All I Want For Summer Is My...

RIGHT BOTTOM TOOTH!! It appeared yesterday - yay!! We are getting somewhere with this horrible mouth pain! Of course, right now it is just the little white corner peeking through, but nonetheless, it's a tooth! I am so proud. I kept touching it all night last night. Isaac is still not exactly mobile yet, but he is definitely moving. He will roll, scoot (mostly backward), and wiggle to what he is reaching for (usually the dog toys - ugh). Last night he was the closest he's ever been. He was on his hands and knees rocking back and forth and moved his knees forward, but this time his hands went nowhere and he landed on his nose. He didn't cry, but he looked up at me to see my reaction. When I clapped and congratulated him on a 'fall well-done', he smiled with a red nose and a little white corner of a tooth (which was only visible to me because I was so proud). He's growing up so fast, but each stage is so exciting.

I was successful in getting the living room organized, cleaned, steamed, and rearranged! It looks great and I am so much less stressed with Isaac on the floor. I think it was the right move to start with the living room because that's the room most used as a family. Tonight, I'm going to do the kitchen. Brian straightened up in there yesterday when the baby was at Aunt Chrissy's (who's helping us out since Tammy got a new job) - WE LOVE AUNT CHRISSY!!! To help me out with the organizing thing, Elizabeth's college roomate and my new blogger friend, Erin, suggested that I check out the new link on my list http://www.flylady.net/ to help me in my organizing journey. It's really cool, they give you one task to do for each week to help you establish little babysteps to a routine that will help you become automatic with your housecleaning. I'm going to follow it the best I can - I think it's going to help. Week one, I'm supposed to shine my sink and keep it shining. I can do that. I'll keep you updated on my progress.

This Memorial Day weekend, I will have time to relax and visit the family. Saturday and Monday are not filled, so that will be nice. Sunday, I am going to my husband's Aunt Pat's cabin in Bruceton Mills for a cook-out. It's always fun there. Daddy has to work, but Isaac and I are going to go for a few hours during the lunch time and afternoon. Then, we are heading up to my parents' farm for a dinner cook-out and a night time bonfire. It's so nice that both sides of the family are a joy to be with. I was born into such a loving, generous, and understanding family and it just so awesome that I married into a family just as wonderful. God does plan our steps, doesn't he? I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful and safe holiday - if you spend time with family, remember to take time to say a prayer of thanksgiving. Family is so important.

Spring Cleaning for a Reason!

Okay, I AM NOT PREGNANT, but man it feels like I'm nesting! I can't stand my house and our lack of organization! Therefore, I am planning a overhaul to our house, our budget, and our life and my poor unsuspecting husband has not a clue it's coming. Every time before this, I've made the plan, explained it to him, and then it doesn't work and I end up feeling frustrated and hurt that he didn't hold up his end of the bargain. I'm not saying he does it on purpose or that he doesn't care - I'm saying that our idea of keeping a house is different. My husband's idea is that we should be able to do all the things we want (doesn't include cleaning) and then, when we can't stand it anymore, we use the anger that the clutter provides, to do a cleaning overhaul (which he can do in record time). Ok, so our house looks wonderful for special occasions or for that week or so, but I can't handle the stress between those cleanings. My idea is do that overhaul once and create a system and keep it up. The problem with that is that he's doing his thing, which doesn't include the maintaining, and I'm left trying to do it all, then I get frustrated, stop maintaining and the whole thing falls apart. We both want the same outcome, but we have to get on the same page. So, I'm planning a clean sweep - like the show. Sometime, my mother said she would watch the baby and I am going through my house one room at a time. I am litterally taking everything out of the room and categorizing it like in the show. I have to do this!

I think one reason I am nesting is that Isaac is 2 seconds away from being mobile! Yesterday, I was trying to organize the pictures on my computer and make disks and Isaac was sitting in his basinet beside the bed playing. I turned to check on him and he was standing up! He has pulled himself up using our fingers, but he has never done THAT completely on his own! So, we have to get a mattress for his crib because that basinet is not going to work any longer. Then, last night, we sat him on the floor while we watched some TV before bed. Again, I looked down to check on him and he was on his hands and knees rocking back and forth! He has the idea and knows what to do. He will move his hands correctly, but can't get his knees to move in sync. He's really frustrated, but he's going to get it very very soon. It's really exciting, but has struck up some anxiety for me. I went to bed feeling nervous about something, not able to put my finger on it, but I had those nervous jitters in my stomach. I think it's feeling like, okay, we have another real person in the house (not just a blob) and it's up to me to provide a safe and clean environment for him - ahhh! Before, the clutter and such wasn't really affecting him because he spent his days in his crib, in his excersaucer, in his jump-up, in our laps, or being carried around. Now, he's going to be everywhere! I am going to really try to find a system. My sister's friend reccommended the site on my 'Favorite Sites' list. I need to read more, but I think it's going to help. I'm going to concentrate on one room at a time. I can do it...prayers are welcome!!!