In the House of Fuss, I have declared that this is Decluttering Month. We have too much stuff. We have too much junk. We have too much CLUTTER! So I have declared war on the clutter and we are cleaning up and clearing OUT!
July 1st: I attacked the linen closet. I should have taken a before picture, but rest assured, the "After" is so much better! I wanted to use all my Thirty-One products to make it prettier, but honestly, the ones I need in that tiny space I don't have enough to show to my clients and also use, so they are on my personal wish list.
My husband worked on clearing out my (former) "Reading Nook" which had become wasted space/a 4x4 corner of our room that was just a catch all and was completely useless. We've purchased an exercise bike and set that up in that space and while we do need to rearrange things out there, so far, so good. I LOVE my bike - I'm so excited to get started!
Showing posts with label Household. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Household. Show all posts
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Monday, October 24, 2011
Busy, busy and emptying out!
It's 9:30 and I have already changed 3 diapers - 2 of them poopy, wiped one poopy bottom, and cleaned up a puddle of pee on the floor and 2 yogurt messes. It's going to be one of THOSE days.
I ignored my business responsibilities this weekend and didn't make any calls that I should have made. But you know, it happens. We had a very successful weekend - had a garage sale on Saturday and got rid of a ton of junk and made some money in the process. We then purged and emptied another section of the main room in the house - so now things around my desk are much more organized and clear. I know one part of the party order I just submitted is already on it's way! (a direct ship order) But that probably means that the rest of the order is coming along, too and I'm so excited to get it!!!
We had a few cool days recently, weather-wise. I actually had the opportunity to put the kids in a few of their warmer clothes and I broke out one of my long-sleeved tees for the garage sale the other day. It's fun to see the new stuff.
I got Fuss's new tights for ballet in the mail and the new Children's Place order I ordered for her - a couple of dancing themed shirts, some leggings, and a tutu-like skirt to wear over leggings. She looks ADORABLE in it. And she LOVES it, so score one for mom. The Little Man has a couple of hoodies that are keeping him warm and I got both of the items I had to have for their Halloween costumes this weekend, too. (Her new tights have an opening in the bottom so that they can be peeled back off her foot when she's not wearing her dancing shoes. Reminds me of the footless tights the more advanced students in my own ballet school wore - I was so jealous. I thought they were SO cool.) But I'm hoping that these are more comfortable for her - they seem like they are WAY better quality, so here's hoping they last longer.
I am loving the need to purge all the junk and unused items in my house. My husband is very supportive. I even sold a table that I had an emotional attachment to, but was really just taking up space in my home at the garage sale. It wasn't useful to me, and when someone made me a good offer, I took it. My husband was surprised, but pleased. I am just so over having all this stuff taking up space. I haven't purged all my knick knacks yet, but things are thinning out.
I also sold my Christmas wreath at the garage sale - which means I get to buy a new one!!! I'm sort of psyched about that!
I ignored my business responsibilities this weekend and didn't make any calls that I should have made. But you know, it happens. We had a very successful weekend - had a garage sale on Saturday and got rid of a ton of junk and made some money in the process. We then purged and emptied another section of the main room in the house - so now things around my desk are much more organized and clear. I know one part of the party order I just submitted is already on it's way! (a direct ship order) But that probably means that the rest of the order is coming along, too and I'm so excited to get it!!!
We had a few cool days recently, weather-wise. I actually had the opportunity to put the kids in a few of their warmer clothes and I broke out one of my long-sleeved tees for the garage sale the other day. It's fun to see the new stuff.
I got Fuss's new tights for ballet in the mail and the new Children's Place order I ordered for her - a couple of dancing themed shirts, some leggings, and a tutu-like skirt to wear over leggings. She looks ADORABLE in it. And she LOVES it, so score one for mom. The Little Man has a couple of hoodies that are keeping him warm and I got both of the items I had to have for their Halloween costumes this weekend, too. (Her new tights have an opening in the bottom so that they can be peeled back off her foot when she's not wearing her dancing shoes. Reminds me of the footless tights the more advanced students in my own ballet school wore - I was so jealous. I thought they were SO cool.) But I'm hoping that these are more comfortable for her - they seem like they are WAY better quality, so here's hoping they last longer.
I am loving the need to purge all the junk and unused items in my house. My husband is very supportive. I even sold a table that I had an emotional attachment to, but was really just taking up space in my home at the garage sale. It wasn't useful to me, and when someone made me a good offer, I took it. My husband was surprised, but pleased. I am just so over having all this stuff taking up space. I haven't purged all my knick knacks yet, but things are thinning out.
I also sold my Christmas wreath at the garage sale - which means I get to buy a new one!!! I'm sort of psyched about that!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Some bits and pieces
So Wednesday, the Little Man randomly wanted to go down for his morning nap an hour earlier than normal. I chalked it up to randomness and the fact that he slept horribly the night before and fed him and put him down. He then slept longer than usual and I woke him up because we were planning on going somewhere and I wanted to guarantee he would take an afternoon nap, which sometimes is more difficult if he gets too much sleep in the morning. But then, he did it again this morning. Only he slept pretty well last night. And I completely missed the signs because he'd been a bit fussy all morning anyhow and he just passed out without getting fed. I mean, it's fine for him to take a nap earlier, but I've got one porn-star-sized leaking breast right now, so that's unfortunate. But it really might be for the best - this rescheduling of the nap time. It will make it easier to get things done if he sleeps and wakes earlier in the mornings.
My mom redid my childhood bedroom recently. It's been a guest room, but it was still filled with a lot of my childhood stuff, the bed I slept in in college, etc. Now, it's not even recognizable as my childhood room - new flooring, new paint, new curtains, even a new fan. And she gave me a bunch of stuff yesterday that she no longer has room for, so I joked "you're really kicking me out, huh?" The biggest problem is, I don't have room for much of it, either. So I'll be Craigslisting and ebaying a bunch of collectibles and such in the coming days. I'm sort of psyched about that anyhow, because I'm all about down-sizing right at the moment. I feel like we've just got too much stuff! But the couple of things that I really wanted to keep from childhood - I have no idea where to store them!
Fuss asked me the other day what I collected - and I really didn't have an answer for her. I used to have SO many collections. I collected dolls, I collected figurines, books, even names. But now? I don't have any real "collections" of anything. My house is decorated with pictures of my friends and family, but not really anything else. (I have a few flowers from my wedding and a candle or two, as well.) I wonder sometimes - is this a sign of less interest in things, or is this a sign of my desire to clean out the cobwebs.
My mom redid my childhood bedroom recently. It's been a guest room, but it was still filled with a lot of my childhood stuff, the bed I slept in in college, etc. Now, it's not even recognizable as my childhood room - new flooring, new paint, new curtains, even a new fan. And she gave me a bunch of stuff yesterday that she no longer has room for, so I joked "you're really kicking me out, huh?" The biggest problem is, I don't have room for much of it, either. So I'll be Craigslisting and ebaying a bunch of collectibles and such in the coming days. I'm sort of psyched about that anyhow, because I'm all about down-sizing right at the moment. I feel like we've just got too much stuff! But the couple of things that I really wanted to keep from childhood - I have no idea where to store them!
Fuss asked me the other day what I collected - and I really didn't have an answer for her. I used to have SO many collections. I collected dolls, I collected figurines, books, even names. But now? I don't have any real "collections" of anything. My house is decorated with pictures of my friends and family, but not really anything else. (I have a few flowers from my wedding and a candle or two, as well.) I wonder sometimes - is this a sign of less interest in things, or is this a sign of my desire to clean out the cobwebs.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Too much stuff
I remember realizing as a kid that I had SO many toys and that if I only had a few, I would appreciate them more. But I liked them all just enough that I didn't want to give them up. It was a slippery slope. And something I've dealt with ever since. I like "things." I want possessions. I like gadgets and books and things to hold on to. I'm not greedy, per se (although, I admit that it can sometimes come close to that on occasion), but I like having things and buying things and being given things...
When we were pregnant with Fuss, we decided that we were going to have a minimal amount of kid toys in the house. And at birthdays and Christmas we would sort through the old toys and donate or put away the ones she didn't need anymore to make room for the new things. I think part of the reason I prefer not to have parties for her is to avoid the CPC (Cheap Plastic Crap) Syndrome. I hate getting a bunch of junk for her, though I do like to see her happy. And I like to give her things and let her pick out things. She's such a little shopper...
But the thing is, it's gotten out of hand. Her room is a disaster, despite the many bins and such that I have bought to keep things organized, there are toys all over the floor. Because she has such a big space and it's her own little play room, I've not stayed on top of her while she's playing to put something away before she gets another something out. So there are blocks and play food and dishes and costumes all over. There are 42 stuffed animals and dolls in her bed.
I have the thought of throwing up my hands and dumping all of it and starting over. Both in her room, and in mine. But I can't afford to start over, so I have to put in the effort, despite my exhaustion. Despite my irritation at the projects at hand. I feel like I'm always treading water with this organization thing. I feel like I can never seem to move forward because the task at hand is so big and crazy that I can't ever really make a dent in it.
When we were pregnant with Fuss, we decided that we were going to have a minimal amount of kid toys in the house. And at birthdays and Christmas we would sort through the old toys and donate or put away the ones she didn't need anymore to make room for the new things. I think part of the reason I prefer not to have parties for her is to avoid the CPC (Cheap Plastic Crap) Syndrome. I hate getting a bunch of junk for her, though I do like to see her happy. And I like to give her things and let her pick out things. She's such a little shopper...
But the thing is, it's gotten out of hand. Her room is a disaster, despite the many bins and such that I have bought to keep things organized, there are toys all over the floor. Because she has such a big space and it's her own little play room, I've not stayed on top of her while she's playing to put something away before she gets another something out. So there are blocks and play food and dishes and costumes all over. There are 42 stuffed animals and dolls in her bed.
I have the thought of throwing up my hands and dumping all of it and starting over. Both in her room, and in mine. But I can't afford to start over, so I have to put in the effort, despite my exhaustion. Despite my irritation at the projects at hand. I feel like I'm always treading water with this organization thing. I feel like I can never seem to move forward because the task at hand is so big and crazy that I can't ever really make a dent in it.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The answer is only important if you ask the right question.*
There is large-budget item that my husband has been wanting for a long time. We're finally in a place where it's a good idea, etc. His friend has one that he is willing to sell us, so I planned to buy it for him for his birthday. As we were looking over the budget last night, I mentioned the cost of the item and he pulled out some cash he had stashed away from some side jobs he's been working over the last 6 months or so. He had more than enough to cover the cost of the item, so he said we wouldn't have to budget for it, since the money was already saved. I was bummed, because then it didn't seem like I was giving him a present. And then, of course, I realized that NONE of it was money that I earned and... well, I was kinda bummed.
My husband laughed and handed me the cash and said "well, then, this is your earnings from child care for the last week." How come he has a better attitude about it than I do?
Sometimes I get so frustrated by the fact that I don't "contribute" to the household financially. I love to spend money, but I don't make any at this point in my life. One can argue that if I worked outside the home, we would be spending money on child care, so in some ways, I "earn" that money by doing the child care myself and not having to pay someone else to do it.
Sometimes, though, it's just not enough. I barely got out of the house last week when the kids and I were sick. And due to more/continued illness this week, it's more of the same. I need socialization to feel complete. I want to contribute to our household by doing more than dishes, laundry, and child care. But I cannot think of something that I'd rather do (that I am capable of doing) than be home with my children, so I am at a cross-roads.
I'm looking into some options. I'm researching careers and opportunities to earn, reach out, have a creative outlet, etc. I'm trying to write again - something I haven't focused on since before the baby was born. But it's hard. And it's still not a social outlet, regardless of how much I enjoy it.
*(I was watching The Next Karate Kid on TV and I liked that quote.)
My husband laughed and handed me the cash and said "well, then, this is your earnings from child care for the last week." How come he has a better attitude about it than I do?
Sometimes I get so frustrated by the fact that I don't "contribute" to the household financially. I love to spend money, but I don't make any at this point in my life. One can argue that if I worked outside the home, we would be spending money on child care, so in some ways, I "earn" that money by doing the child care myself and not having to pay someone else to do it.
Sometimes, though, it's just not enough. I barely got out of the house last week when the kids and I were sick. And due to more/continued illness this week, it's more of the same. I need socialization to feel complete. I want to contribute to our household by doing more than dishes, laundry, and child care. But I cannot think of something that I'd rather do (that I am capable of doing) than be home with my children, so I am at a cross-roads.
I'm looking into some options. I'm researching careers and opportunities to earn, reach out, have a creative outlet, etc. I'm trying to write again - something I haven't focused on since before the baby was born. But it's hard. And it's still not a social outlet, regardless of how much I enjoy it.
*(I was watching The Next Karate Kid on TV and I liked that quote.)
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
10 on Tuesday: My Home
1. What type of home do you currently reside in? (house, apartment, etc.)
A house.
2. If you could completely redecorate one room in your home, what room would you pick, why, and what would you do to it?
My great room, but since that is technically cheating, I'd probably say my living room. We've been slowly trying to do this over the last 2 years, but I really think it would be better if we could just DO IT. But that's expensive. So we do it slowly. I have a new couch and a new rug, so really now it's about fixing it up (ie: organizing) and a few details, I think.
3. What is your favorite place to gain inspiration for your home decor style?
Magazines and HGTV, etc. I can't say I've ever redone a room to copy what I've seen, but I try to get a feel and then do it on a budget.
4. What is your favorite piece of decor in your home?
Decor? I have no idea. Maybe the new painting in the dining area of the great room? I love my dining table and I love my bedroom's overall look (when it's clean)
5. What do you want visitors to feel when they visit your home? Do you think your home gives off that feeling?
I want people to feel comfortable and peaceful. I don't think I'm there yet, because I feel like there is too much chaos - and not just the kids and the dogs. I've still got stuff crammed everywhere leftover from our construction this summer, and I just want to snap my fingers and magically have it all organized.
6. Describe your home in one word and explain why you chose that word.
Transition. I feel like certain rooms are there, or would be there if I could keep them clean, but other things are waiting to be updated, finished, or re-done.
7. What are some predominant colors or patterns in your home?
LOTS of green and blue and brown. But then, we love those colors, so it's not a shocker.
8. What is your favorite room in your home and why?
My bedroom. Because it's basically perfect.
9. Do you take a hands-on or DIY approach to projects around your home or do you enlist or hire help?
Daddy Fuss does a lot, and/or my dad helps out, since it seems like he can do everything. About the only thing my dad isn't willing to tackle is medium-to-large electrical projects, so we hire out for those, of course. We're also going to have to hire a plumber when we re-do our bathroom.
10. Where is your favorite place to shop for home furnishings?
Well, I would have said American Signature, because I like that store a lot and they have good prices, etc. But my favorite piece is from Kanes and my couch which I love (and would love more if Fuss would stop spilling her juice all over it) and we had a great experience picking out and purchasing was from Ashley. My bedroom set (which is gorgeous, still in incredible shape, but is really huge, so I'm wishing we could at least think about replacing) and my recliner (love) are both from AS, so it's probably still my favorite go-to furniture store.
More 10 on Tuesday can be found here.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Resolve
I HATE New Years resolutions. I think I say this every year. Most people make a New Year's Resolution, screw up by the first of March and give up their pursuit of self-improvement. But I've got a few projects going on this year in that department - I'm ready to improve myself, my house, my life.
I'm reading 2 books that are supposed to help me with these goals. I'm reading Clutter Rehab by Laura Wittman who also writes the I'm An Organizing Junkie blog. I'm in need of some new tips to re-inspire me to get my house in order.
I'm also reading 48 days to the Work You Love. My husband read it and it inspired him to further educate himself and decide what direction he needs to pursue to get a new job that he feels he will actually like. He's been trying to talk me into reading it for months, but I've been dragging my feet and I finally agreed to do it and began it this past month. (It's slow going. See: 2 kids, holidays, etc.) But I'm motivated to get a better idea what I might be suited to. I love being home with my kids, but it depresses me to think that it's the only thing I'm suited for, when so often, I feel like there is something missing in my life.
My other project is to slim down and shape up. I've often said I'm out of shape, but if I'm honest, I can honestly say that I'm not just out of shape, I've never been IN shape. Starting at the age of 30, after birthing 2 children, I'm probably never going to be in super model shape (and I'm okay with that) but I can certainly improve from where I am currently, so I am motivated to do something at this point. Plus, once I reach my goal weight/size, I'm going to go buy some of those pretty clothes I've been drooling over.
I want my life to be more appealing. If this requires some effort on my part (it does - there is no "if" really) then I'm ready to step up and do it.
I'm reading 2 books that are supposed to help me with these goals. I'm reading Clutter Rehab by Laura Wittman who also writes the I'm An Organizing Junkie blog. I'm in need of some new tips to re-inspire me to get my house in order.
I'm also reading 48 days to the Work You Love. My husband read it and it inspired him to further educate himself and decide what direction he needs to pursue to get a new job that he feels he will actually like. He's been trying to talk me into reading it for months, but I've been dragging my feet and I finally agreed to do it and began it this past month. (It's slow going. See: 2 kids, holidays, etc.) But I'm motivated to get a better idea what I might be suited to. I love being home with my kids, but it depresses me to think that it's the only thing I'm suited for, when so often, I feel like there is something missing in my life.
My other project is to slim down and shape up. I've often said I'm out of shape, but if I'm honest, I can honestly say that I'm not just out of shape, I've never been IN shape. Starting at the age of 30, after birthing 2 children, I'm probably never going to be in super model shape (and I'm okay with that) but I can certainly improve from where I am currently, so I am motivated to do something at this point. Plus, once I reach my goal weight/size, I'm going to go buy some of those pretty clothes I've been drooling over.
I want my life to be more appealing. If this requires some effort on my part (it does - there is no "if" really) then I'm ready to step up and do it.
Friday, November 5, 2010
7 Quick Takes: Very Random Edition
1. This week Fuss has been driving me bonkers. In no particular order she has dumped an entire salt shaker all over my living room, screamed through half a trip to Target, destroyed one of my eye liners, flooded the hallway and dining room (in separate ways and occasions) and torn apart my living room repeatedly. I could actually do a Quick Takes on the many ways she has tried to drive me to drink this week, but no one wants to read that.
2. I discovered the beauty of the smell of classic Whisk laundry detergent this week, thanks to a tip on the Style Lush Blog. I still can't use it on all of our clothes (specifically the baby's) but I'm using it on our sheets and towels and such and I LOVE it. Everything smells so fresh. I still have half a bottle of generic brand scented fabric softener, so I can't vouch for the idea that classic Snuggle softener makes it even better, but I'm loving the Whisk!
3. I just ran out of Limoncello liquor. I love that stuff and I'm going to have to talk my husband into getting more. It's my favorite liquor - it tastes like sweetened liquid Lemonheads and is delicious in a drink I copied and altered from some restaurant called a Cosmocello. Awesome.
4. We're supposed to get chilly weather here this weekend and I'm psyched. I'm actually going to get to dress the baby in a sleeper for the first time (he gets very warm in just his onesies and a light blanket, so I don't dare cover him even more most days/nights). I can't wait to see how cute he is in this little football sleeper.
5. We're going back to our cash-only budget this month. We've been so bad the last 3 months with the arrival of the baby and my husband's raise at work, etc. But we're getting back on track, so wish me luck!
6. I'm less than 3 weeks away from our Disney trip and I am so excited. Fuss can't wait for the combination of visiting Mickey and hanging out with her cousins. I can't wait to sit back and watch her enjoy it all!
7. I didn't sign up for NaBloPoMo this year, but I'm planning to do the challenge anyhow. I may miss a day or so while we're in Orlando, though, so I didn't want to make the official committment and then blow it. Other than that, I hope to have a daily post - even on the weekends. See you tomorrow!
2. I discovered the beauty of the smell of classic Whisk laundry detergent this week, thanks to a tip on the Style Lush Blog. I still can't use it on all of our clothes (specifically the baby's) but I'm using it on our sheets and towels and such and I LOVE it. Everything smells so fresh. I still have half a bottle of generic brand scented fabric softener, so I can't vouch for the idea that classic Snuggle softener makes it even better, but I'm loving the Whisk!
3. I just ran out of Limoncello liquor. I love that stuff and I'm going to have to talk my husband into getting more. It's my favorite liquor - it tastes like sweetened liquid Lemonheads and is delicious in a drink I copied and altered from some restaurant called a Cosmocello. Awesome.
4. We're supposed to get chilly weather here this weekend and I'm psyched. I'm actually going to get to dress the baby in a sleeper for the first time (he gets very warm in just his onesies and a light blanket, so I don't dare cover him even more most days/nights). I can't wait to see how cute he is in this little football sleeper.
5. We're going back to our cash-only budget this month. We've been so bad the last 3 months with the arrival of the baby and my husband's raise at work, etc. But we're getting back on track, so wish me luck!
6. I'm less than 3 weeks away from our Disney trip and I am so excited. Fuss can't wait for the combination of visiting Mickey and hanging out with her cousins. I can't wait to sit back and watch her enjoy it all!
7. I didn't sign up for NaBloPoMo this year, but I'm planning to do the challenge anyhow. I may miss a day or so while we're in Orlando, though, so I didn't want to make the official committment and then blow it. Other than that, I hope to have a daily post - even on the weekends. See you tomorrow!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
10 on Tuesday (and my baby is 2 mos old!)
Today my baby boy is 2 months old! It hardly seems possible. He will have his 2 month Dr's appointment tomorrow, so I will confirm what I have been suspecting - that he is growing like a weed! I have cleaned all his 3-6 month sized clothes and he's already starting to wear some of them - and filling them out quite nicely!
Questions for Tuesday, November 2, 2010!
1. Do you color? If you do, is it with markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.?
These days, if I color, it's mostly with Fuss and we use crayons. I like crayons and all the colors the Crayola provides. When I was in art school, though, I LOVED coloring with my professional-grade colored pencils. I learned how to layer and blend colors and had a blast doing it. It's been awhile.
2. What’s the most organized part (or system) in your house?
The kids' clothes are really organized. They would be even better if we had enough drawers to put them all in, but we're working on that. (We showed up at my MIL's house on Sunday to pick up the dresser for Fuss and it was inaccessible. My MIL's hoarding is really a problem and my husband was really frustrated)
3. What’s the most unorganized part (or system) in your house?
My books, my bathroom, my pantry - take your pick. All of those need to desperately be worked on, but my motivation is waning on those projects!
4. If you had unlimited amounts of time and money, what museum would you want to see and why?
Something in Europe? :) Actually, I would love to go back to the Smithsonian (I went when I was 13, but I only enjoyed a small part of it and I think my age would allow me to get more out of it now)
5. What is your favorite part of the fall season?
Fall decorations, candy corn, and Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving food and the lower stress of that holiday (you have to cook. That's it. No presents, no other craziness)
6. Did you dress up for Halloween?
Yes.
7. Have you started Christmas shopping?
I've started thinking about Christmas shopping - does that count?
8. Do you crack your knuckles?
No.
9. If you had to live in another city for a year (all expenses paid), which city would you choose?
Well, I love New Orleans, but I think it's a "love to visit, but don't want to live there" sort of location. I've never been to Seattle, but I think I'd like it for a temporary time period, like a year. I wouldn't mind trying to live in a very different climate.
10. Do you have any reoccurring dreams?
When I'm really stressed, i get a recurring dream of being crushed by a larger-than life rock-like thing. It's horrible.
For more 10 on Tuesday (and to celebrate her baby boy's 2 months, too!) visit Chelsea at Roots and Rings.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Weekend in review
November 1st. One year ago today I lost my second pregnancy. I wish I could have known that baby. I had planned to light a candle in memory today, but I cannot find a lighter, which is frustrating me to no end (we used to have dozens of the darn things lying around. We've had to hide them from Fuss, since she likes to play with them, but they should be SOMEWHERE)
Friday night we went to my SIL's party and dressed as Gibbs and Abby from NCIS.
My SIL and her roommate dressed as the band KISS (or 2 members thereof) and they looked fantastic. We used the entire can of black hairspray on my pigtails and still didn't cover all the red, but it gave a good effect, anyhow. I don't know how I feel about being a brunette (I have never dared to color my hair in the slightest. Too scared of what hair dye can do to red hair. A friend of mine tried highlighting her red hair at home and managed to turn it purple instead.) but it was fun for a night.
My husband and his friend painted the front of the house over the weekend. It looks great. We used a creamy pale yellowish color and a midnight blue for the trim. It's going to take me a few days to not be surprised when we I come around the corner and pull in the driveway. (Our garage door is now mostly blue, whereas it used to be off white and sage green and faded) I managed to somehow go to the grocery store without either child in tow, get everything on my list, spend way less than our budget, and get there and home in less than 29 minutes. I was impressed by my grocery shopping skills, even if I do say so myself!
We went Trick or Treating w/ our best friends K&M and their kids. Fuss was a Ladybug and Little Man wore his Halloween onesie. I carried him in the Moby wrap almost the entire time and he slept until the last half of the last street. (he has finally begun to really like the Moby - I've learned that the trick is to get walking once I get him settled in it, at least until he's asleep, comfortably.) It was really comfortable on my back, which was nice. If it weren't for my arm/elbow getting tired from supporting his head that had flopped over once he was in a deep sleep, I could have probably carried him like that for ages.
Friday night we went to my SIL's party and dressed as Gibbs and Abby from NCIS.
My SIL and her roommate dressed as the band KISS (or 2 members thereof) and they looked fantastic. We used the entire can of black hairspray on my pigtails and still didn't cover all the red, but it gave a good effect, anyhow. I don't know how I feel about being a brunette (I have never dared to color my hair in the slightest. Too scared of what hair dye can do to red hair. A friend of mine tried highlighting her red hair at home and managed to turn it purple instead.) but it was fun for a night.My husband and his friend painted the front of the house over the weekend. It looks great. We used a creamy pale yellowish color and a midnight blue for the trim. It's going to take me a few days to not be surprised when we I come around the corner and pull in the driveway. (Our garage door is now mostly blue, whereas it used to be off white and sage green and faded) I managed to somehow go to the grocery store without either child in tow, get everything on my list, spend way less than our budget, and get there and home in less than 29 minutes. I was impressed by my grocery shopping skills, even if I do say so myself!
We went Trick or Treating w/ our best friends K&M and their kids. Fuss was a Ladybug and Little Man wore his Halloween onesie. I carried him in the Moby wrap almost the entire time and he slept until the last half of the last street. (he has finally begun to really like the Moby - I've learned that the trick is to get walking once I get him settled in it, at least until he's asleep, comfortably.) It was really comfortable on my back, which was nice. If it weren't for my arm/elbow getting tired from supporting his head that had flopped over once he was in a deep sleep, I could have probably carried him like that for ages.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Busy, busy
I haven't had a week this booked since the first week we had the baby home and we had Dr's appointments and errands to run every day.
The kids and I went thrift store shopping w/ April and her youngest on Monday, looking for pieces to complete our Halloween costumes (for the adults. The kids were taken care of long ago).
Tuesday, we met up with April again and took all 4 kids to Chuck E. Cheese to play and have lunch. (btw, if you are going to go there with a couple of toddlers, during the week is the way to go. There was almost no one there, and all the kids were under the age of about 3. We could just let the kids run all over the "ride" area, get a little mommy talk time in, and still see them without having to follow them all over the place constantly. It was kinda perfect.) Fuss is, of course, fearless - she was climbing on the rides and such before I had a chance to turn around. We have long suspected that she got her daddy's penchant for roller coasters and we were correct. Now, if only she was tall enough to ride them...
We went home and I immediately put the kids down for a nap. (Oddly, Fuss went down easily and Little Man resisted.) Then my sisters-in-law picked up both kids to take them to a volleyball game being played by the team from the school my SIL J works at (also all of our alma mater). I spent the next couple of hours kid-free and ran some errands that would be way faster without having to lug the kids around. Then Daddy Fuss and I met our friend M at the shooting range and tried out a couple of different types of guns. M hadn't ever shot a hand gun before, but she was pretty good. We all enjoyed ourselves. Then M went home and Daddy Fuss and I went to dinner.
Today my new washer(!) is being delivered and I need to pick up the exterior paint that I ordered. Daddy Fuss will be cooking corn chowder tonight, so I also need to make sure I go to the grocery store and buy some milk and hopefully, get the cupcakes baked for Daddy Fuss's Halloween potluck tomorrow.
Friday night we have our Halloween party at SIL LP's house. Daddy Fuss has to go to the party store during his lunch break today to get the last 2 items on our costume list (he needs a prop gun and I need fishnet stockings).
Saturday Daddy Fuss is working for the photographer he helps out and then he will start painting the outside of the house. His friend (who was the best man at our wedding) is coming over in the afternoon to help him out.
I imagine that there will likely be more painting on Sunday and then Trick or Treating in the evening. Fuss is very excited.
I am very excited about the washer and I can't wait to get started on the laundry that's been piling up! (I can't believe I just typed that. Really? Obviously, my world has become very small and dull).
I'm hoping to get together with my mom either Thursday or Friday as she has a few days off this week and next, but has a big project for her Plant Society to get ready for next week and will be focused on that for the bulk of her time off. We shall see.
The kids and I went thrift store shopping w/ April and her youngest on Monday, looking for pieces to complete our Halloween costumes (for the adults. The kids were taken care of long ago).
Tuesday, we met up with April again and took all 4 kids to Chuck E. Cheese to play and have lunch. (btw, if you are going to go there with a couple of toddlers, during the week is the way to go. There was almost no one there, and all the kids were under the age of about 3. We could just let the kids run all over the "ride" area, get a little mommy talk time in, and still see them without having to follow them all over the place constantly. It was kinda perfect.) Fuss is, of course, fearless - she was climbing on the rides and such before I had a chance to turn around. We have long suspected that she got her daddy's penchant for roller coasters and we were correct. Now, if only she was tall enough to ride them...
We went home and I immediately put the kids down for a nap. (Oddly, Fuss went down easily and Little Man resisted.) Then my sisters-in-law picked up both kids to take them to a volleyball game being played by the team from the school my SIL J works at (also all of our alma mater). I spent the next couple of hours kid-free and ran some errands that would be way faster without having to lug the kids around. Then Daddy Fuss and I met our friend M at the shooting range and tried out a couple of different types of guns. M hadn't ever shot a hand gun before, but she was pretty good. We all enjoyed ourselves. Then M went home and Daddy Fuss and I went to dinner.
Today my new washer(!) is being delivered and I need to pick up the exterior paint that I ordered. Daddy Fuss will be cooking corn chowder tonight, so I also need to make sure I go to the grocery store and buy some milk and hopefully, get the cupcakes baked for Daddy Fuss's Halloween potluck tomorrow.
Friday night we have our Halloween party at SIL LP's house. Daddy Fuss has to go to the party store during his lunch break today to get the last 2 items on our costume list (he needs a prop gun and I need fishnet stockings).
Saturday Daddy Fuss is working for the photographer he helps out and then he will start painting the outside of the house. His friend (who was the best man at our wedding) is coming over in the afternoon to help him out.
I imagine that there will likely be more painting on Sunday and then Trick or Treating in the evening. Fuss is very excited.
I am very excited about the washer and I can't wait to get started on the laundry that's been piling up! (I can't believe I just typed that. Really? Obviously, my world has become very small and dull).
I'm hoping to get together with my mom either Thursday or Friday as she has a few days off this week and next, but has a big project for her Plant Society to get ready for next week and will be focused on that for the bulk of her time off. We shall see.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Just Another Day in Paradise
"There goes the washing machine...
Honey don't kick it
Promise I'll fix it
With about a million other things..."
Well, the washing machine couldn't be fixed. At 11-12 years old (it came with the house, so I'm not precisely sure), my dad said it probably needed to be replaced anyhow. He told us we needed a front-loader (and he should know. he cleans clothes for a living), so we began searching. The Sears Outlet salesman tired to convince us that the only reason for a front-loader was for water savings, but I wasn't so sure. My dad clarified that front-loaders are easier on the clothes and get them cleaner. We got a good deal (even my thrifty dad days so) at Lowes this weekend, while they were having a sale. I still don't have a good dryer, but ours works and I can hold off a bit. A friend suggested looking for a dryer on Black Friday, so I think I'll do that.
Daddy Fuss and I had a fight this weekend. We don't often argue, so it is usually shocking when it happens and lasts for more than 5 minutes. He felt slighted and unloved by something I did/didn't do and once he started talking to me again, we both aired some grievances about the craziness of our lives currently and things improved drastically. It was a crazy-busy weekend and I... I just need things to slow down a bit. I miss the time we used to have together just for fun. Lately, I feel like there are always so many projects and so much to do (kid care included) that in the evenings we are too tired to do much more than watch TV in the same room and fall into bed once the Little Man finally settles down for the night. Even this weekend, we were so booked that while we did have some fun, it was a lot of rushing around like crazy people.
I'm feeling so spacey lately. My short-term memory is horrible and I forget random things all the time. Today as I was rushing around getting dressed to go out, I was knocked out by a horrible pain in my stomach. It has plagued me the bulk of the day thus far and I have avoided eating for the most part. (I'm starting to get really hungry. I don't know how long this will last.) I may have to go get a milkshake to see if I'm just plugged up. I was actually worried at one point that I shouldn't be driving - especially with the kids in the car (I tend to pass out when I have intense stomach pain, though I've learned how to breathe through pain thanks to child birth and haven't passed out in several years, with the exception of my post-birth ordeal), but I got through it and no one was harmed. Hopefully, this will pass quickly.
Honey don't kick it
Promise I'll fix it
With about a million other things..."
Well, the washing machine couldn't be fixed. At 11-12 years old (it came with the house, so I'm not precisely sure), my dad said it probably needed to be replaced anyhow. He told us we needed a front-loader (and he should know. he cleans clothes for a living), so we began searching. The Sears Outlet salesman tired to convince us that the only reason for a front-loader was for water savings, but I wasn't so sure. My dad clarified that front-loaders are easier on the clothes and get them cleaner. We got a good deal (even my thrifty dad days so) at Lowes this weekend, while they were having a sale. I still don't have a good dryer, but ours works and I can hold off a bit. A friend suggested looking for a dryer on Black Friday, so I think I'll do that.
Daddy Fuss and I had a fight this weekend. We don't often argue, so it is usually shocking when it happens and lasts for more than 5 minutes. He felt slighted and unloved by something I did/didn't do and once he started talking to me again, we both aired some grievances about the craziness of our lives currently and things improved drastically. It was a crazy-busy weekend and I... I just need things to slow down a bit. I miss the time we used to have together just for fun. Lately, I feel like there are always so many projects and so much to do (kid care included) that in the evenings we are too tired to do much more than watch TV in the same room and fall into bed once the Little Man finally settles down for the night. Even this weekend, we were so booked that while we did have some fun, it was a lot of rushing around like crazy people.
I'm feeling so spacey lately. My short-term memory is horrible and I forget random things all the time. Today as I was rushing around getting dressed to go out, I was knocked out by a horrible pain in my stomach. It has plagued me the bulk of the day thus far and I have avoided eating for the most part. (I'm starting to get really hungry. I don't know how long this will last.) I may have to go get a milkshake to see if I'm just plugged up. I was actually worried at one point that I shouldn't be driving - especially with the kids in the car (I tend to pass out when I have intense stomach pain, though I've learned how to breathe through pain thanks to child birth and haven't passed out in several years, with the exception of my post-birth ordeal), but I got through it and no one was harmed. Hopefully, this will pass quickly.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Messy
I've been awake for about an hour this morning and I've already been pooped on, peed on, had to change stinky clothes, dirty linens (and there's more to do, but those could wait) and had to vacuum up the muffin crumbs all over my couch (because "the dogs will eat it!"). I haven't even had time to MAKE coffee, let alone get to drink some. (And apparently, my letter "A" key is sticking and I have to pound it to get it to work. Oh joy.) I did crack open my can of Coca Cola to survive.
We spent our free Sunday yesterday doing chores. Daddy Fuss rented a pressure washer and pressure-washed the outside of the house in preparation for painting next weekend. I am REALLY not looking forward to that. I spent time cleaning up the kitchen, finishing the flowers on Fuss's new bedroom walls, cleaning up the dining room, and doing laundry. So exciting. I guess our dull Sunday makes up for our fun Saturday. My step-brothers' weddings were Saturday night. I got my toes done in the morning, my hair done in the afternoon and then we celebrated w/ them for the evening and into the night. (We took the baby, so we had to leave long before the festivities wrapped up, but it was fun!) I plan to do a post on it when I have my pictures off-loaded.
My Gramma is supposed to come visit this morning, so I have been attempting to get and keep the house in some sort of order. She has lightened up significantly over the years, but I remember her always looking disapprovingly at my mom's lack-of-housekeeping skills.
My MIL babysat for Fuss while we were at the wedding. When we came home, she had picked up my living room and scrubbed my tub (she also fed Fuss spaghetti for dinner and had to give her a bath, so the tub scrubbing was obvious). I appreciate the help, but when she does stuff like that, I always feel like she is judging my housekeeping skills and I find that offensive and laughable, considering her own house is such a disaster! Daddy Fuss insists that she is simply trying to help me adjust to dealing with a high-energy toddler and a newborn and that she only does it out of a spirit of seeing a need and wanting to be useful. I am trying to see it that way.
My housekeeping is improving. I still have trouble keeping things picked up, especially w/ Fuss around. I still need to do a HUGE organizing of my shelves and desk, so that's a project coming up. But right now, I'm focusing on maintaining and working on the new room for Fuss. It feels like full-time job just keeping up with the kids sometimes!
We spent our free Sunday yesterday doing chores. Daddy Fuss rented a pressure washer and pressure-washed the outside of the house in preparation for painting next weekend. I am REALLY not looking forward to that. I spent time cleaning up the kitchen, finishing the flowers on Fuss's new bedroom walls, cleaning up the dining room, and doing laundry. So exciting. I guess our dull Sunday makes up for our fun Saturday. My step-brothers' weddings were Saturday night. I got my toes done in the morning, my hair done in the afternoon and then we celebrated w/ them for the evening and into the night. (We took the baby, so we had to leave long before the festivities wrapped up, but it was fun!) I plan to do a post on it when I have my pictures off-loaded.
My Gramma is supposed to come visit this morning, so I have been attempting to get and keep the house in some sort of order. She has lightened up significantly over the years, but I remember her always looking disapprovingly at my mom's lack-of-housekeeping skills.
My MIL babysat for Fuss while we were at the wedding. When we came home, she had picked up my living room and scrubbed my tub (she also fed Fuss spaghetti for dinner and had to give her a bath, so the tub scrubbing was obvious). I appreciate the help, but when she does stuff like that, I always feel like she is judging my housekeeping skills and I find that offensive and laughable, considering her own house is such a disaster! Daddy Fuss insists that she is simply trying to help me adjust to dealing with a high-energy toddler and a newborn and that she only does it out of a spirit of seeing a need and wanting to be useful. I am trying to see it that way.
My housekeeping is improving. I still have trouble keeping things picked up, especially w/ Fuss around. I still need to do a HUGE organizing of my shelves and desk, so that's a project coming up. But right now, I'm focusing on maintaining and working on the new room for Fuss. It feels like full-time job just keeping up with the kids sometimes!
Friday, September 17, 2010
7 Quick Postpartum Takes
It feels like it's been awhile since I did 7 Quick Takes. I know it's been a couple of weeks... and right now I'm too lazy to even check...
1. Fuss is still waking in the night, though not every night, and she's usually easy to put back to bed with a simple request (a drink, a hug, tuck me in) and somehow, since we're up and down with the baby anyway, it seems to be less of a pain.
2. Speaking of being up with the baby... he's basically down to waking once in the night w/ a late night before-mommy-goes-to-bed feeding (between 10 and 11). But I have the worst time getting him to go to sleep after he's eaten! Fuss was a "nurse to sleep" baby - all it took was a little mommy milk and she was out! But the Little Man needs to be nursed, then swaddled, sometimes nursed a little bit more (just a few sips, really) and then rocked. And often rocked and rocked and sometimes rocked some more. I was up for nearly 2 hours last night for his feeding and then-some session. Gotta work on that...
3. For the most part, nursing is going better. It's been a rough 2 weeks, I have to say. And it's not exactly easy at this point, but it's certainly getting better. I actually have a much larger post brewing on this subject...
4. I've been out of it for 2 days with a killer headache. It's at least in part hormonal - no meds were touching it - and I think, in part spinal again -and I was simply miserable. No progress on the house has been made since Tuesday, but that's okay. At the end of the day, the kids have been fed and cared for, are alive and happy and I - well, I'm alive.
5. I am having fun dressing my little boy - much more so than I thought I would. I already have a couple of favorite outfits and, oddly, they aren't all the ones I thought they would be. I do remember loving the Carter's "Speedy Exit Creepers" on Fuss for their functionality (plus, they were cute - ruffles on the rear and such) and I love those on him, too (no ruffles for boys, though!) but mostly the little preppy clothes are what are charming me. No shocker there. but he's smaller than Fuss was - the chubby baby thighs are missing (he has thighs, of course, but they aren't nearly as plump as his sisters were) and he can't seem to fill out all his clothes (I put him in a romper the other day and he looked like he was wearing football pads, so big were the shoulders on his little frame. Will be filing that outfit away until he's a bit bigger.) Oddly, he could probably fit those newborn clothes that I basically tossed off to the side... will have to pull some of those out...
6. I am not eating properly. I remember being voraciously hungry when I was nursing Fuss. I didn't always eat healthy, but I ATE. This time around, I seem to have to remind myself to eat most of the time. And sometimes other people have to do so... I tend to get headaches if I forget to eat, so that's a problem.
7. Fuss has been affectionate and sweet with both me and her little brother. She acts out occasionally, trying to get attention, but there is never anything negative directed toward her brother, so that's a relief. But she loves to give me hugs and kisses all day - even more so than she used to. That's a fun benefit!
For more Quick Takes, click here.
1. Fuss is still waking in the night, though not every night, and she's usually easy to put back to bed with a simple request (a drink, a hug, tuck me in) and somehow, since we're up and down with the baby anyway, it seems to be less of a pain.
2. Speaking of being up with the baby... he's basically down to waking once in the night w/ a late night before-mommy-goes-to-bed feeding (between 10 and 11). But I have the worst time getting him to go to sleep after he's eaten! Fuss was a "nurse to sleep" baby - all it took was a little mommy milk and she was out! But the Little Man needs to be nursed, then swaddled, sometimes nursed a little bit more (just a few sips, really) and then rocked. And often rocked and rocked and sometimes rocked some more. I was up for nearly 2 hours last night for his feeding and then-some session. Gotta work on that...
3. For the most part, nursing is going better. It's been a rough 2 weeks, I have to say. And it's not exactly easy at this point, but it's certainly getting better. I actually have a much larger post brewing on this subject...
4. I've been out of it for 2 days with a killer headache. It's at least in part hormonal - no meds were touching it - and I think, in part spinal again -and I was simply miserable. No progress on the house has been made since Tuesday, but that's okay. At the end of the day, the kids have been fed and cared for, are alive and happy and I - well, I'm alive.
5. I am having fun dressing my little boy - much more so than I thought I would. I already have a couple of favorite outfits and, oddly, they aren't all the ones I thought they would be. I do remember loving the Carter's "Speedy Exit Creepers" on Fuss for their functionality (plus, they were cute - ruffles on the rear and such) and I love those on him, too (no ruffles for boys, though!) but mostly the little preppy clothes are what are charming me. No shocker there. but he's smaller than Fuss was - the chubby baby thighs are missing (he has thighs, of course, but they aren't nearly as plump as his sisters were) and he can't seem to fill out all his clothes (I put him in a romper the other day and he looked like he was wearing football pads, so big were the shoulders on his little frame. Will be filing that outfit away until he's a bit bigger.) Oddly, he could probably fit those newborn clothes that I basically tossed off to the side... will have to pull some of those out...
6. I am not eating properly. I remember being voraciously hungry when I was nursing Fuss. I didn't always eat healthy, but I ATE. This time around, I seem to have to remind myself to eat most of the time. And sometimes other people have to do so... I tend to get headaches if I forget to eat, so that's a problem.
7. Fuss has been affectionate and sweet with both me and her little brother. She acts out occasionally, trying to get attention, but there is never anything negative directed toward her brother, so that's a relief. But she loves to give me hugs and kisses all day - even more so than she used to. That's a fun benefit!
For more Quick Takes, click here.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Clean and Organized!
With the move to our new room and finally getting my house back to somewhat normal, I am back on my organization kick. My mom helped me a ton already this week by helping me get ahead in my kitchen and getting my dining room back to working order. I still have to work on my desk and go through the bookcase and then there is the huge project of getting Fuss's new room together, which I have realized suddenly is a way bigger project than I initially expected it to be. Oddly, I had it my head that simply by moving out of the room and painting it, it would immediately be ready to move in her furniture and she could be in there quickly. There is way too much stuff in there, lots of cleaning to do, and I still have to do the detail painting I have been planning. But that's okay! It will get done, it will be fabulous and she will move in. The good news is, the baby seems to be happy in his bassinet in our room, so there is no major rush to get her out and him into the nursery.
But I'm still psyched to get more organized in general. I'm very motivated to get everything looking great around here. To get Fuss's toys out of crowding my living room (her new room will have a ton of space for playing - and more importantly, storing her toys.) I'm motivated to clear my beautiful IKEA bookshelf of the miscellaneous stuff crowding it and nearly falling off the shelves. (We've been using it as storage for random items since the construction began).
Now, if only the kids will let me sleep long enough to get my energy back!
But I'm still psyched to get more organized in general. I'm very motivated to get everything looking great around here. To get Fuss's toys out of crowding my living room (her new room will have a ton of space for playing - and more importantly, storing her toys.) I'm motivated to clear my beautiful IKEA bookshelf of the miscellaneous stuff crowding it and nearly falling off the shelves. (We've been using it as storage for random items since the construction began).
Now, if only the kids will let me sleep long enough to get my energy back!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
New room
My mom decorated our new room yesterday. It looks fabulous.
She even found a piece of art that reminded her of me - and without her saying so, I had the same thought when she showed me...
Fuss is loving all the pillows. I've had to hunt for her a few times since she discovered them. Usually, she can be found here:
She even found a piece of art that reminded her of me - and without her saying so, I had the same thought when she showed me...
Fuss is loving all the pillows. I've had to hunt for her a few times since she discovered them. Usually, she can be found here:
Monday, September 13, 2010
Week in review
Have survived a week at home with a new baby. He is actually a fairly easy baby, though I haven't yet figured out all his cries and that is frustrating (to both of us, I think) and he still struggles to latch sometimes, especially when I'm very full and my left side starts to leak all over him (which happens occasionally, especially since that seems to be the side he won't eat very long off of... perpetuating the cycle, you know?)
My husband returns to work today (Monday) and I am not sure I am ready for that. Thankfully, my mom will be around for a couple of days, but by Thursday I will be completely on my own. I am starting the panic attack now.
I had high hopes for my week at home with my husband. Very little of my plans got accomplished. Part of that is due to the bouncing from Dr.'s appt to Dr.'s appt all this week. We had pediatrician appointments on Tuesday and Thursday (another today, since he seems to have still been losing weight on Thursday) and chiropractor appointments on Wednesday and Friday. The good news is, those 2 chiropractor appointments seem to have very much helped my headaches. (That and realizing that I really should eat regularly. Oddly, I have had little to no appetite this time around. When I was nursing Fuss, I ate non-stop. I ate junk, sure, but I ate. A lot.)
My dining room is still a disaster and completely inaccessible. My living room cannot seem to stay picked up for more than 4 hours. Despite the fact that we haven't really had to cook all week (take out, deliveries from church people and stuff I made and froze ahead of time) my kitchen is constantly a disaster, too.
I did get pretty much every item of clothing in our house laundered and dried and folded (a few piles still need to be put away) and we have moved into the new room (pictures after tomorrow when my mom decorates out there). There is SO much more work to do on Fuss's new room - I don't think I even remotely realized how much it was going to take to get it ready to move her in. Daddy Fuss and I will be working on this for awhile.
I am tired. The lack of sleep and interruptions to what sleep I do get, is beginning to kick my rear. I remember being surprised that I dealt so well with it last time - this time, not so much!
My husband returns to work today (Monday) and I am not sure I am ready for that. Thankfully, my mom will be around for a couple of days, but by Thursday I will be completely on my own. I am starting the panic attack now.
I had high hopes for my week at home with my husband. Very little of my plans got accomplished. Part of that is due to the bouncing from Dr.'s appt to Dr.'s appt all this week. We had pediatrician appointments on Tuesday and Thursday (another today, since he seems to have still been losing weight on Thursday) and chiropractor appointments on Wednesday and Friday. The good news is, those 2 chiropractor appointments seem to have very much helped my headaches. (That and realizing that I really should eat regularly. Oddly, I have had little to no appetite this time around. When I was nursing Fuss, I ate non-stop. I ate junk, sure, but I ate. A lot.)
My dining room is still a disaster and completely inaccessible. My living room cannot seem to stay picked up for more than 4 hours. Despite the fact that we haven't really had to cook all week (take out, deliveries from church people and stuff I made and froze ahead of time) my kitchen is constantly a disaster, too.
I did get pretty much every item of clothing in our house laundered and dried and folded (a few piles still need to be put away) and we have moved into the new room (pictures after tomorrow when my mom decorates out there). There is SO much more work to do on Fuss's new room - I don't think I even remotely realized how much it was going to take to get it ready to move her in. Daddy Fuss and I will be working on this for awhile.
I am tired. The lack of sleep and interruptions to what sleep I do get, is beginning to kick my rear. I remember being surprised that I dealt so well with it last time - this time, not so much!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Almost there
My OB appt yesterday revealed 2.5cm, 80% effaced, a cervix "like mush" and the baby's head "Very, very low." She estimates we will have a baby by lunch time on Thursday. She thinks it will be very fast and easy. Of course, she may just be telling me that to boost my confidence, but I'll take it! :)
I have some stuff to do today - and I know not everything is going to get done before we leave for the hospital in the morning, and I'm currently feeling okay with that. My mom called this morning and was giving me grief about the schedule for the move into the new room. My dad told me last night that he didn't want any furniture moved in tonight, he wanted those extra couple of days that I'll be in the hospital to finish some stuff and the furniture would be in the way. My mom is impatient and wants everything perfect to set up while we're in the hospital. I understand that she wants to be all "HGTV" and everything, but this is real life, not a TV show.
She then suggested that we just wait until the following week (more than 10 days later) when she is taking time off to help me with the baby and Fuss. She doesn't want to put up the curtains until the furniture is in there "because they need to be cut off and you can't do that until the furniture is in" - I'm at the point where I want to move in as soon as logically possible and I'll hang dark sheets on the windows if she'll just put up the hardware, if that's what it takes. Grrrrr. I'm frustrated. I kept telling her I wasn't going to stress over it and she kept telling me she didn't want me to stress over it and then putting more pressure to get it done to her schedule...
I am one day away from delivering my son. I am incredibly excited. I can't wait to meet him!
I have some stuff to do today - and I know not everything is going to get done before we leave for the hospital in the morning, and I'm currently feeling okay with that. My mom called this morning and was giving me grief about the schedule for the move into the new room. My dad told me last night that he didn't want any furniture moved in tonight, he wanted those extra couple of days that I'll be in the hospital to finish some stuff and the furniture would be in the way. My mom is impatient and wants everything perfect to set up while we're in the hospital. I understand that she wants to be all "HGTV" and everything, but this is real life, not a TV show.
She then suggested that we just wait until the following week (more than 10 days later) when she is taking time off to help me with the baby and Fuss. She doesn't want to put up the curtains until the furniture is in there "because they need to be cut off and you can't do that until the furniture is in" - I'm at the point where I want to move in as soon as logically possible and I'll hang dark sheets on the windows if she'll just put up the hardware, if that's what it takes. Grrrrr. I'm frustrated. I kept telling her I wasn't going to stress over it and she kept telling me she didn't want me to stress over it and then putting more pressure to get it done to her schedule...
I am one day away from delivering my son. I am incredibly excited. I can't wait to meet him!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Migraine and Decor
Migraines while pregnant are a special kind of torture.
I spent Sunday in an extraordinary amount of pain. I woke w/ a headache at 4am. It continued by rebounding all day long, despite the medication I took (all Dr approved) and the rest I acquired. After cooking dinner I ended up having either really short, but awful contractions or really intense punches and kicks from the baby - they hurt so much but were very short, so I didn't have the time or concentration to analyze them.
My in-laws (MIL, LP and J) came over and finished painting my current bedroom for the conversion to Fuss's room. Since there was only 2 rollers, they took turns doing the painting and doing little things around my house for me, which was so sweet. My dad and Daddy Fuss spent the day laying tile in our new bedroom. The grout will be done Monday, but the tile is all in and it looks fabulous! I am so excited about how beautiful it looks.
My mom and her friend picked out some bedding and those type of accessories for us and they want to surprise us while we're in the hospital. My mom called me up saying "If Candice Olson were to come into your house, would you let her do whatever she wanted?" Now, I like Candice Olson, though our tastes are not always the same (Candice tends to go a little more modern than my personal tastes, but regardless, she's brilliant with design) and the answer to the question is yes, however, with Candice I know what I'm getting, so I don't know that the same goes for my mom - but I'm not sure how to tell her that...
But, by her description I'll probably like it and she promised to keep the receipts in case we don't.
I spent Sunday in an extraordinary amount of pain. I woke w/ a headache at 4am. It continued by rebounding all day long, despite the medication I took (all Dr approved) and the rest I acquired. After cooking dinner I ended up having either really short, but awful contractions or really intense punches and kicks from the baby - they hurt so much but were very short, so I didn't have the time or concentration to analyze them.
My in-laws (MIL, LP and J) came over and finished painting my current bedroom for the conversion to Fuss's room. Since there was only 2 rollers, they took turns doing the painting and doing little things around my house for me, which was so sweet. My dad and Daddy Fuss spent the day laying tile in our new bedroom. The grout will be done Monday, but the tile is all in and it looks fabulous! I am so excited about how beautiful it looks.
My mom and her friend picked out some bedding and those type of accessories for us and they want to surprise us while we're in the hospital. My mom called me up saying "If Candice Olson were to come into your house, would you let her do whatever she wanted?" Now, I like Candice Olson, though our tastes are not always the same (Candice tends to go a little more modern than my personal tastes, but regardless, she's brilliant with design) and the answer to the question is yes, however, with Candice I know what I'm getting, so I don't know that the same goes for my mom - but I'm not sure how to tell her that...
But, by her description I'll probably like it and she promised to keep the receipts in case we don't.
Friday, August 27, 2010
7 Quick Takes - late in the day
1. Have recently (today) discovered that I am completely uninterested in reading parenting books at this time. I devoured them when I was pregnant with Fuss, but now cannot seem to get motivated to read more than a few chapters of any parenting-related book and even those few chapters are feeling forced. I know I don't know everything, I know I need to brush up on some stuff, but the information is depressing me instead of making me look forward to it.
2. My mom and her best friend came over today to look at our new room to give me what I thought was decorating ideas. Instead they started with criticizing our planned furniture layout and moved on to trying to change my mind about nearly every other choice I had already decided on/was non-negotiable. While they were discussing it, I snuck off to my bedroom where my husband was trying to work from home and asked "was this a mistake to let them help with this?" I had been SO excited for some input... and now I'm panicking that they are going to just DO something (spend money on stuff) and I'm going to not like it.
3. Apparently, I'm feeling very negative today. Who knew? I was in a good mood earlier, I thought...
4. The blue color on my new bedroom walls is amazing. Amazing. And Daddy Fuss said that they type of paint we used was awesome. It was pricey, but he said it was so worth it. If you're in the market for some awesome interior paint, I highly recommend Duration by Sherwin-Williams. Seriously good stuff.
5. We introduced Fuss to her first viewing of Peter Pan today. She loved it. I think Dumbo might still be her current favorite, but Peter Pan was a big hit. I actually took some time away from my computer and my chores to watch it with her. She was transfixed.
6. My mom and her friend were insisting that I should be sitting on piles of beach towels or something instead of my new furniture in case my water spontaneously breaks with no warning. I'm not worried. The chances of that happening are very slim, though my mom's friend swears it happened to her daughter w/ her first pregnancy. I think it's more likely that said daughter had been having contractions and didn't realize it and then her water broke - this isn't the movies after all. I know that it sometimes happens, but seriously?
7. We had a 45-minute torrential downpour this afternoon and the street in front of my house resembles a small river. My husband suggested we might want to get floor insurance. Oh boy.
2. My mom and her best friend came over today to look at our new room to give me what I thought was decorating ideas. Instead they started with criticizing our planned furniture layout and moved on to trying to change my mind about nearly every other choice I had already decided on/was non-negotiable. While they were discussing it, I snuck off to my bedroom where my husband was trying to work from home and asked "was this a mistake to let them help with this?" I had been SO excited for some input... and now I'm panicking that they are going to just DO something (spend money on stuff) and I'm going to not like it.
3. Apparently, I'm feeling very negative today. Who knew? I was in a good mood earlier, I thought...
4. The blue color on my new bedroom walls is amazing. Amazing. And Daddy Fuss said that they type of paint we used was awesome. It was pricey, but he said it was so worth it. If you're in the market for some awesome interior paint, I highly recommend Duration by Sherwin-Williams. Seriously good stuff.
5. We introduced Fuss to her first viewing of Peter Pan today. She loved it. I think Dumbo might still be her current favorite, but Peter Pan was a big hit. I actually took some time away from my computer and my chores to watch it with her. She was transfixed.
6. My mom and her friend were insisting that I should be sitting on piles of beach towels or something instead of my new furniture in case my water spontaneously breaks with no warning. I'm not worried. The chances of that happening are very slim, though my mom's friend swears it happened to her daughter w/ her first pregnancy. I think it's more likely that said daughter had been having contractions and didn't realize it and then her water broke - this isn't the movies after all. I know that it sometimes happens, but seriously?
7. We had a 45-minute torrential downpour this afternoon and the street in front of my house resembles a small river. My husband suggested we might want to get floor insurance. Oh boy.
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