Getting organized

Ok so I admit, I am learning this whole parenting thing, day by day. Now if you remember I am some what of a neat freak ( ok, not just "some what",  I AM  a neat freak). And as Baby K started to accumulate more than a handful of rattles and teething toys, and as she got older and got larger toys, I ran out to Target and bought us a cutesy leather storage box to hold her toys.

It was perfect! It fit all the toys neatly inside, and matched our living room. It blended in so well that once Baby K was in bed, you had no idea it was a toy box, or even that we had a kid in the house. Like I said, perfect!

Now those of you that know where this is going, you can stop smirking.. I'm learning day by day...

So, as she got older, actually once her first birthday came, this cutesy little box did NOT fit all of those toys! We had a filled box, and some over spill. But still,... it was neatly contained in its own corner.

I am proud that we do not spoil her with new toys weekly or monthly even. She occasionally will get something new. I am hoping this teaches her to appreciate what she has. 

Where was I? oh yes... the toys...

So then comes Christmas. 

OH MY GOSH.

Not only did we go visit family in Maryland and bring back a truck full of new toys, Baby K still had her gifts from 'Santa' once we got back. AND still received gifts in the mail from numerous out of town family ( Thank you :)).

Needless to say, our house has been looking like Toys R Us exploded.

Ask me how well this works with a neat freak of a mom.

Ok so I had to be the  Google Queen that I am and look online for some solutions to this chaois!

I found some really cool ones...

But in the end, this is what I decided on.....

I love it! She does too.. she plays in her room more and enjoys searching thru the bins looking for toys she hasn't seen in a while!


Now this Neat Freak of a Mom is feeling much better!

12 Wishes for 2012

Now most people call their "to do list" for the new year, New Year's Resolutions. I think this year i will call mine a wish list.

Because isn't that what we all end up saying anyway "I wish I would have kept that New Year's resolution"?

I figure, if I call it a wish list, its more realistic. A list of what I hope to accomplish in the year 2012.

1. Paint- Each room in the house needs a new coat of paint. My project for the next few months. Good bye prime time tv... my evenings will now consist of paint brush and blue tape!

2. Cook a new variety of meals. - I need some new ideas people! I'm getting bored.

3. Exercise more- winter has set in and the laziness has too! I need to walk or do something to keep that blood pumping.

4. Think positive- I've been working hard on this already. My hubby says thinking positive is the key to good results.

5. Clean out my closets- I REALLY need to do this and make some donations...

6. Dedicate more time to my Blog- I'm hoping to write a minimum of 4 post a week. ( hey this IS a wish list!)

7. Couponing- Imagine the money we can save if I just take the time to print the darn things!

8. Read more- I love to read, but lately by the time I get to reading, I too dang tired!

9. Date night-  I, well WE, need to set aside at least 2 nights a month for some "couple" time.

10. Relax a lil- see list above

11. Find a park nearby with swings for Baby K.

12. Continue to add to the savings account- we did well with this in 2011 and hope to keep it up


We have great things in store for 2012! keep your fingers crossed that all goes as planned :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Share your "wish list" link up below!

Remembering my Dad

With the holidays comes memories of my dad. Not just on holidays, but that's one of the times I miss him the most. (We lost him to a heart attack in 1992.)

Without giving up my true age, lets just say I was in my late teens when he died. I knew then that he was very proud to be my dad. I didn't get into much trouble, I was good in school, and I did as I was told (well mostly).

I think the day I missed him the most was my wedding day. I know he was there with me in spirit, no doubt. Maybe he was the one that kept me from tripping down the aisle..LOL!

When Baby K was born, I said a little prayer to him and told him to be her guardian angle and watch over her always. She smiled at me as I held her, so I think that meant he heard me :)

Seeing all of our family and not seeing some of those that are too stubborn to let the small stuff go, made me miss him. Seeing all the grandchildren that he never got to meet, and still a few that he did. I wondered how he would look letting them sit in his lap and reading them books or playing with all the new toys.

Family has meant more to me in the last 3 years than it ever has before. I hope my dad is smiling down on me from Heaven and is proud of the life I have today. I hope he sees Baby K and loves her just as I do, even if he can't be right here with her.

Please take the time to let the loved ones in your life know how much they mean to you.

Catching up

Wow, holidays have a way of spinning you around so fast you can't keep track of the days as they pass you by! For that, I apologize for being MIA. I feel the need to catch up...

Last week was a good week. Remember the annoying girl at work? ( I have shared, haven't I?) Well, anyways we had a meeting to straighten her, Oops I mean to straighten everything out with a few procedures around the office. The truth came out that she has been adding an additional step to the entire procedure just to make things easier on her end. The cat is out of the bag now and the boss ain't happy! I was pleased as pie. No words needed from this chica. I just smiled in glee. Its funny how things work out that way. Karma :)

The week ended with our drive to Maryland on Friday. After a complete panic attack of thinking we were not going to have room in the SUV for all the gifts, and suitcases, my hubby came to the rescue as usual and performed an out right miracle! There was no getting anything out of the back until we arrived there, but hey, he got it all to fit so that's what matters most!

Aside from staying up late 3 nights in a row and sleeping on an air mattress, we had the best time! Better than I actually expected, to be honest. I mean I have to admit I was a little upset at the fact that after driving 5 hours to my brothers house, he and his wife were going to her family's house all day on Christmas Eve and we basically had to fend for ourselves. All in all it worked out just fine. We got to spend some time with my mom's friends and had some awesome food!

Baby K got to spend some great quality time with her 2 cousins. They all had so much fun, and played so well together.

Baby K was so overwhelmed by all the gifts on Christmas. She was on over load for sure! Made me feel proud that we don't spoil her with new toys all the time. I am hoping this will teach her to appreciate and take care of her things.

We had a total of 15 people for Christmas dinner! My sis-n-law did an awesome time for her first family dinner!! I was impressed. It was all so yummy! Being together with family is what makes the holiday so special, we need to to that more often for sure.

Tuesday was back to reality, back to work. Now that my house is a wreck, I am ready for all the decorations and tree to come down so I can get things organized!!

Next week is Baby K's appointment for the EEG. I am a little nervous but expect they will find nothing out of the ordinary. She has been fine and showed no signs of any more seizures :)

I hope all of your Holidays were just as fun as ours!

Wordless Wednesday.....

These voices in my head...

Ok, so please tell me I am not alone.. I have mini conversations in my head.

Call me crazy... but I DO! I literally have conversations (multiple conversations) in my head. Well, Ok so its more like rambling sometimes, but sill. I think having a baby makes both your body & mind do crazy things. I mean we all have thoughts, right? Well, how many of you have actual conversations?

Like this morning, I arrived at work, and there is a co-worker whom I know talks bad about me when I am not around. (jealous much?) Anyway, she comes in and says "Hi" to me... and my brain goes crazy! "Why does SHE say HI like I am her best friend???" "Why does she even take the time to come down this hallway and speak to me? Does she think I don't know? Does she think I'm stupid??" "Maybe she thinks if she just acts normal, I wont know.." "You should just tell her one day ' You know, I know you don't like me.. you really don't have to say Hi to me" "Well what good would that do? its only going to feed the fire" "ok, fine let her say Hi to you and yo continue to get annoyed at her doing so...."


Or when I was wrapping presents last night, all I kept thinking about is how I really needed to mop my Kitchen floor... " ooh this is a pretty bow, I think I'll put it on here when I'm done.. Geezz I was hoping to have time to mop the floor today, the day just doesn't have enough hours. Maybe I can do it tomorrow night? Now, you know you are going to be too tired after going to the office, working 9 hrs, driving home, cooking dinner, bathing Baby K and cleaning up. Yeah you're right.. maybe Tuesday night. Wait, whats on tv Tuesday night? forget tv, that floor is getting grosser by the minute!"

Maybe that is why the dogs are always looking at me strange? Oh wow, I better stop having those conversations about how when they are dead and gone, we are NOT getting any more pets!