Need direction for cleaning?

One of the things I have continued to struggle with while home this summer? Is cleaning. Getting on a cleaning schedule, to be specific. Dan and I BOTH have. Do you know how much attention a newborn needs? We have been going crazy with the messiness that has been taking over our home. Especially when the newborn decides that she doesn't feel like napping anywhere but in our arms. And suddenly gets bored very easily -- but she has no hobbies yet so it's hard to keep her attention. There has been a lot of putting her in her swing, and back down to her play mat, then into the rock and play, then bouncy seat. Then she decides she's bored with her bouncy seat. So that has made its way into the basement.

Regardless, I still have very little room in my schedule to clean. I can maybe get 15 minutes away from her at any given moment. Sometimes I get in a shower. Sometimes I get in a meal. And I need to make time for cleaning.

I surfed pinterest not long ago to find a list to help me stay on track. And I found an awesome one.

You must check out this very simple, very easy cleaning routine! You can download the PDF, print it, then place in a nice plastic page protector so we can use whiteboard markers. Love it.  It's SO SIMPLE, and finally I feel sane again. Rather than trying to look around the house and feel mortified and overwhelmed on where to start, I have this nice little list! Now lets see if its as easy for Dan, too. 

PS: No one told me sing the praises of this list. I just ran into it and I love it. 

Summer has slipped on by...

Please, can someone tell me how it is now August?! This summer has flown by entirely too quickly. In just a few weeks, we are back to school and I am back to work...and my baby is off to daycare full time. This. Sucks. I had plenty to accomplish this summer. I was going to get a ton of continuing education done!! I was going to workout a ton once I got the ok to do so. I was going to lose nearly every single pound of baby weight like it was my job!!!

BWAH HA HA HA!!!!

Done laughing now. I've lost 20-25lbs of my 38lbs gained and I only got one CE course, of 5, completed. I was a Weight Watchers failure (felt like I was starving, not a good feeling during breastfeeding -- what a waste of money) and just started back onto MyFitnessPal. I did NOT work out like it was my job. I've taken it easy. Walks, a little yoga, and just started the 30 Day Shred last night (with plans on doing it every OTHER day, so I can fit in my Couch 2 5 K training (that I will start eventually).

Right now, I'm trying to make a decision on whether or not to continue breastfeeding once school starts back up. I know, formula isn't cheap. But I'm not sure. With traveling from school to school, the stress of making sure I am pumping enough?? Is already giving me hives, yo. I think 3 months of exclusively breastfeeding (by the time I go back to work), is pretty darn good. I should be thrilled to make it that far. I'm not even sure I feel guilty about it. Because I don't. I haven't made the decision or talked it over with Dan just yet, but those are my feelings. I shared these feelings in Twitter this evening and got a lot of great input. Here's a sampling....I got a lot of the same so I only posted a few.

@mattieflap: you have to do what works for you and your family. Fuck the judgement of others.

@tehamy: This shouldn’t be controversial. Do what is best for you and your family.

@math_tart: you need to do whatever works for you & for Avery :) Don't let anyone else try to persuade you one way or the other!!!

So that's that. We shall see....

- - -

I have been trying to keep up with Avery's baby book! I decided on a project life book. Very happy with the results so far. I'm going to do a blog post on it soon, but I wanted to share a few of the pictures!













I'm only sharing the pics right now, but will get into more detail later. What I need to tackle next? Sending birth announcements and finish thank you cards. WHOOPS. I hate filling out addresses and cards, so I'm dragging my feet on it, but that's my major goal to complete before going back to work. Must make it happen.

That's all for now. I promise that soon I will be back on the blogging track. I say that a lot but I mean it this time!!