Almost Ready

If you know me at all then you know that I literally live my life by lists. I make lists for almost everything I do. I feel organized when I do this, I don't forget things (most of the time) and I tend to be very productive when I can check things off of a physical list as I get them done.

So, at the beginning of my pregnancy when ideas started popping into my head and I started thinking about all that needed to be ready by the time this baby arrived I promptly sat down and made a list. In time the list grew as I thought of more things that needed to be done, but at this point I feel like I've thought through everything and I feel like we are almost ready for Evelyn to arrive! What a wonderful feeling!

Below is the list I made several months ago and I'm pleased to say that almost everything is DONE.


Before Baby Arrives--To Do's and Purchases

-car seat (check---we received this at our shower, which was awesome!)

-Joovy Caboose double stroller (check- my sister found a barely used one at a consignment store in Birmingham so we got a great deal on this purchase, praise the Lord!)

-register for baby shower (check)

-buy fabric and make nursing cover (check)

-sew ribbon on burp cloths (check)

-buy diaper bag on eBay (check)

-have diaper bag embroidered (check)

-clean out/organize closet in guest room (check)

-dresser for baby's closet (check--Evelyn actually got the dresser that was in Mara Kate's room as it fit better in the more narrow closet in our guest room. We bought Mara Kate a new white dresser to match her white furniture from IKEA---we love IKEA!)

-buy or make bed skirt for guest bed, in order to hide everything I moved from the closet to underneath the bed (check--thanks to my mother in law for sewing the skirt panels for me when I was feeling quite overwhelmed by this project)

-pre-register at the hospital (check)

-tour labor and delivery floor at hospital (check)

-hang letters on wall of baby's name (check--thanks to my dear husband for installing the cabinet knobs I found at Lowe's to make this project turn out just the way I was imagining. He's wonderful like that!)

-buy baby book (check---it has been ordered online and I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival)

-order interchangeable headbands for baby, these hold bows and if you know me at all you know how I am about bows on my girls! (check--got a great deal on eBay)

-diapers, wipes, desitin, gas drops, lotion, shampoo (check-- of course these items will be purchased again and again in time, but we at least have some to get us started)

-make room sign/hang sign on door (check)

-buy "coming home" outfit (NOT DONE--I'm still shopping for the perfect thing)

So, I'll continue shopping for the perfect outfit for Evelyn to wear home from the hospital. For some reason this is important to me. Also, my in-laws are coming to visit next weekend and there are a few more baby items they will bring to us that are currently stored in their basement. So, after their visit I will be able to set up the baby cradle in our room, which is where Evelyn will be in her first weeks. They are also bringing the baby swing and the rest of the components to our pack n play so we can take advantage of the bassinet setting.

Evelyn's things are in our guest room/office for now. I think it will actually be nice to have a bed in the room where the baby's things are. We didn't use a full sized crib with Mara Kate, due to lack of space and we decided we didn't need one for this baby either. I'll set the pack in play up in a corner of the guest room and that will be her bed. I have a little table in the corner of the room with some "baby items" on it and the closet directly to the right of this table is where all the other baby stuff is. I brought Mara Kate home to a one bedroom apartment and she lived with us there until she was 18 months old, so I feel confident that Evelyn will do just fine using two corners of our guest room, rather than having an entire nursery to herself. I'm guessing she won't even know the difference. :)

Evelyn's corner

I had forgotten just how tiny newborn diapers are.

Little basket of baby goodies.
I found these precious little booties for $1 at a consignment store here in Rome

Closet--full of teeny, tiny, frilly, girl-y clothes. :)
(and my sewing machine)

bows, shoes, socks, bloomers, hats
(I absolutely LOVE the drawer organizers from IKEA)

pj's and gowns

onesies, pacifiers, grooming kit, etc.

burp cloths and various extra supplies

New pink and brown car seat, with infant head support.
(We bought a second hand travel system that we used with Mara Kate and decided not to keep it after she outgrew it. So, it'll be fun to have a brand new car seat for baby #2!)

Dear Evelyn, your mommy is also a second born and I totally understand that you need a few things of your own that were NOT handed down to you from your older sister! :)

So we've got a little under 7 weeks to go!!!

To Do

We are moving in less than 10 weeks. Feeling just a little busy and overwhelmed.

So, here's a sampling of my current to do list (in completely random order, which is sort of the order I'm getting things done these days) :

-laundry (almost an everyday thing)

-exercise (try to do this at least 4 times a week)

-plant flowers in container gardens---(they are sitting on my deck waiting to go into the containers)

-pack entire apartment

-arrange and book movers and a moving truck and possibly some extra help (this is on Kane's to do list, but I can't forget about it until it's done)

-buy Kane an anniversary gift and a graduation gift (partially done)

-buy a wedding present

-attend wedding shower

-clean out my fridge

-pack away MK's winter clothes (yes, I know I should have already done this by now, but just haven't made the time)

-house hunt in Rome

-secure a place to live in Rome

-iron

-grocery shopping (DONE for this week)

-library (renew expired card so I can get some books to take to the beach) (DONE)

-post office (DONE)

-pack for my Summer trips

-be out of town for my trips which means I won't be getting any of this other stuff done during that time

-cook

-clean

-bathe 3 yr old

So, to my faithful readers out there who check my blog multiple times a day (I know there are millions of you) to see if there has been an updated post----this list is for you.

If I don't get around to blogging as often as I normally do in the next few weeks and you are wondering why, refer to the list above and you'll know what I'm up to instead! :)

More Organizing

For those of you who really know me, you know that I like to organize, stay organized and think about ways to increase organization around me. I think I was born this way--so it's not my fault!

This past weekend I asked Kane to install an additional, higher shelf in our laundry room just so I would have an entire new surface to organize! Actually, the shelf isn't completely full (yet), but I have more plans for what will go there in time. BUT--with the shelf in place I was able to move some larger, bulkier items out of my kitchen cabinets and create much more usable organized space in there as well. I learned from Like Merchant Ships that it is better to store all tupperware with the lids ON (if you have the space) and after 3 years of looking for lids I decided I would try and create the needed space so I could do this. Simply by moving the 2 plastic gallon pitchers I had in there to my new shelf I was able to shuffle things around enough to make more room to stack my tupperware with all lids secure.

I also plan to get a plastic tub to store all "craft-like" things that I own (i.e. hot glue gun, craft wire, light table, etc.) on the new shelf and other things as I realize that would be a more practical space for them.

I am also currently storing "off season" things like Spring placemats on the shelf. I want them accessible so I don't forget about them, but not in a cabinet I open daily as I won't be pulling some of these things back out for several months.

Spruced Up Space

Today I spruced up Mara Kate's room a little bit. She has needed a toy-overhaul for awhile now and with all the extra things she got for Christmas it just couldn't wait any longer!

We got the white cubed bookcase (pictured below) at IKEA yesterday afternoon and I think it will be (at least by me), one of the most appreciated purchases we've made in quite awhile--simply because we purchased my sanity when we made that purchase.

I am already loving how everything has it's own designated space and that there is still "room to grow". Mara Kate played with toys today she hasn't played with in months, simply because they were organized, visible and had all the pieces in one accessible place. I love it!

OK--So here are the BEFORE pictures, as Kane was beginning to assemble the bookcase:

And After:

New Looks for the New Year

After the holidays I always feel the need to get things re-organized after packing away all our Christmas decorations. I also like to try and use the things I received for Christmas, especially any home goods!

Here are a few pictures of the re-arranging and decorating I've done since the New Year and a few of the "pretties" I got for Christmas that are currently incorporated into our home's decor.

New table runner, currently being used on our dresser.

close-up

Side view of table runner and new "hat boxes" I got to store the contents of my desk.

(I am getting rid of my desk for now, and have downsized to these boxes, which I think will work better and are much more practical for our current living situation).

Contents: office supplies, stamps, notepads/scratch paper, stationary, envelopes, etc.

Monogrammed drinking glasses (I think these are way cool!),
chargers, napkins and napkin rings.

Bathroom Makeover

Well, it's not really a makeover, just a fun addition that gives our bathroom a new feel. I found this fun little shelf at IKEA. Since the colors in my bathroom are more browns, khakis or off-white I decided to "doctor" the shelf a bit and lightly painted some dark brown paint over the black iron to give it more of a "sepia" tone. I am happy with the way it turned out. I also got the cute little baskets at IKEA as well. I am storing all of our baby bath stuff in one and and all the infant/child medicines we have in the other. Just wanted to share my newest decorating, organization idea with my blog readers. :) The little berry bucket on the middle shelf came from a large antique market here in Atlanta.