# 86

86. Get a new laptop

With the move coming up (by the end of this month), and the influx of pictures that I am expecting (as well as the hard drive space that they will require), Geoff and I were able to arrange a deal by turning in our old computers for two new laptops. I am still in the process of setting up the computer exactly how I want it, and I haven't had a chance to install my camera software yet (hopefully that will happen today, I have a ton of pictures that I want to get off my camera), but I now have a ton more space for photos, and a much faster processor. Windows 7 is also pretty nice, but to be honest, I never had a problem with Vista. I am now just waiting for Office 2010 to come out before I bother with that (I just hope that I don't have a need before then).

One more down!

# 45

45. Have a monthly date-night with Geoff (6/34)

On Saturday night, Geoff and I went to see the New York City Ballet's production of The Sleeping Beauty. The evening started out with a wonderful dinner at Josephina's before we headed over to the theatre. The show itself was amazing, and I am so glad that we were able to make it (and that we had something special to celebrate, since it probably wouldn't have happened otherwise). We both know that this was the last date night that we will have on this scale for a while, so I am so glad that it turned out as well as it did.

I was disappointed when I realized that I didn't have go to the ballet on my list, obviously an over site while I was making it. I guess that will just have to be something that I add to my next list (if I remember two years from now).

# 84

84. Read 2 new books a month (6/68)

What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff, Sharon Mazel, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway, B.S.N.
Baby 411 by Denise Fields and Ari Brown, M.D.

So, I read these two books basically at the same time. I figured that since they were such similar subject matter, that I would talk about them together. I much preferred Baby 411, I found it much easier to read (What to Expect had a tendency to put me to sleep). The two books are set up very differently, What to Expect is set up monthly and Baby 411 is set up by subject/issue. While both books are very informative (and very much worth reading), I think that Baby 411 was more concise in letting me know what I needed to know. The way that it is structured also makes me think that it will be more useful to me at 3 am and the baby wakes up with a fever. It was much clearer on what problems are immediate issues, what can wait until the morning, and what can wait and see. What to Expect is a longer book, and went into further depth of some of the issues, including development. They also talked more about low birth weight, birth defects, and Mom, Dad and older sibling issues.

Baby 411 is the book that I am trying to get Geoff to at least skim, if not read (he isn't a fan of book reading, more into online stuff). So while I do believe that it would be good to ready both books, if you had to choose one, I would definitely pick Baby 411. It makes me wish that their new book, Expecting 411, had been out in time for me to use it, but it doesn't come out until this coming summer.

# 1

1. Move into a two bedroom apartment

So we have started on this task, we are just waiting to finalize our lease. If all goes as planned, we take possession of the new apartment on February 15th. That gives us six weeks to complete the move (since our current lease is up at the end of March). No matter what, we have to move by the end of March. I am not going to mark this item as complete until we are completely out of this apartment and settled in the new one. But at least this is in progress.

# 19

19. Use the crockpot for dinner sixty times (2/60)

 I have the same dinner cooking as I did last time. I'm not going to take any pictures, because they would be the same pictures. I've starting looking through other recipes, and I should be more adventurous next time.

# 19 and # 20

19. Use the crockpot for dinner sixty times (1/60)

20. Try at least two new recipes a month (5/68)

Two birds, one stone. I finally got started on the slow cooker challenge, using a new recipe. I was very excited, even though I've had my slow cooker for two years (or is it three?), I've never actually used it. The only thing that I did differently from the recipe is that I used half the beef and vegetables, because my slow cooker is small and the full amount wouldn't fit. It actually came out very well, and it is definitely something that we will make again.

# 46

46. Stay in and cook dinner together once a month (1/34)

The reason this item is currently only at one is not because Geoff and I have been going out to eat every night, but that it has only been one or the other of us cooking. This challenge was for us to work together to make a dinner, which we finally did last night. It was nothing new, just Chicken Marsala, but we haven't had it for a long time. Geoff was pretty much in charge of prepping the chicken (because I can't stand raw chicken), and the pasta, while I actually cooked everything else. It came out ok, and our timing with the pasta was nearly perfect to the chicken. I'm actually looking forward to more dinners like this.

# 84

84. Read 2 new books a month (4/68)

Baby Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields. I will admit that this wasn't the type of book that I really meant when I set up this item, but read it I did so onto the list it goes. I found it very helpful, and I fully understand why it is one of the most recommended books on the baby boards that I sometimes frequent. The reviews are very well thought out and explain things in a way that someone who really has never had to deal with these issues before will be able to understand. I also loved the fact that it isn't influenced by advertiser dollars and that they use the reviews of their readers to help update the book (it is now in it's 8th edition, which is the one that I have). I am thrilled that my hours of research on many of the larger items was not disputed by the reviews in this book, and I wish that I had read it much earlier and saved myself some of the time and confusion. I am also glad because it pointed me in directions for some items that I never would have thought of before. Overall, I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who is expecting a baby, it is well worth reading.

Coming up next, What to Expect the First Year, probably followed by some other baby book. Do you sense a theme here?

# 100

100. Put $5 in savings for each completed item

The way that I am going to work this one is at the beginning of every month, I will put the money into savings for the previous month. For example, I completed 2 items in December 2009, so in the beginning of January I will put $10 into my savings account. Hopefully this will make it easier to put the money away instead of doing one lump sum at the end of the 1001 days.

Happy New Year!!!

So, it is 2010. Which is strange, since 2009 seemed to just fly by. With a new year comes new resolutions. I've thought about it, and I really only have two that I am going to work on this year.

The first is that I want to keep up with my inbox. Being a procrastinator, I constantly have emails that I want to respond to or follow up on that I never seem to get to. I also have emails that I want to write to people that I haven't talked to in a while. I want to get into the habit of not letting that build up.

The other thing is that I want to keep up with this blog. There are so many items to accomplish on here that I didn't think that I needed an entire new list to slow me down. This weekend I plan on going through the list and updating any items that I may have missed. Then I am going to really start focusing on the list and working on getting stuff done. I'm hoping that I will be able to get into a routine for the repeating items before everything gets complicated in April. I am also hoping that this routine will make it easier for me to work on the items that aren't repeating and that I will be more likely to get them done.

So here is to a happy and productive new year!