Prepping for 2013: Keeping Organized
This was Eamon's first full week of work at his new job.
It was important for me to take this week captive to start off with new, good habits so that he has confidence that the home is taken care of while he is back at work. So much of the past nine months has been "Oh, hey, Eamon, can you get that real quick?" while I deprioritize my family. I've been really nervous about the transition, and I have had a bit more anxiety, going to bed exhausted every night with a clean home has been so refreshing.
Here are some things that have helped:
- This mama said she never goes to bed with dirty dishes in the sink so (other than last night, yesterday was particularly craptastic) this week I made sure that I didn't either. It made our mornings go much smoother.
- Having an activity planned for the girls every day was also very helpful.
- I allowed myself one PJ day, but made sure I was dressed and my hair was brushed (not did, just de-bed-headed) and I showered more often (and with a preggo belly and two toddlers who do not understand "personal space" that is a daunting task that results in a very crowded shower)
- One of these mamas reminded me that the "Good mom's have messy floors and happy children" is kind of for the birds. Yes, your children's happiness is more important than a shiny floor, but a disorganized home, for me, is just added chaos in a sometimes very stressful environment. So taking control of my household to better serve my children is what makes me a "good mom." Not messy floors ;]
- I made sure the girls were also dressed, dressed, every day. If they took their clothes off, that's their prerogative, but at least I tried.
- I stuck to my daily to-dos, and made sure I had them every day.
I feel like 2012 was a very unorganized year for us. In 2011 I started a "Home Planning Folder" and it did wonders for our family. I got the idea from here nearly exactly like this:
In 2012, with Eamon and I both working from home, things got very confusing. And out of control.
So this week I went back and tried to gather my resources, knowing now what has worked, and what hasn't, and started going putting together my binder for this coming year. It will grow and change as the year moves on, but for now, this is what I have planned:
Family Members
Eamon:
- How to pray for my husband
- Date Night Ideas
- Work Schedule
Mae:
- Devotional
- Pray (Missional Work & Prayer List)
- Blog (Ideas for Mother, Mae I? and calendar)
- Healthy (Food Diary & Exercise Log)
- Make (Crafts & Around the house To-Dos)
Lily:
- Learning (Monthly goals [a calendar with objectives of things I'd like to cover that week, not a lesson plan], Book List, Chore Chart)
- How to pray for Lily
Norah:
- Healthy (Food Diary [with reactions], Supplement Chart/Inventory, Doctor Visit Notes)
- Learning (Chore Chart, Potty Chart, Book List)
- How to pray for Norah
Baby:
- Planning (Baby Names, Baby Needs [by third baby, some things definitely need replacing] Finances for Midwife, Finances for Photography)
- Healthy (Appointment Calendar, Supplement List, Midwife/Doula Notes)
- How to pray for Baby
The Home
Finances:
- Monthly Budget
- Calendar with Due Dates
- Debt
- Savings
- Charity
Meal Plan:
- Monthly Meal Plan Calendar
- Grocery Lists
Schedule:
- Monthly
- Weekly
- Daily To Dos
Maintenance:
- House Cleaning Schedule (Weekly & Monthly)
- Projects to be done before Baby comes (Room by Room)
What about you? Do you have a way to help keep your home in running order? What about an organizer? What is something that's a must in your book?
Hoping your 2013 is starting to look organized and joyous,
Mae
Letter to Baby: 3.21
-this was the first week of daddy being at work full time, and I did it! I didn't go hide in my room but once ;]
-Norah held a newborn for the first time this week, and while she looked at it like it may actually eat her at any moment for a few minutes, she then snuggled it and gave it kisses and pet it's precious newborn hair. It's so hard to imagine that Lily was exactly this age when Norah was born.
Dear Baby,
Happy Christmas, Little one! Since your sisters both came at 41 weeks, I will go ahead and say that I'm officially over halfway to your due date, but who knows! I'm happy to let you pick your birthday, we'll celebrate whenever you are ready. We celebrate the birth of our Savior this week and it had me thinking of you so frequently. I hope we bring you close to Him, show you His love, raise you with His passion. You were made on a very magical night when there were thousands of stars whirling about the heavens, fighting for our attention, but they were no competition for Love. I felt the Lord tell me shortly after that I was going to be entering a season of Peace, and then we found out you were on your way. When we spend time together at night, I call you my Little Star. I am confident that you are sent from our Father, little one, and that you will lead people to worship Jesus. I can't wait to know you more.
All my love,
Mama
White Christmas
We had a quiet Christmas around here. Woke up, opened a few presents, made a giant(ish) breakfast, laid around in our PJs, and all of a sudden...it started to snow. I don't think I've ever dressed the girls that quickly. Not in their whole life. Lily loved it, Norah...wanted to, husband wanted nothing to do with it ;] The girls had "snow icecream" for snack that day and the two days that followed (or back porch doesn't get any sun on it, so the snow didn't meal until the temperature raised) I made my first Christmas dinner all by myself (E usually does it) and actually went to bed early. It was a good day. There were few "Mama, are you happy? Or stressed?" inquiries from Lily, both girls enjoyed their sweet toys that our very generous friends from DC sent them, and I didn't clean a thing except dinner dishes. It was nice :]
Hope your Christmas was peaceful and you are gearing up for a fabulous New Year!
Mae