month is a stretch but a reachable goal for me.

2. Train and run a half marathon
-  Today I signed up for the Richmond Half Marathon, which is 23 weeks after my due date.  I've run 10 half marathons, if I'm counting correctly, but I haven't trained for one in over 2 years.  My last half marathon that I've been proud of myself was the race I ran 6 months after Kieran was born.  Since then I've run 2 others.  I didn't train for either and ended up having to walk quite a bit.  I was disappointed in myself.  I want to find a balance between my running and my family life.  I'm confident I can do it.

3. Volunteer work
- I usually sign up to work the local kids consignment sales, but that is for selfish reasons, because it allows me the chance to shop early.  This year I want to spend a day, or a few hours during one day, volunteering and doing something for the community.

4. Make time for my husband
- Life gets crazy with a toddler and it's going to get even crazier with a newborn come the spring.  I have to remember that I am a wife first, and a mother second.  This is hard to remember sometimes, but I think by having one date night a month it will help.

5. Make time for Kieran
- I'm worried about how my relationship with Kieran is going to change once the baby is born.  I want to let him know that he is still Momma's boy.  I want to commit to one Kieran/Mommy day a month.  It won't be a full day, just an hour or so just the two of us doing something fun. 

6. Create and maintain a household budget
-Sean and I, for the first time put together a budget.  It is still in the works and it's hard to know if the budgets we have created are good amounts, so it's definitely a work in progress.  With the help of mint.com I have entered most of our information that is relevant and I'm hoping it will help us be more accountable about our purchases and spending habits.

7. Save time with the crockpot
-Utilize the millions of recipes online for the crockpot and make an effort to make one crockpot meal a week.

I may add or adjust to this later, but here's hoping for an amazing 2013