Another Year Has Passed

Hello there!

Tomorrow is my birthday and I am now 25 years of age. I am excited about aging another year and I am immensely thankful for the past year. and all that it has taught me.

In the past year: Dave and I spent our honeymoon in Portland, Oregon, I celebrated 3 years of dating and 1 year of marriage to my amazing partner in crime,  became pregnant with and had Dillinger, celebrated 2 years at my job, gained another niece (Juniper Lynn), and simply made tons of memories with friends and family.

I don't really have any plans for my birthday and I honestly haven't even thought much about it. I may try to grab a coffee or go walk around Target since Dillinger has literally just wanted to be on the breast 24/7 it seems, even when he's sleeping. I don't mind it though because I know he needs me and for the next 8.5 weeks, that's all I need to do is meet his needs.

In completion of this post, I just want to make a bucket list of 25 things that I want to accomplish by my next birthday...

1. Go to Indianapolis to visit family and friends and to go to Trader Joe's
2. Successfully breastfeed/pump for at least 6 months
3. Successfully breastfeed/pump for 1 year
4. Successfully cloth diaper for 1 year
5. Try as many new beers as I can to make up for lost time while pregnant ;) (Yes, you can drink alcohol and breastfeed as long as you do not feel the effects of the alcohol. Note moms: If you DO feel the effects, DO NOT pump and dump. Save that milk for a milk bath, which is great for baby's skin). http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle/alcohol/
6. Go camping (maybe Hocking Hills Ohio, as I've never been and it's breathtaking)
7. Exercise more as a family i.e. going on walks and playing disc golf
8. Fix up the house
9. Rid my house and life of even more unnecessary clutter and belongings.
10. Potentially get a second dachshund around Dillinger's 1st birthday. This is a huge IF though, because taking care of 1 cat and 1 dachshund right now is enough.
11. Blog more
12. Continue growing as a professional social worker by attending lunch and learns and trainings
13. Take advantage of our back porches more i.e. drink morning coffee, get-togethers with friends and family, and decorating them to make them more cozy.
14. Visit Jenna and Jake in Chicago
15. Make a shadow box for Dillinger with his hospital items and other memorabilia
16. Go to the drive-in movie theatre in Huntington more often
17. Read more personally and read to Dillinger daily
18. Take advantage of the library, as I have not been to the library outside of work in many years
19. Continue supporting local instead of large chains. Sometimes I think "Oh, I want Starbucks!" and then I take a step back and remember Firefly, Old Crown, Conjure, Fortezza, etc. and I pick one of them. It's so easy to go to those big names and forget about the shoppes that need our consistent love and support!
20. Meal plan and stick to a grocery list better (That's how you know I'm going to be 25 years old lmao).
21. Attend the local farmer's markets for produce and meats, when feasible
22. Try to survive the first year of working full time and being a mom without having a total meltdown. I am dreading that first day back, ya'll.
23. Continue making DIY toiletries and cleaning products, when possible. I've been slacking.  (If you want a list of products, let me know in a DM with your email address).
24. Get a tattoo for Dillinger
25. Do yoga more often to better my mental and physical health

Cheers,

Lauren