Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

Ringing in the New Year

2012FindingNinee

I’ve read a lot of tweets and posts that hope that 2013 is better than 2012.  I guess I hope that, too.  But at the same time, I’m really thankful for 2012.  Prior to this past year, we were able to remain in the land of denial regarding Tucker.  His problems, his speech delay, and the fact that it probably all meant more.

Tucker turned two in July of 2011 and I remember asking his doctor about what I thought was a speech delay.  She asked me what he’d said recently and I answered honestly…he’d said just that week “truck fell down.”  Turns out, that’s seriously awesome for a 2-year old to say.  It’s also the first and last time he said it.  I look back now and I know that my instincts were correct.  He wasn’t talking as much as he should have been.  And yet, I allowed myself to believe that the floodgates would open any day.

At his 2 ½ year appointment (January 2012), he wasn’t talking much more and we got our referral to the Infant and Toddler connection.   Which is how we got Tucker speech therapy, a “Pathways to Preschool” program, an eventual acceptance into his school…and an unknown diagnosis.

Overall, I can’t really say that 2012 was a bad year.  It was a year of growth, acceptance and understanding for all of us.  I grew to learn that my baby needs the kind of help that I am not trained to give him.  I accepted the fact that he is delayed.  And I understand that school is really, really good for him.  Even though it was really hard for me to send him at first.  I cried.  He didn’t.

I’m pretty happy with 2012.  It was a monumental year.  In addition to so many firsts for Tucker, I started Finding Ninee.  Awesomeness!

So, here we are, in the first week of 2013.  I don’t really do formal resolutions but there are some things that I plan to work on this year.  Stuff I’m gonna do better in 2013:

I’m going to make more friends here in Northern Virginia.  When Tucker was born, I joined some mom groups.  Hanging out with a bunch of moms in their 20’s made me feel older than dirt.  My first meet-up group’s primary discussion topic was how they make their own baby food to save money.  Um, seriously?  Go buy the organic stuff at the grocery store.  It’s cheap.  And your time is more valuable than that.  Needless to say, I didn’t exactly click with them.  Since then, I have found some mature mom groups but their kids are all typical and most of the outings take place when Tucker’s in school.  I have high hopes of bonding with some of the moms whose kids go to school with Tucker.

Health.  I’m going to be healthier.  I refuse to commit to X number of days in the gym or giving up carbs or whatever, because that could cause me to get really sad when I fail.  This way, if all I do is have two pieces of pizza instead of three, I’ve made progress.  And I’m healthier. Win!  Plus, the longer I can stay healthy, the more fun I get to have with my awesome cool little boy.  And that’s a total win.

I’m going to take Tucker kite flying.  I bought two kites last summer and constantly forget about them.  When I do remember and tell myself that after school Wednesday, or on Saturday morning that we’re doing it, either there’s no wind or we have to be somewhere else.  It’s happening this year people.  Look for the photos.

Organize!  I vow to spend at least 20 minutes every week organizing crap papers and giving away old stuff that I don’t use.  I actually said this last year as well and was pretty good at sticking to it.  Some weeks were skipped but others had my attention for an hour.  I think it evened out.  Although…there’s still an awful lot of unused crap around here.  Huh.

Finish writing a book.  Whether it sucks or not, I’m going to finish one.  What’s the point of having six half-ass started novels going?  Yup, just makes me feel like a loser.  Done with that loser feeling already.

Also?  I swear on Tampax that I am going to master the art of having an accident-free period.  I mean seriously.  I’m 44 years old now and it’s bloody well time (groan) that I learn to manage this monthly visitor so I’m not soaking my panties in cold water.  44 years old people!  That means I’ve had about 360 practice runs on how to get this right and yet I continue to fail.  WTF.  So yup, 2013 will be the year that I finally get it.  I’m determined.  If I wait too much longer, it won’t be an issue anymore.

Oh!  I’m totally going to nap more, too.  That’s a good goal, right?

What stuff do you wanna do better in 2013?


  • Misty @ Meet the Cottons - lol. love this post! at this moment in time, i think my new year’s resolution is to convince my five year old son that, no, girl scouts is not for boys, too! seriously, though, i really want to do a journal a day entry in a book where you can record a little tid bit of information about the same date for, like, five years in a row. did that make sense? i saw one in a magazine years ago but never got around to ordering it. i’ve got a brand new composition notebook i think will work just fine (i’m planning to have about six of them to get me through 365 days). i’ll have to make a blog post about it if i get around to it…..i’m already two days behind on it!January 3, 2013 – 3:03 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Thanks, Misty! I think it’s adorable that your five year old son wants to be in girl scouts. Who can blame him? The cookies are awesome…
      I think the journal a day entry is an awesome idea. I can’t wait to read your post about it!
      Thanks for the comment. You rock.January 3, 2013 – 3:20 pmReplyCancel

    • Joy - I bought one of those journals for one of my best friends last year, but it was only for three years. But I really still like the idea. Wonder why I did not buy one for myself.

      Apart from that, my not-really-resolutions are quite similar to yours, Kristi, you already read them!January 3, 2013 – 4:48 pmReplyCancel

      • admin - I know! I’m going to be better about going to the doctor, too. So thanks for the reminder!January 3, 2013 – 5:26 pmReplyCancel

        • Misty @ Meet the Cottons - i scheduled my annual appt today thanks to you guys!January 3, 2013 – 5:58 pmReplyCancel

          • admin - You did? Wow, good for you! You totally ROCK…January 3, 2013 – 6:04 pm

          • Joy - That’s cool, Misty!January 4, 2013 – 1:44 am

  • Henriette - Ok lady, enough with the photos. Can we now bring the drawings back? Pretty please? 😉January 3, 2013 – 3:59 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Ha! Just for that, I’m going to post ANOTHER photo tomorrow. I was going to anyway…but yes, I’m on your drawings! The next one will be dedicated to YOU. so there.January 3, 2013 – 5:28 pmReplyCancel

      • admin - And by the way…any bloody idea how long it took me to add those photos to a 2012 number dealie? No, no you do NOT…sigh….January 3, 2013 – 11:22 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - Love your napping goal..I’m going to add that one to my list of goals too.:) And I love your attitude about Tucker…your acceptance and willingness to do whatever you can to help him. He’s very lucky you’re his mom.January 3, 2013 – 5:24 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Being well rested is important for us moms. Especially those of us who stay up too late writing blog posts that only a few people read. And tweeting. 😉
      Thanks so much for the sweet comment! That means a lot to me. I sometimes feel guilty for not pursuing speech therapy and school sooner. But, without school earlier, I’d have missed out on so many fun days of playing, so I’m not feeling THAT guilty. Thanks again!January 3, 2013 – 5:30 pmReplyCancel

  • Marcia - OMG I love the period part. Every single month I struggle with this. You are so funny!!January 4, 2013 – 12:24 amReplyCancel

    • admin - What is up with us that we don’t get this yet? Really!!January 4, 2013 – 9:57 amReplyCancel

  • Kerri - Those younger moms have WAY too much time on their hands if they can make their own food. I had to do that for Boo because of allergies and it was a horrible experience.January 4, 2013 – 9:29 amReplyCancel

    • admin - Thanks, Kerri! Shuddering at having to make your own food. Hopefully you don’t have to any longer?January 4, 2013 – 9:58 amReplyCancel

  • Sara - Great post! Great attitude. And seriously, WTF is the deal with the monthly accidents? I’m right there with you and get so disproportionately pissed every bloody time b/c WHY HAVEN’T I SORTED THIS OUT YET??? Then people like Sandi say they’ve never had a bloody accident and I want to throttle them. Ugh. Solidarity, sister.January 4, 2013 – 9:56 amReplyCancel

    • admin - Aw thanks, Sara! I told you before…Sandi is destined to poop her pants at work. Karma is like that and there’s no escaping it. And I AM going to sort this out THIS YEAR! Sadly, it’s too late to figure it out this month as I’ve already failed. But I have 11 more months. I’m going to win, damnit!January 4, 2013 – 9:59 amReplyCancel

  • Jackie - Love your comment about the baby food! Reminds me of when I was touring daycare centers when my son was a baby. The director took us to the infant room and showed us the shelf where parents brought in their babies’ food. She said, “Some parents make their own baby food — that usually lasts two weeks.”January 5, 2013 – 6:58 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Thanks, Jackie! I’m glad it’s not just me with the aversion to making her own baby food. I mean really! And thanks for the comment!January 5, 2013 – 7:37 pmReplyCancel

  • Courtney - First, I love your collage. Brilliant. Second I agree, while our 2012 ended yucky, it was a wonderful year for us. Life always has ups and downs, so every year counts. Third, I like your goals. I lost 50 pounds by making one small change at a time… Good luck and here’s to 2013January 5, 2013 – 11:40 pmReplyCancel

    • admin - Yo sweet girl (I’m allowed to call you that as your recent blog post said you’re ringing in 34 and I’m well…not)!! Thanks for the comps on the collage…took me hours because I lack general talent and skills. Yes, every year counts. Some, more than others. I’m impressed that you lost 50 pounds….I gain and lose the same 12 over and over and over again…2013, I want to not only not care about the pounds, but the health behind them….
      Love to you and yours!January 5, 2013 – 11:46 pmReplyCancel

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