Cleaning Schedules & To-Do Lists

I feel as though I have been a bit negative lately, or perhaps just a bit whiny. So, I’m gonna switch up things a little bit and discuss my extreme, and selective, particularity. I really like lists, and schedules, and anything that allows me to cross something off. Yeah, there are days when I don’t get to my lists; but, when I get back on track, it’s there just waiting for me and reminding me of all the things I still need to do/cook/plan/mail/buy/budget/etc. These days (I am referring to the days of being in my 30s with three kids in school), I cannot rely on my memory for anything. I make more lists now than I ever have. And, well, I love it. I can certainly get by without lists; but, boy, things sure are easier with them.

 One particular topic that I recently discussed with a few moms was a “cleaning schedule.”

I want to preface this with killing any preconceived notions that I have a tip-top-tidy home. I don’t. For instance, I didn’t vacuum the stairs yesterday, because it seemed like too much work. I didn’t clean that glob of toothpaste out of the sink after brushing my teeth. I just gave the console table a quick blow, when I walked by and saw that it was dusty. And, I am avoiding the kids’ bathroom like the plague; it’s going on weeks (shudder).

But, I believe it is all much less overwhelming when I have lists. I can split my chores up, and not wait until someone’s coming over and spend the whole day cleaning! Or, put things off and then regret it later, when it becomes a mounding issue (like the kids’ bathroom! I am waiting Heath out.). If I create a list that allows me to chip away at stuff daily, then it is so incredibly manageable. Plus, it is written down; so, if the family wants to help out in any way, they can see what you were planning to do for the day. :)

With all that being said, I thought I would share information about my cleaning schedule. I had one in the house we lived in before. I even had one when I was working, it was just a bit different than the one I use staying home. Here is the “old one.”

 

I used that schedule every day and loved it. Then, we moved into the house we are renovating. Renovation and “cleaning schedule” do not go together. So, I temporary lost my cleaning path… That was, until my recent conversation brought me back to the right track! And, I hate to say it; but, I’m excited about my new and improved cleaning schedule!

It’s a sad, sad day when that is your excitement.

My new schedule is incredibly detailed with not only cleaning tasks, but with daily, weekly, and monthly to-dos. I thought it would serve me best that way. Plus, with spending over a year in this house, I have gotten a really great idea of what chores I need to do and what I share with Heath (which isn’t much, actually – that’s not a cut to Heath, just an odd flex for me). 

 

 While I share my schedule with you, you must understand, yours will not look the same. No two cleaning schedules, and/or to-do lists, will look the same (not likely, anyway). Thus, I have decided to help you create your own! I have broken it down into steps, as to not overwhelm you.

1)      Make a list of chores that you do.

You may decide to make just a cleaning schedule, like my old one, or a "to-do" schedule like my newer one. Nevertheless, the list needs to be very comprehensive for the particular focus. Anything that you complete within a month’s time needs to be on this list. I used Pinterest to remind me of some of the mundane cleaning tasks I might be forgetting. But, since I wanna help you out directly, I have compiled a list of tasks and to-dos for you! Not all tasks will apply to you, or to me for that matter. It is just to help you compile your own list.

•  Do the Dishes
• Wipe Down Kitchen Counters
• Pick up
• Wipe out the fridge
• Make Beds
• Collect, Sort, Wash, Fold, & Put Away Laundry
  (You can break it up, into multiple days, if you want. For instance, I collect, sort, wash, and fold in one day; I put it away the next day.)
• Vacuum
• Sweep
• Mop
• Dust (this could be split into multiple days by rooms)
• Clean sinks, vanities, and showers
• Clean toilets
• Clean mirrors
• Clean windows
• Complete Correspondence (e.g. pay bills, send birthday cards, etc.)
• Budget or Update Budget
• Mow the lawn
• Pull weeds
• Weed eat
• Trim bushes or trees
• Work in the garden
• Water flowers outside
• Water indoor plants
• Clean windows from the outside
• Clear expired food or leftovers from the fridge
• Plan &/or Prep Supper
• Pick up your kids’ rooms and/or toyroom
  OR, a personal favorite, make your kids clean their own rooms and/or toy room
• Set out kids’ clothes for the next day
  OR, set out the kids’ clothes for the whole week
• Wash the bathroom rugs
• Clean the dishwasher
• Clean the Clothing Washer
• Clean out the dryer tube
• Clean the microwave
• Clean the oven
• Clean your shower and sink drains
• Take out the trash
• Make a grocery list or meal plan
• Go grocery shopping
• Declutter certain rooms
• Go through your kids’ clothes to check for items that are too small or ruined
• Clean out your car
• Detail your car
• Wash your car
• Vacuum out your car
• Update your calendar/planner
• Go through mail
• Go through kids’ backpacks
• Sweep out the garage
• Go through or file important papers
• Disinfect door knobs and light switches
• Clean out light fixtures
• Clean ceiling fans
• Wipe down heavy traffic-area walls and doors (grimy hands!)
• Wash your bedding
• Wipe down walls, or collect spider webs in the corner of rooms (it happens!)
• Feed and Water the Pets
• Empty the Litter Box
• Clean your pet’s bed
• Clean your pet’s kennel
• Put your pet’s bowls through the dishwasher
• Set aside time to work on your side gig (mine is for my classes I teach online)
• Sweep off the porch
• Dust off items on the porch
• Hose down outdoor toys/furniture/etc.
• Back up your phone
• Go through the junk drawer
• Vacuum under the couch cushions
• Vacuum your mattress
• Move furniture and vacuum
• Go through your magazine pile and purge
• Dust the inside of your china hutch
• Clean the refrigerator water tray
• Clean the tiny parts on the coffee pot
• Wash winter jackets, gloves, and hats
• Prep Breakfast for the week
• Prep lunches for the week
• Prep dinners for the week
• Make baby food
• Clean/organize drawers
• Clean/organize closets

 And, I’m sure there are hundreds more. But, that is all that I could come up with. Hope it helped you come up with a good list that applies to you, your family, and your home. The good news is, if something else comes up, you can just add it on!

Some items that you may spy on my list that could require explanation include: changing out holiday décor, washing blankets, switching out hand towels, replenish TP supplies, clean “sort boxes,” and go through “sort papers.” Let’s take it one at a time.

• Changing out holiday décor is something that I have always wanted to do and try to do regularly. So, about once a month, I switch mine out for the new, approaching season. 
• Washing blankets is included because we are a blanket family! We have special “living room blankets” that we use nightly. The kids all have an extra blankey on their beds, and there are several just around the house. I try to wash them regularly, to keep them from getting funky.
• I sometimes lose track of how long the hand towels have been hanging in the bathroom...so, I put it on my weekly schedule to switch them out. It’s kinda gross not to, right?
• Replenishing TP supplies means that I will go to our “garage pantry” and get extra toilet paper rolls to put in the designated baskets in each bathroom. If I don’t have this written down, I end up in the bathroom with nothing but Vapor Lotion Kleenexes. Have you been there? Not pleasant.
• And, the last two are cleaning my “sort boxes” and “sort papers.”
  In my craft closet, and in my desk area, I have spots that are my “throw zones.” I don’t always want to take the time to file a specific paper or put the twine back in the bag/box I have it in. So, I have a throw area. I allow myself to fill up that spot/box/tote, and usually about once a month, I go through it and file or organize it. While I LOVE organization, I am also realistic. We don’t always have the time or energy to put things away exactly where they go, especially when you are in a hurry. So, I would recommend that you also have a “throw zone.” BUT, make sure you come back at least once a month to organize it, or more often depending on what is being put there.
  
  Also, at my desk, I have two areas, a “to-do” and a “throw zone.” Once I’ve completed something, I put it into the “throw zone.” I never put anything in that zone that I will want access to in the short term. So, don’t just throw your bills or other action items into that spot!

 Let’s move on to the next step of our cleaning schedule creation.

2)      Next to each item on your list, write down how often you do it.

This may change over time. You may see the need to do something more often, or less often. But, again, you can adjust your schedule as time goes on. Some examples of this step are below:

Feed and Water the dogs – every day

Dishes – every day, but Saturday

Dust – once a week

Mop – every two weeks

Wash your car – once a month

Do this with each task before moving forward. If you look at my schedule very closely, please don’t judge me for barely ever washing our bedding. I hate making beds!

3)      Either draw out, or create in MS Word, a calendar.

As you can see with mine, I just did a table with seven columns (days of the week) and five rows (four weeks in a month, with a day header). You may decide, depending on the schedule you want, to only include Monday through Friday. Or, to lump Saturday and Sunday together, to allow for some flexibility. Or, if you really like your Wednesday mornings, you could omit Wednesdays! You can create whatever schedule works best for you. Just make sure you include the header to clarify what day, and four weeks total.

 

The reason that you don’t want numbers on there is to be able to reuse the schedule over and over again, not just following along with the calendar. You certainly post specific dates, if you want. But, you will have to edit your schedule every month, and I just thought that was too much work – for me.

Now that you have your list of tasks, your frequency of completion, and a blank calendar…

4)      …Start making your schedule!

Do this by putting all of your daily activities in first, then your weekly, then bi-weekly, and so on. You will likely have to move things around a bit, to make sure you aren’t overloading certain days. For example, I mow in the summer time. It is a time-consuming chore; so, on that day, I try not to do too much other stuff. Or, on the day I go to get groceries, I don’t want to also mop the floors! You get the idea.

You may also just have personal preferences. If you are a go-getter on Mondays, load that day up! If you hate Mondays, give yourself a slow start. You will soon figure out what works best for you. Mine probably changed thirty times!

Here is my first draft...written by hand and then typed and changed some more!

I also included little boxes in my table (in the upper, right-hand corner of each day), to allow for me to write the date. It keeps me from getting lost on my sheet. But, this is not required. As long as you are crossing things off, you should know where you are at in the month.

5)      Finalize and print your new “cleaning schedule.”

Once you feel like all of your days are balanced, you may print your schedule out (or re-write it). You could keep an electronic file to check-off each day too; it is entirely up to you. I prefer having something I can scratch off with a nice, cheap BIC pen. I find it very satisfying. Haha.

If you decide to print it, you now have two options:

1. Laminate it. 
2. Print a new schedule each month.

At first, and in the other house, I laminated the sheet. In the other house, I actually covered it entirely in clear tape, and stuck it to the back of the cleaning closet door. This time, I used my laminator (nerd-alert!). 

I tried to use an ultra-fine point, dry erase marker to write the days and to check things off. It wouldn’t write on it…ugh. So, I had to use a regular fine point, dry erase marker, and well…it was fairly sloppy.

Plus, I decided to leave the sheet in the front of my planner, on my desk, rather than hanging it up. I was afraid the marker would smear. So, I decided just to print one each month instead, and not laminate it. (I started this list yesterday.)

It’s so pretty and neat. 

But, Heath’s is laminated and he will probably use his like that – if he uses it at all. You see, I took the liberty of making Heath one too. He sure is lucky to have me…hehe. I’m going to hang his up.

6)      Now, use the schedule!

Once you have it completed, printed, maybe laminated or taped, and you have decided where to put it, you can use it! Each day, you can cross off your tasks. And, whatever you don’t get done, you can work on the next day. So, if things come up, don’t fret. You will know what you didn’t get done and fit it in when you have time. And, if you get really far behind, it’s like taking medication. 

“Take the dose as soon as you realize that you missed it. If it is close to the time of your next dose, wait and take it at that time.” 

What I'm getting at is - if you dust once a week and miss it four days in a row, well, you might as well put the two together and split the difference. Or, just wait until the next time it is on your schedule. What I don’t want to happen, is that you get so far behind that you are carrying over several tasks each day. Give yourself some slack. Some things, like washing bedding, will just wait. Grossly…but, it will wait!

OR, if you get really far behind one month, because it happens, ask for help. It is easier, because you know exactly what needs to be done to relieve you. :)

I hope that this helped you a bit! I truly believe it helps me from getting too overwhelmed with things; even though, my schedule is kinda overwhelming in of itself. I just chose to be very inclusive. This is a process that you may consider completing for or with your spouse too, or for your kids (with their involvement). It may help them with simplifying their schedule as well!

And, on a final note, I must disclose that we do not make our beds every day, even if it is on the schedule. I thought maybe writing it down would motivate me….uh-huh….

Responsibility Advice

I recently had a mother of one contact me about going to grad-school and parenting. She wanted to know "how I do it." I laughed. Who the hell am I to be giving any advice? For all she knows I go home, starve the girls, and lock them in their rooms...but, I was humbled. I didn't really know what to say. I let the email sit in my inbox for a couple of days before replying. When I did reply, this is what I said...

---------------------------

It is great to hear from you. And, when it comes to being a multi-tasking mom, I seriously hear you! I had such a hard time transitioning to my "new life" and that was back when I wasn't going to school. So, having a second baby and then applying to Grad School was basically terrifying. I completely understand your concern! I do have some advice, but I want to make sure I am completely clear - I still fail. I try. I try to be the best at everything that I can. But, some days the house is a complete wreck. Some days I order a pizza and don't cook supper. Some days I am so stressed to the max that I get short with Lucy and Olive, cry in the corner, and then beg for forgiveness. It is tough. I just don't think that we can be "the best" at it all. I've tried several times and I have failed every single time. Just when I think I am getting into the swing of things, I realize that my relationship with Heath is suffering, or my friendships. Or, that I can't find time to just sleep, or think, or be by myself for two seconds!

I digress...

So, here is my advice and feel free to ignore me.

1) Forget your life pre-baby
I think my greatest milestone as a new mom was finally letting go of my "old life." I had a hard time. I kept thinking that everything was going to be the same, just with a baby. It literally took me about 2.5 years to figure this out. Things will have to be adjusted and concessions will be made.

2) Lean on your hubby
Heath is fantastic. But, I like to take a little bit of credit for getting him there. :) I am always an open book with him. I tell him when I am reaching my limit. He has really helped me pick up the slack and has come to know what really bothers me. I can't stand dishes in the sink; but, dust can wait until I have time...That kind of stuff. He has learned that there will be concessions when it comes to housework. So, a few rooms in our house (our bedroom and the toy room) will never be clean. We have finally come to terms with this.

3) Schedule "you" time
When I was a new mom I felt like if I wasn't spending every second of my free-time with Lucy, then I was a bad mother. I was so upset that I was already missing out on so much during the day, with her at daycare. But, I soon realized that I was having major burnout. I would try to do too much and then get short with Lucy. I was with her, but the shared time wasn't good. So, I schedule homework days, or homework nights, or even days away. Don't ever feel guilty for doing this - ever. It's not the quantity of time, it is the quality of time.

4) Schedule "us" time
Seriously, along with the previous one, take time to spend with your hubby. It is amazing how silly "the dishes" or "taking out the trash" can seem when you both are in good graces. But, if you are both stressed, you will end up bickering about something silly, something not even worth fighting about. So, once a week, if possible, take a night to go out, or order a movie, or something with just the two of you. It will make the household chores seem like less of a priority, which really, aren't they?

5) Remember this: When you die, no one will remember you for how clean your house was
You will be remembered as a wife, a mom, and so on. I learned this from my Uncle Matt and it is so true! Pick your battles and try to remember what really matters.

6) Indulge

Get that coffee from Starbucks. Buy those earrings. Every once in a while, we all need something to keep our sanity. Mine is the sweet, sweet flavors of a large diet-coke with vanilla from Sonic. :) It fuels me to get homework done. Seriously.

7) June Cleaver doesn't exist!

I kept thinking I should be able to do it all. But, to be honest, I don't think it is possible. I seriously don't. Something has GOT to give. Mine is the housework and sleep. Yes - I still get overwhelmed with it and hate when people come over and things aren't perfect. But, I have just learned what really gets under my skin and what doesn't, and prioritize accordingly. During the week, no housework gets done. I cook supper, do dishes, and try to pick-up the girls' rooms. The weekend is for housework and maybe not all of it. These Pinterest and Blogging moms are struggling too, they just aren't as honest (or they don't work full-time, or go to school). Sleep? Well, I love it so much. I catch up on the weekends or take naps with the girls. :)

9) Also, remember this: You are not alone. 

And, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Before we know it, our kids will be big and we won't know what to do with ourselves.

10) Having two is not much more work than one, as long as your husband helps out. Keep that in mind for future babies. :) The biggest obstacle is going back to those toddler days, where you can't take them anywhere for long periods of time (grocery shopping sucks, etc.).

I hope I helped in some way. Those are the things getting me by. But, my classes started up again this week and I'm already stressing. That's okay; I will just pick up my Sonic drink on the way home and wait until the girls go to sleep until I start homework.



Heath is also fantastic. He really is. I could never do any of this without him. He is a great husband and father. He supports me emotionally and he supports my education. He picks up so much of my slack. I am forever grateful for him. I hope that everyone has that type of support!

You will do great. If not, you will figure it out. I promise. I am always here to listen.

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Any advice that any other parents would give to a new mother, trying to take on other responsibilities? Besides calling them crazy... :)

Motherhood

I think I am finally into the swing of things!

My brain has finally wrapped around the idea that my house will forever be an unorganized mess of unfolded laundry, scattered toys, and random burp cloths and socks everywhere! Although when they are teens I expect that those items will be replaced with dirty laundry, drinking cups or pop cans, and their shoes...

Although my house is a complete disaster, I am more at ease with it than ever. Take that however you want. It doesn't mean that I've given up and we will live in a pig pen the rest of our lives. It just means that I have finally realized what my Uncle Matt was trying to tell me. The dirty, unorganized house is the trade off to having little kids and a full-time job. It happens. I have accepted that. One room gets clean and another gets dirty. Got it. And, the dishes will need to be done nightly to keep them contained. Otherwise, they come heaping up out of the sink and we start to creatively stack them to keep the tower going. The great plus to that is that the sink can be seen when someone steps foot into our house. It's a great first impression - a real statement maker.

Moving on...

I've heard moms say that they were much more overprotective of their first one than the second. I think that is true to a certain extent. I was pretty damn psycho with Lucy; I'll be the first to admit that. I was seriously bat-shit crazy.With Olive am I just as "cray-cray?" You bet your ass I am.

I apologize for the cussing. I feel compelled. Perhaps it is that I am watching too much Breaking Bad, yo!

Anyway, with Olive I am just as crazy. I just do a much, much better job of two things: 1) suppressing my crazy and 2) being more assertive.

I have learned that as crazy and paranoid as I am that there are certain things out of my control. With Lucy, I used to stay awake at night worrying about her. I know it didn't do any good. So, with Olive for instance, if I have a fan going to keep air circulating, remove all blankets from the crib, and make sure she isn't too hot, I have done almost everything I can to prevent SIDS. It is in God's hands after that. All I can do is pray with all my heart and soul and hope that is enough.

I am also much better at being more assertive. I think that possibly comes with age or something. I am just way more outspoken these days (bad thing sometimes). But, as I get older I yearn for approval less and less. Plus, I think I feel more confident about the people around me. I know that they love me for me and will accept me, even if I ask them to not put Olive to sleep with a blanket. They know I'm crazy; what's new?

So, in my book, is the second one easier? Yes - in all ways possible. Olive is an easier baby and I am more composed as a mother.

I have finally settled into motherhood; it only took 3 years. I sincerely think it took that long to forget my life pre-Lucy and to completely let go of it. Now, don't get me wrong. I would never ever in my wildest dreams go back or give up my babies, now or before. But, I just kept comparing everything to the way it was before. I somehow expected the house to be as clean, for things to be as organized, for getting ready to take the same time, for my body to go right back to the way it was, for Heath and I to have as much time together. I thought that everything would be the same, just with a baby, happiness, zoo trips, vacations, and a few diapers. It is so, so much more. I don't think anything, ANYTHING, can properly prepare you for the physical, emotional, and mental journey that is parenting.

In conclusion, Olive had great timing. She just so happened to come when I had my greatest epiphany yet. Judge my house, judge my crazy, but just know - I am a mother. :)

Additional Thoughts:

• This post does not get me out of having occasional melt downs about how unorganized the house is and how little time I have to be superwoman. They will still happen on rare occasion; trust me.
• I highly recommend Breaking Bad, but it is super graphic and cussy. What do you expect? It's about meth. Thanks to my Uncle, Aunt, and cousins.

Gizzards = Fun

I eat chicken gizzards. They are probably the "weirdest" food that you will get me to eat. I'm not big on game, or rocky mountain oysters, or even plain oysters. But, give me fried chicken gizzards dipped in barbecue sauce and yum! About four times a year, my mom indulges me with home-battered chicken gizzards. Most of the time she even sends a bag home with me that I eat cold, straight out of the fridge.

But, that is all beside the point...this time, Lucy asked if she could help. She even pointed to her apron that my mom had hanging on the wall. Little did Lucy know how much she would actually get to "help."

  
Long story short - she made a mess! I guess what they say is true; you get more patience when you get older. I would have probably never allowed Lucy to make such a mess in our house, at least not without a drop-cloth, etc. My mom just let her be and let her play. I mean, "cook." The flour cleaned up rather easily though, although I admit that I just sat and watched. Lucy had such a fun time with that too, even trying to sweep.

During supper, Lucy tried a little bite of her batter gizzards. Not so much. That is okay. When she is older, we will try again. :)

Thank you Mimi for letting Lucy "cook" at your house. The gizzards (and sweet corn) were delicious! :)

Toy Boxes

I have been nesting again. I really have the mental energy to do a lot to our house every evening; but, my physical energy only allows for one project a night. I am having a much rougher go this time around...

Anyway, we have two "boxes" or "bins," whatever you want to call them, in our living room.

Note: the black things on the wall next to them, are the latches for the big, baby gate that we used to have to block the stairs. It will be back out soon enough... :[

The bins used to hold photo albums, craft stuff, blankets, etc. They were catch-alls. Then, when Lucy came, I cleaned them out and they currently hold all of her living room toys.

The toys that you see in the picture? They are from Lucy's room. Of course the toys in the bins weren't enough, she had to bring more out!

I was recently cleaning up the living room and going through the toy bins. I've been slowly taking the things that are too small for baby mouths and putting them in Lucy's room. I decided to separate the toys into the bins by "baby-friendly" and "toddler-toys." Then, I decided that each of our girls would get their own toy bin, once Olive's toys started to take over the living room too. Wouldn't labels be nice? :)

I started by making two 7 x 5 in. name tags, one for Lucy and one for Olive.

Seriously, how sick of "olives" will Olive be? :)

I printed them on card-stock and for anti-destruction purposes laminated them. I love my laminater! :) Lucy loved it too. :)

I wasn't sure how to adhere them to the lids of the bins. I didn't want something that would be permanent necessarily or leave a gross residue. So, for the meantime we pined them on there. I think I can staple them...I'm not sure.This part is to be determined, and I lean heavily on my intelligent husband for a fix...

 

Lucy was so proud and told me who's bin was who's, over and over again. :)

It was a small change; but, I love it. 

I know that once they hit a certain age that it won't matter who's bin is who's anymore. But, this way they can each decide what toys they want in the living room and what toys they want in their bedrooms. Each of them only get what fits in the bin! Also, when it comes to clean-up time, they know where it goes....hopefully. :)

What do you think?

Weeks 25, 26, 27 Update

"Who is this person emailing me from I Love Lucy Jean?"

I know; I know. I have been completely MIA. It is probably the worst ever - a 21 day hiatus! Well, first, my boss resigned and left; so, it has been really stressed at work. Second, Heath's grandfather passed away, very unexpectedly. It really threw all of us back...Therefore, it hasn't been the typical month at all. Hopefully things will get back to routine fairly soon.

I owe you three photos of my week updates. However, I only have two.

Scrolling between those photos makes me think two things; either I grew A LOT in just a week, or I should never wear yellow. I am thinking it is the yellow... :{

I also thought I would share this photo of me and my Granny. :) You can see Olive in the photo too. haha.

How far along?
Well, I am almost 28 weeks (27 weeks and 6 days). So, it has been a long while since I've updated you. I have 85 days left, or just 12 weeks and 1 day! Yippee! :) However, I don't know how much bigger I can get!

This big, you say?

Oh yeah. Looking at this picture doesn't make me feel quite as bad about my current state. Whew!


Baby is the size of a...
Well, we went from the length of an ear of corn, to rutabaga (whatever that is), to the length of an English hothouse cucumber, to now a head of cauliflower. In normal terms, she is 14.4 inches long and anywhere between 2 to 3 lbs! :)


Symptoms:
I am super nesting. I don't know how I am managing to find the energy with my busy, stressful days at work; but, I am somehow managing. This results in my feet and back hurting though. I know that I need to take it easy. Yesterday my feet were so swollen! I wore heels to work and then basically was on my feet until I laid in bed for the night...stupid idea.

I am super constipated too. I think I may have told you that I would stop talking about this, and if I did, sorry. I am going to continue. It is a part of pregnancy, for me that is, unfortunately. My doctor thinks that is why I look so big (besides the fact that I just get big, apparently, and my short torso). She literally thinks I am full of poop. haha. It's a nice sentiment. So, every other day of Miralax is supposed to work things out. She also suggested a suppository. Umm...no thanks. I will try the Miralax.

Finally, on another disturbing note, I have fine hairs all over my baby bump. That never happened with Lucy. The doctor said it was hormones and the good news is that they will likely fall out after Olive arrives. Thank goodness. Hairy and sexy do NOT go together in my book...especially on my stomach. Ga-row-ss.

Anything New?
Besides the hair on my belly?...hmmm. I am officially out of all of my pants. That is shocking right? Well, I have been wearing my pants unbuttoned, with a belly band for this long. Now, Olive has dropped and I can't do it. :( I had to go to all of the ugly, maternity pants. I need to get more (since all of my maternity clothes were for winter!). So, if you see me and I look not put together at all, that is why. Besides, pregnant women should never look "put-together." Those who do, completely defy logic and physics.

We got out all of Lucy's old clothes the other day. I went through them and put them all away. I still need to hang a lot up. I loved looking through them, especially with Lucy standing next to me. She kept 'oohing' and 'ahhing' over all of the cute, little outfits. I told her that they used to be hers and she just didn't quite understand. She kept holding them up and saying, "Baby Olive's?" It is really sweet. The nursery is finally coming back together and Heath's ironing board has exited. We are getting there...

New with Heath?
He is really, basically the same. I keep waiting for him to react to stuff the same as me, but it doesn't really work. Olive was hiccuping the other night and I yelled to him, "Heath - Olive has the hiccups."  He just replied, "Oh, yeah?" I waited like five minutes and then finally asked him, "Did you want to feel? She will probably be done here soon."

I guess pregnancy really is an "old hat" for me and it just isn't as exciting for him this time around. :( Besides Lucy is such a daddy's girl (I mean it! It is bad!), that I don't think he can imagine having two little girls crawling all over him on the floor.

The other night, during one of my nesting fits, he mentioned that he was the "primary bottle maker" when Lucy was little. It peeved me pretty good. I think he knew it; but, it seemed unintentional. I remember clearly getting up on my nights with Lucy and making my own bottles. I was really sad that he gave me such little credit when Lucy was an tiny baby. I really thought I took on 50%, if not more back then. Back then, Lucy wasn't a daddy's girl yet. Either way, I thought it was a pretty sad thing to tell a pregnant woman. :(

New with Lucy?
She got to feel Olive kick. She loves it! :) It makes my heart want to burst too. She gets up into our bed, tries to pull my shirt up and puts her hand on my tummy. She will talk to Olive and always uses an even higher pitched voice. It is so adorable; I could just cry. When Olive kicks, she always gasps and tells me all about it. I just know that she will be a GREAT big sister.

She has come to terms with the nursery too. She calls it Olive's room and calls the crib, Olive's crib. I don't foresee any issues with that part. Attention and binkies? That is a-whole-nother story.

Anything else?
Well, we have a 3D/4D ultrasound schedule for July. I can't wait. Olive better still be a girl, or we will have to do a lot more work! haha. 

Talk to you soon. Hopefully sooner than 21 days!

DayCare Blues

Lucy has started whining every once in a while, when we take her to DayCare. It makes me sad. At least once a week, sometimes twice, when we pull up to the building she starts whining or crying, "No. No K and J."  (Those are the two ladies that run the daycare.)

It breaks me heart. I wish I could stay home with her. I wish she had the option at least. It makes me sad all over again. To be honest, I have been getting a lot better with the idea of Lucy going to daycare. She is developing wonderfully and learning so, so many things! This kind of takes me back to when she was little and I constantly thought about all that I was missing out on...

After a lot of thought, I'll admit it. If I were a stay-at-home mom, Lucy would probably not be as educationally advanced as she is. I don't know if I would seriously take as much time teaching her songs, the alphabet, dances or skits, shapes, etc. Of course I would put forth the effort to teach her things, as we continue to do even though she goes to daycare. But, her life at daycare is so structured. Everyday she has class time, and singing, and arts and crafts, and so on.

I cannot say that if I stayed home with her that I would do that. I see all these things around the house that I would also like to take the time to do. I want to stay home with Lucy; but, I also want to clean, and organize, and craft, and cook...in addition to the fun projects and activities I could do with Lucy. I'd love to grocery shop during the day (unheard of!), and visit museums, get involved with the community, and go on picnics. While working, it just doesn't seem that there is ever enough time... (insert pathetically depressed expression here).

I am once again on that fence of daycare being a very good thing; but, I sometimes wish I could stay home with her too. I have a feeling that when Olive arrives, it will be even worse.

I see how organized my life is at work and I imagine it like that at home - having a schedule, structured to-do list, meal planning, budgeting, weekly outings with Lucy, actually sending out birthday and anniversary cards on time...etc, etc, etc. Perhaps someday I can figure out the balance that I desire. As of now, I really put all of my organizational thoughts into work. By time I get home, I can't remember what my to-do list consisted of or I lost that note I shoved in my purse, or better yet, I simply don't have the energy anymore.

I am young and perhaps I will get there. I just have to keep trying. I know another child will only add to the mix. Then, we can throw in dieting and exercising too.

Someday...

Organized House, Organized Mind

I don't know about you; but, I like organization. I've mentioned that before; particularly at work I am very organized.

Since Lucy came along our house has been absolutely less than organized. I have become accustomed to just throwing things in a cabinet or closet and just closing the door. It's hidden from visitors right? I'm totally using the "clean your room" method that we all used as child. Just throw it all in the closet!

Alright - it isn't that bad. However, it does stress me out. I literally can't relax knowing that I have projects that I should be doing - like organizing my bathroom cabinets or the spice cabinet.

I have always said that if my area is unorganized that my mind is unorganized too. Knowing everything has a place and it is in it's home makes me happy!

"A place for everything and everything in it's place."

I preach it; but, I get tired of not living it. When I talk about not having enough hours in my day, this is one of those things that bother me. I never feel like I have the time or energy. So, one night, I sucked it up. I finally just asked Heath, "Can you watch Lucy while I do something real quick?"

"Real quick" turned into about an hour.

I decided to clean up our bathroom cabinets.

This is the spare bathroom mirror-cabinet. Notice how the left side was once a medicine/first aid area? Who knew that we had so much stuff? Would you believe that we barely ever open this for any other reason than to get Lucy's toothbrush?

This is our master bathroom cabinet. Notice again, the top, middle shelf. More medicine! I never took this much until I had Lucy. Now, I have all types of old prescriptions around.

Here is our 'spice cabinet'. You can also see that we have medicine in there! Pepto and off-brand tums are barely peeking over my pepper.

And this cabinet was not being used to it's full potential, in the spare bathroom. So, I decided the medicine needed to be put all into one place - here!

I started cleaning one at a time and categorizing. This is what I came up with (click on the pictures to make them bigger):

It looks like a lot, right? It is! I probably need to go through again and double-check expiration dates. (The red tin is holding medicines that are in a tube, like Orajel and my Eczema hand-cream.)

I have decided that we have too many cosmetics. These are just extras that we leave in the spare for guest use. That's just crazy. I, again, added a little red dish to hold dental floss and Lucy's little Orajel Toothpaste.

It doesn't seem like a big change in the Master. For the most part that is because I didn't touch Heath's stuff on the left side. But, already I have felt like it is easier to find things.

I did notice one thing though; I think I have a deodorant issue...

I have another one in my travel bag! Wow! Note to self: don't buy any more deodorant until at least 2012! I'm becoming a hoarder/extreme couponer.

I even made some changes to the spice cabinet. My greatest accomplishment was deciding to use my recipe card holder for packets, like below (sorry it's so blurry):

1) Yes, we buy Our Family taco seasoning.
2) Yes, I did have some recipe cards in here; but, I had a lot more that were too big and didn't fit. I decided to take the small ones out and put them with the larger cards. Win/Win.

What do you think? It is amazing how better it made me feel. Just a little organization helps me keep my sanity. Plus, I was putting the medicine all in one place; so we can lock that cabinet for Lucy-proofing.

Sorry to get off track a little on the blog; but, I felt compelled to show off my hard work! :)

Have a great, organized day! :)

Parenting: I Just Don't Have the Stomach for It

I have the heart, soul, legs, back, and mind for parenting. But, stomach? Nope.

Last night, we enjoyed a nice evening. I went for a run while Heath and Lucy ran around outside. We came home, ate dinner as a family. Then, I cleaned up a bit and cut a few coupons while Heath and Lucy rolled all over the floor.

It was nice and simple, and enjoyable.

 - DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH -

I decided to finally put my post-workout bum in the shower and five minutes in.....

"Cori! Lucy just threw up. I mean larger than life!"

I peek my conditioned head out of the shower and there he is. He is covered in vomit. It is on his shoulder, his cheek, down his arms, and he's holding Lucy, also covered in vomit.

"Can you get out, so we can get in?

I only had one leg shaved and conditioner in my hair.

"Can I rinse the conditioner out first?"

"Fine. Hurry."

He runs back out of the bathroom, for I don't know what reason. I throw a towel on and hop out. He comes rushing back in. He is in the exact same state, holding Lucy.

He walks past me and I start gagging. I just can't do it and I could not believe that he was just, like, bathing in it and hadn't flinched a bit.

He throws Lucy in the tub. She is also unfazed. She is just excited to be getting in the tub and hadn't shed a single tear. I watch as he peels her clothes. He then peels his own, down to his underwear. He leans over and starts pulling......gag......chunks....gag....out of her hair. He picks some up off the side of the tub and throws them in the toilet.

I'm just standing there, gagging, shaking my head, and holding a towel over my nose.

"Do you want to give her a bath, while I go clean the stairs?" he asks.

"Um, yes!" Do I want to scrub it off the stairs? Absolutely not!

Apparently, he picked Lucy up to go to bed. When he was walking up the stairs she started heaving. She threw up a little on the stairs and he tried to catch/shield it. Then, he ran through the kitchen, making a trail, to the sink. Then she threw up so more.

Awesome.

He left the bathroom. Lucy was in the tub, with the water running, playing with a bucket.

I stood there, a good three feet away, watching her. Course of action?

1) Turn the air vent on. Gross...
2) Get myself clothed.
3) Drain the tub water and start with new, clean, vomit-free water.
4) Freak out a little bit when having to reach into the water to pull the plug.
5) Refill the tub.
6) Use toilet paper to pull out the remaining remnants in Lucy's hair.
7) Gag some more.
8) Steal the bucket from Lucy and dump water on her head.
9) Continuing giving the bath, like normal.

It was a late night, well, later than usual. Lucy seemed fine. I think she ate too many chicken nuggets - five!

Heath's comment about the whole ordeal, besides telling me what a good team we were at cleaning up?

"I don't think Lucy really chews her food."

"Nope."

Oh and my leg never did get shaved. I have to be careful how I cross my legs...I hide the unshaven one in back...haha.

24 Hours?

Sometimes I just don't believe that there are 24 hours in my day.

I'm a momma.
I'm a wife.
I'm a family person.
I'm a friend.
I'm a full-time employee.
I'm a house cleaner.
I'm a cook.
I'm a chauffeur.
I'm a lover of television.
I'm a sleeper.
I'm a night person.
I'm a wanna-be exerciser.
I'm an on-again/off-again weight watcher.
I'm a lover of junk food.
I'm a shopper.
I'm an organizer.
I'm a coupon clipper.
I'm a blogger.

I sometimes just can't get the hang of things.

At work I am very organized. I mean it is borderline OCD ridiculous. I have two calendars, an electronic one and a paper one. I will plan time to "map out" my schedule, several times a year. I am always adding items to my 'To-Do' list and if I don't get them done that day, it moves to the next. Nothing ever goes undone.

At home? Sunday - fold the laundry. Didn't get it done. Monday - fold the laundry. Tuesday - fold the laundry. Nope. Let's just say - it still needs to be done and it's Thursday. Ugh!

Our bedroom looks like a small bomb went off in my closet. The laundry room and den are in serious need of organizing/cleaning. The closets are to a point where I am afraid items may fall on me when I open the doors! And, don't even get me started on the master bathroom. :{

The good thing is that from the "outside" it all looks good. :) The rooms that visitors see are pretty clean and organized! Kudos for that, right? Maybe...

I've been thinking about making a calendar/to-do list for home. I could plan out my cleaning and activities. Then, I would have more time to do, and less guilt about doing, the things I love!

You are probably thinking that I just need to give up some sleep and some television. I need to make the sacrifice that comes with the responsibility of being a mom and an adult....yada, yada, yada. That is all fine and dandy for a week or so. Then, I am at my wit's end. I get grumpy. I simply need some 'me' time. I have to get another hour of sleep sometimes. I have to just sit and stop moving sometimes. It keeps me sane. So, hopefully a plan or schedule could allow for both my selfish and non-selfish needs.

What do you think? Is this just another thing that will get pushed to the side? Will I stick to it like I did my last five diets? Time will tell. I need a plan first.

Any tips on how to juggle all the many roles we have? And, keep our sanity? I'll let you know how it goes...

Going Out for Supper

No - this isn't another post about my weight (which is still the same).

I want to talk about going out to eat with the family, with Lucy more specifically. Thank goodness this has become so much easier. When she was really little we always had to bring everything along; however, now, we can order her items off of the menu and can just get a little cup of water, with a straw, for her to drink out of. Not too bad at all. Except...

Remember when I told you about our little chihuahua clean-uppers?

Where are they when you need them?

This was after I picked up about half of it!

And, yes, Lucy is wiping her own face, after dinner. :)

Long story short, I ended up squatting down with a plate and wipe, picking up random, small pieces of food. I just feel so guilty. 1) We allow her to do this at home, because of the Chihuahuas. Perhaps we should rethink this. 2) She is too young to really understand. I think I just confused her by saying "No." 3) I was a waitress in high school (yes - it's true), so I know what it is like to clean up after little kids (it sucks!).

Do your children do this? Do you pick it up? Or, do you just tip bigger? :)

Renovation: Complete!!

We are done! Whew! It took us about 2 months, which isn't too bad. A big thanks to my husband and his family for doing this for us (Ron, Bob, Sam, and Derek)! I am so excited to share the completed room with you!

If you are just now joining us, go check out the Basement to Playroom Transition. Then, check out all of the updates: Renovations.

And, the drum roll please...the photos you have all been waiting for...click on any pictures to make them larger, then hit back.

This is a three photo comparison of one of the walls: the before, the in-progress, and the after. This was the creation of a whole new wall.

Next, is the corner you see when you first walk into the room. Sorry - some of the angles aren't exact. As you can see, we painted that black beam white and finished the ceiling.

Here is the stairway down and my new holiday storage closet! Again, the angles are bad - sorry!

Here is another look toward the stairs.

It seriously doesn't even look like the same room! Here are some more photos of the room:

In case you were wondering what was in all of those storage containers...


Clothes for dress-up and doll clothes

ABC blocks



Small toys



Large toys



Large Legos



Stuffed animals

Here is a closer look at my new framed books, from my dad. Read more about it here.

And, here are more of our books. We have a ton of Golden Books!

And, finally, I will leave you with a picture of my new shelf. I had so many Lucille Ball items. I have collected them for a while now. I used to put them in our spare bedroom; but, that is now my Lucy's nursery. :) So, my collection had been in totes for a couple of years.  Now, they are all up and proudly displayed. I love it!

All the dolls are Lucille Ball dolls, except for the one on the left. That is Lucy's 2010 Holiday Barbie. And, my husband would like me to mention that he has one more bracket to put up on the left side; so, that is why it looks lop-sided.

I tried not to be so girly; but, the flowers and butterflies on the walls pushed me right over the female edge. Oh well. I will worry about making it more neutral when the time comes (if at all).

Lucy loves her new room! She just runs and plays all over. We all love it and are very excited that it is complete!

What do you think?

Renovations: Finished Shopping

Alright - I have put a restriction on myself. No more buying things for the new playroom.

Just joining us? Read about the Basement to Playroom Transition to catch up.  Also, you can catch up on all the related posts here: Renovations.

I have finished buying things for the basement; because, frankly, I need to be. Otherwise, we will be in the same crap-filled situation we were before. And, may I remind you of our borderline Hoarders situation? Yikes...but, on a good note, I finally found what I was looking for! Check it out! :)

All you Target lovers out there know the brand.

I am still not 100% in love with the open, backless shelves; nonetheless, I will make it work. How so? Of course, I'm going to fill this unit with cute totes! These were the ones I decided on...probably too many. But, I sure would hate to not have enough!

Our entryway light is very yellow....sorry! It made the colors look off.

These polka dots were just what I was looking for! I decided on some other, not-so-girly colored totes (the teal and lime ones). I'm really trying to make this room non-gender-specific. But, I will admit, the dark pink has gotten a little out of hand...

Who knew I had such a soft spot for dark pink, dark purple, lime green, and teal? Future Lucy big-girl-room colors? Hmmmm......

Heath is at home today finishing up on the painting. Then, this Friday they are finishing up the trim. To end the night, I get to fly in, scrub carpets, vacuum, and dust. Don't be jealous; your day will too come. haha. Right!

Perhaps on Saturday, I will get to start moving in furniture!

Alright, so here is what I left you with:

Yes - I know. It's a perfect diagram of the room. I should be an architect...but, enough talk about all of my talents. Let's move on.

I am thinking this layout for furniture:

Again, the furniture is perfectly to scale (ha!). These are my thoughts as of now; but, you how that goes. You get furniture in the room and quickly change your mind or realize that it won't work how you imagined. We'll see.

I sure hope I can give you all a final renovation update next Monday!!

Any fun ideas or suggestions for our playroom, before I make our final touches?