Changes

That tittle reminds me of the Brady Bunch when Peter is going through his "changes"

Anywho...
So this year as one of my New Years resolution I decided on one word balance.

I'm a busy gal. I work full time and am a full time mother, wife, and homemaker. Oh and I also teach swim lessons once a week and just got a new church calling as the assistant to the person over our Boy Scout program. It is never ending the things that need to get done around the house. Then there is the me time. I feel I never have any to persue the things I love like crafting. I love being creative it gives me a sense of accomplishment to look at something and say I made that. I also want to persue a carrier in photography. I have loved photography all my life. I always asked my mom for different cameras for Christmas and took a class in collage and really loved it, but life gets in the way and I didn't stick with it. Now after having had Zander it has rekindled and I realize that is what I want to become when I grow up. A professional photographer. I wish I had known that ten years ago:) It would have made it so much easier. I love taking pictures and am constantly reading photography blogs and tips on how to work my camera. The hardest part it after sitting all day at  my computer at work then going home and trying to figure out how to do the photo editing and my software. Partly because I want to spend time with my family and because my butt is already numb from work.

So one change I am making towards hopefully creating more balance is re-working my work schedule. Zanders baby sitter is expecting her second child at the end of June.  We have loved Emily, she is so great with Zander and her little boy who is almost three just loves having a buddy to play with during the day. We knew we would need to find a new child care provider so Abe and I have been looking for several weeks. We have had little luck. Either they cost way to much or the days and hours won't work.

We think we finally came up with a solution. I have a friend/co-worker who lives right by us who will be taking Zan once a week and Abes mom will continue to also watch him once a week. So I have two days that are fully covered and I will work longer hours those days. Now comes in the tricky part. Abe works early in the morning and is home by 3pm. So on the other three days of the week I will stay home with Zander and then go into work after Abe gets home. That will make for some later nights but there are so many up sides: One Zander will get more time with mom and dad which will be great. I always feel so guilty having to take him to a sitter. Two, we will be spending a lot less on child care and three, being home during the day will help me be able to more easily persue my photography. While Zan is down for naps I will have the me time I am needing (fingers crossed). Oh and we will be able to meet up with my sisters and other family at Lagoon this summer during the week:)

On the down sides: One, Abe and I won't be able to spend as much time together. However I live super close to work and should be able to run home for dinner. Two, I will have to give up teaching swim lessons which I am really sad about. I have been teaching the same little girl for almost two years and just love her! But something has to go and I think that will be it. Three, my evenings are gone. With my church calling I will have maybe one night during the work week where I will be home before 7pm. For the most part this will work with my work needs but I may need another sitter to cover possibly one day a month.

I am really hoping this will end up working out. Wish me luck!