Fly Lady and Baby Steps in Organization

Because baby steps are what I desperately need right now! With the thought of a second baby coming in just a few months, I have realized I need a plan to both maintain the house and keep two children alive, fed and relatively happy.

Last week, mom came over for a bit and showed me a new app she had just downloaded on the recommendation of the beautiful and amazing Christine. It broke down chores into daily/weekly/monthly routines. Everything was bite-size, organized, and easy to follow! It looked perfect. So I immediately searched my app store to find it, but tragically the app was only for mac and my android couldn't use it. Sad sad day.

But, as we searched, we came across Fly Lady. She also has an app, but it is for android~ and guess what else~ it is free! Perfection! You can look over her methods and see if they would work for you here.

I love her approach because it breaks housekeeping down into nice small chunks that aren't completely depressing and overwhelming. She starts by dividing the house into different zones, for instance: the kitchen is one zone, the bedrooms another. Then she allocates a certain number of days each month to each zone. So by the end of the month, you will have worked in each area of your house. And the wonderful part is you only spend five to fifteen minutes per day! So do-able!

I certainly downloaded that app as quick as I was able. And things that were seriously never getting done are actually getting done around here! Things like dusting the top of fans or clearing off the top of the fridge.

She even has some extra little tips that have really helped me. For instance, yesterday I cleaned out my fridge. I usually put this off because the thought of emptying that entire thing of the good, the bad, and the ugly moldy mess, then taking out each shelf, drawer to wash, and washing the inside is so overwhelming that only a huge energy reserve plus an entire day of Nothing Else will enable me to do it. Which means, never ever ever does this happen. So you can imagine it did sound nice when she recommended simply spraying the shelves down, one by one as you clear them. Although skeptical at first, I can say that it went significantly quicker than it ever has before and the end product looked quite nice. I also did not get half way through the project and contemplate driving to the airport and buying a ticket to Barbados. Score!

Another thing she will do is encourage you to treat yourself, light a scented candle, set up some flowers, read a magazine. Easy to forget when there is a little munchkin requiring constant attention, but those little things make you feel human and grown up and like a person again.

So here are a couple pictures of some baby steps around here:

1. If you opened our TV side-cabinets, they were crammed full of DVD's we never watched, CD's we never listened too, and various pieces of junk that did not belong there at all. No before picture, but here is the post:

2. Last night, I decided to tackle our junk drawer. How can it be possible to fit this magnitude of stuff in one drawer? I found so many things I had no idea were there including a firework (yes! maybe we will have to set it off for Kateri's birthday in a few weeks) 4 flashlights, five lighters, three large lighters that you would use outside, 4 or 5 packs of gum, multiple toys, 6 or 7 rolls of tape, several screw drivers and much much more. Here is a photo of some, only a portion, of the contents of that single drawer.

How did we fit all of that into one drawer? I honestly do not know! But we definitely purged and organized and put things where they ought to go, and here is the end result:

 

I think I will purchase another organizer. It seriously does the soul so much good to see the junk drawer looking like that! And now it's functional, beyond just a place to stuff things I don't know where else to put!

 

3. We have been trying to figure out a good way to handle bills, coupons, and receipts. These things tend to get shoved in out of the way places during quick clean ups and subsequently forgotten, then taking more time as we search for them in all the hidden out of the way places. So we have been on the lookout for an easy way to keep them organized and give them a place to go. Yesterday I found this at Marhsalls:

 



At first I was planning on using something more vertical, but I opted for this one. This is why: we will put the bills right on the top which means that they are always visible until paid! Inside the drawer we will store receipts on one side and coupons on the other. Good because they are hidden!

So those are a few of our baby steps! We have a long way to go but we are on our way!

What are your methods for organizing/keeping the house clean? Any favorite tips?

A Study of Kateri in Her Natural Envorionment (i.e. Among Toys)

 Kateri loves her toys, but what she loves doing most is emptying the bucket of toys and spreading them throughout the house. Wrigley gladly lends a helpful hand (paw . . . well, mouth, I guess) and carries some of them over to her spot. I have to say my favorite thing about toys being all over kingdom come is that in the span of 5 minutes the house goes from looking like a disaster to looking clean! And having a basket for toys has been an absolute godsend. It is a huge blessing to my sanity to have an easy quick location to throw the many toys that have been accumulating of late!

And now for some pictures of our precious girl:

 

 

 



 

In Which Kateri Has Her First Professional Photo Shoot

These days have been just flying by! I completely lost track of what gestational week I'm in, and forgot I had an upcoming appointment. Pregnancy brain strikes again! Providentially, while I was rifling through a gazillion papers in the car over the weekend, I came across my reminder card that I had a doctors appointment today Monday at 8:30. And thankfully this happened over the weekend and not tomorrow!

So off we went to see Dr B this morning. Pat couldn't come because of work, and so I was solo, with Kateri. Which, honestly, seemed like an impossible and insurmountable task. Where on EARTH would I put her while we were listening to the heartbeat? Holding her is out of the question, and she really can't sit and crawl around on the dirty floor (gross gross gross).

Last night, Laura gave me a good piece of advice: bring a stroller!

So we left this morning in the torrential downpour. It really was crazy how much water was on the roads, but we got there, and on time too. I grabbed Kateri, my coat, her cow-blanket, my big diaper bag/purse loaded with multiple distractions for Kateri, and a stroller. And yes, I carried everything . . . even the stroller, because it was pouring and I didn't want to take the time to open it (and get drrrrenched in the process! No thanks!!).

As I staggered in to Tepeyac with everything clutched in my arms , I could tell the full waiting room was staring and thinking, "Crazy Lady has arrived."

We survived the waiting-room wait (waiting room waits are pretty painful regardless, but I am beginning to realize that a waiting-room wait with kid(s) is it's own special Purgatory).

When Dr B came in to the little room, I snapped Kateri in her stroller and piled some honey grahams on her lap. She, meanwhile, smiled immediately as he walked in the room and looked thrilled to see him. Dr B smiled and after interacting with her for a bit, said, "Do you mind if I take a picture of her?"

And he pulled out his phone to snap a shot. Kateri happily obliged with another endearing smile, like a perfect model.

Whenever he would direct his attention to me, Kateri would talk louder and louder until he would look at her, and then she would wrinkle her nose and beam. She was enjoying this doctors visit way too much!

Dr B asked Kateri if she wanted to hear her brother the train (yes. that is what he said). Then, when we heard the heartbeat, he said, "Choo Choo!!!" (btw the heartbeat sounded great, regular and in the 140's. Also I found out the placenta is posterior, which is also good news).

Dr B said, "She is too cute! Can I take another picture of her?"

Me: Ok.

Dr B: "Would you mind if I use her picture in some of the power points I am putting together for presentations?"

Me: "Oh no, I wouldn't mind at all."

I wish I had asked what categories the picture would come under . . .

Maybe . . .

"Cute babies CAN happen, despite crazy moms!"

-or-

"Babies just LOVE going to Tepeyac!"

-or-

"All babies LOVE Dr B!"

Who knows. As I was about to leave, I thought of taking a picture of Kateri so I could put it on the blog and you could see one of Dr B's future slide presentations.

. . .

Kateri was Not Impressed. Not even with my best attempts to convince her to smile. And she gave me no beaming grins, and not even a half hearted smile-grimace. Just a blank stare with eyebrows slightly raised and a slightly pitying expression. I almost ran to get Dr B to make her smile again so you could see it, but he was probably in another patients room by then. Nevertheless, that is the face that will soon be gracing a presentation somewhere!

Recipe Review

Pat is healing up well post surgery, but he is still having a hard time chewing anything. So I decided to make some soup, and the most delicious sounding thing I could think of was loaded baked potato soup. Yum!

Loaded Potato Soup a la Betty Crocker, Pioneer Woman Style

Pat's rating: 4/5 Stars
Tee's rating: 4/5 stars. Total comfort food, full of deliciousness. Did take some time with all the peeling and chopping. May be able to come up with some shortcuts (i.e. use pre-baked potatoes, cream of mushroom canned soup perhaps. . .) This is a good soup, but not a super quick, throw together type of recipe.

Then I got inspired to take step by step pictures, like the Pioneer Woman. Unfortunately I thought of it too late to take a picture of the 'Cast of characters'. However, I will list the ingredients:

So ingredients:

1 package (12 oz) bacon                        

1 1/2  cups chopped onion                        

6  cups Progresso® chicken broth                        

2 lb baking potatoes, peeled, cubed                        

2/3 cup butter                        

3/4 cup all-purpose flour                        

4 cups milk                        

1 teaspoon salt                        

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper                        

1 cup diced cooked ham                        

1 container (8 oz) sour cream                        

2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (10 oz)                        

 3/4 cup sliced green onions    

1. Cook the bacon in a skillet until it is crispy. Mmmmmm bacon bacon bacon. If only I could somehow attach the smell of this cooking deliciousness! Maybe one day . . . then, Drain and crumble bacon.

                    

2. Meanwhile, chop the onion. Once the bacon is complete, reserve a couple tablespoons bacon grease and cook the onions in the same skillet with the bacon grease until almost tender. Oh delicious bacon grease!!

3. In a Dutch oven, mix the broth, chopped potatoes and onion. Bring to boiling and then lower heat and allow to simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, in the same skillet (gotta love using the same skillet yet again, I love it every single time) Melt the butter.

And add the flour slowly while whisking continuously . . .

5. And then gradually stir in 2 cups of milk and stir until smooth

6. Pour Milk Mixture into potato mixture. Add the remaining two cups of milk, salt and pepper. And then cook over medium heat until it is deliciously thickened and rather bubbly. Mmmmm.

 

7. Stir in the ham, half the bacon, sour cream (mmmmm), 2 cups of cheese, and the green onions (I did not add any green onions because I'm going to test out the freezing potential for this soup!). Yum! Look at that mound of deliciousness!

8. Stir until cheese has melted. Add bacon, cheese, green onions and sour cream to each serving to taste . . .

Unfortunately this final picture was taken after sunset and the lighting is not optimal! I will learn with practice :) It is very filling, as you could probably guess!

Just a Few Pictures of Kateri

 

Preparing to open the cabinet and empty it of its contents.

 

 

 

We just love this happy joyful girl!

Always so much joy! So thankful for the blessing this little munchkin is.

Happy Anniversary!!

Happy Anniversary to my darling, amazing parents! You have taught me so much about love, generosity, selflessness, hard work, and faith! God gave me a great gift when he gave me you! I love you so much!

What Happens When 'It's Freezing Out' and 'Datenight' Coencide

Saturday was my company Christmas Party. Yes, it is not even 'Christmas Season' according to the Church anymore, but we still wanted to celebrate, late and in all it's glory!

Lucky for us, the party was at Columbus Grill, which is a hop skip and a jump away from our house. Just awesome! I was thinking of asking Mom and Dad to watch Kateri, and I would drop her off at their house. But last minute, Mr. and Mrs. Grenier offered to bring us dinner (without realizing we were going out) and so it just fell in to place that they could watch Kateri at our home. Especially wonderful because Kateri sleeps so much better in her own crib!

We got all dressed up and headed out. It is always fun to go to Columbus Grill for three reasons:

1. That is where we had our "talk" about being "official". Walked in on a date, walked out boyfriend girlfriend. Awww ;)

2. That is also where we went for our very first Valentines Day Dinner (and we were engaged by this point, fyi)

3. We almost never go out, so it is ALWAYS a treat anyway!

So off we went, and, unlike our usual lack of timeliness, we arrived right at seven when it was beginning! We walked in and realized we were the very first people there, which oh-so-never happens. After a few minutes, people started trickling in. This new little baby found the food especially scrumptious, and so of course I had to humor him and shovel it in. Which means I went from second trimester to third trimester in a matter of minutes. Worth every bite, though, I must say. And, worthy of note, I think this munchkin may really really REALLY like calamari. We will see, Pat despises all things seafood so it will be interesting to see what this little man likes.

While we ate, Pat got a phone call from his parents, thankfully he heard it and picked it up. It turns out that while they had been bathing Kateri, someone started knocking at the door. Mac ran downstairs to see who it was. He later told me he almost grabbed a dismantled wooden table-leg we have downstairs to use as a potential defense. But he decided against it, and opened the door.

"I'm the neighbor" the guy at the door said.

"I'm the grandpa", Mac said.

With introductions taken care of, the guy got straight to business,

"So I heard a rushing sound and saw water gushing under your deck. I think one of your pipes burst."

So immediate action was taken. Mac hurriedly turned all the water off. The downstairs hallway was drenched in water into the bathroom and a radius of six or seven feet into the downstairs living room. Mac then drove home and picked up the carpet cleaner that can't clean but can suck.

After Nanny put Kateri down, they started pulling all the water from the rug. They dumped many buckets of dirty brownish water. By the time Pat and I arrived home, Nanny and Mac were hard at work on the floors. Kateri had heard the commotion and wanted to join the fun. So we took her out of bed and she proceeded to have a blast. She was in such a joyful happy energetic mood. What a little nut!

By that time, quite a lot of water had been removed, but you could still see water pooling around your toes and feet if you stepped on the soaked carpet. We worked and worked on that carpet. Eventually, Nanny and Mac went home, and Pat, whose jaw was aching, went to bed. I stayed up and worked that carpet. I learned the trick is to push the carpet cleaner forward, and then pull it back so slowly. This definitely brought up the most water, but also drove me nuts. Definitely makes me realize how much I need to work on patience. Oh patience, you difficult thing!

The following day, Sunday, I headed up to enjoy Nonie and Nano's company and the delicious brunch at Falcon's. Pat sadly stayed home and waited for the plumber to arrive to survey the damage. Victor, the plumber, arrived and immediately showed Pat what had happened. The pipe had cracked where the outside iron spigot meets the PVC piping. The water had gushed outside, and down the cement foundation wall and into our basement. Luckily the break had happened in such a way that absolutely NONE of the dry wall was damaged! Thanks be to God!

Yesterday, Tuesday, Victor and his crew came to fix the pipe. Kateri was very intrigued and spent quite a lot of time watching their coming and going from her vantage point.

Victor cut a big square out of the ceiling, and a big piece of the drywall out (about 4 or 5 feet wide by 7 feet tall). He took out a bunch of the insulation which was soaked, painted the cement wall to decrease the possibility of any mold growing, and then put new and better insulation back in the wall. They then seamlessly replaced the drywall. I cannot even tell where it was replaced!

He also replaced the piping and put a new spigot in for our outdoor water. This spigot has at least a foot or two of metal piping that goes into the house before it attaches to the PVC piping, which will decrease the likelihood of this happening ever again! Sounds good to me.

We are so grateful that all this has worked out and it is not near as bad as it could have been. I keep thinking of what would have happened had our neighbor not noticed the water (which is pretty amazing considering we have a privacy fence, it was dark outside, and freezing! who goes outside under those circumstances, anyway?!), or if no-one been home,  how much more damage would have occurred. Thank you so much, Nanny and Mac, for being the first responders. We really appreciate it and it absolutely changed the outcome of this fiasco! Fixing the damage wasn't cheap, but it didn't even come to what our deductible would have been had we filed with home insurance. What a blessing!! So really, all around, this worked out surprisingly well, all thanks and glory to God!