how do you like me now?

Did you know that we have been living here in Alabama for over a year now? We crossed that milestone in early January - speaking of which, I cannot believe that here we are at the very end of January!! wow!! - and I gotta say, I  never, ever want to leave. I love it here so much. It didn't even take a year to fall in love with the place. I love feeling this stability, having friends, being able to put roots down and hopefully grow!

I was just going on a cleaning spree through the living room and finding it quite enjoyable when I remembered way back when I hated cleaning and you couldn't get me to do it without kicking and screaming. When my house looked terrible with piles of toys everywhere, dirty clothes piling up and clothes that needed to be folded spilling out of laundry baskets... where the bathrooms had towels everywhere and the beds were never, ever made. Yeah. I look back on those days and I am downright ashamed of my lack of self-respect and love for my family to make us all live like that. It wasn't dirty - but it surely was terribly messy and cluttered.

I blamed it on having a baby. Really, I was just lazy and didn't want to. I admit it.

Shame, shame, shame.


But now... I love to clean. I don't grumble {much! sometimes I do, I'll be honest!} and complain about it because I like to take care of my family and I like to make sure that my house is nice and presentable - because here, people actually want to come visit us! And we don't have to run around like chickens with their heads chopped off in a mad rush to get the house presentable the day before company comes!

How this transformation happened, I have no idea. Maybe it's just my perspective that has changed, maybe it's the change of scenery... no clue! But whatever it is - I'm glad it happened.

And I know my family is, too. And our friends, ha!

I know there are a few people who have known me all my life and probably remember how my room was always completely messy, how I couldn't cook {did I mention I also love cooking??}, how I just was not the ideal housewife material... I know they are surprised more than anything! It's beautiful, isn't it??

Ahhhhh.... I'm just going to sit here and enjoy the smell of my furniture polish...

spring cleaning

My eyes are so heavy as I write this post. I'm sitting with Hubby on the couch, as we watch Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds {which freaks me out to the max}, and piddle around on our separate laptops. We have had a rather long day, and Benjamin's teething and obvious bad mood about it has only made it longer. We started off a little later than we meant to, and went to the bank, to Michaels, to Target, to Hobby Lobby, and then to Kroger - a trip that lasted a couple hours and left me ready for bedtime, though we had a few more hours to burn before then. Benjamin took a nap when we got home and we ate lunch and I began a long day of cleaning and organizing. Usually I don't spend so much time cleaning and organizing, but today I felt I needed to get something done after a week of Vacation. Tomorrow I will probably do some more cleaning {while the babies nap}.

I suppose I'm getting a leg up on Spring cleaning. Did you know that it is very close to being officially Spring? March 20th is officially the first day, in case you were wondering. Perhaps then the chill will leave the air. I know Spring is on its way because of these pictures I took yesterday:








I love seeing trees in bloom. I don't love Pollen, though. Anyone else have terrible pollen allergies?

Another question, anyone interested in Nutella-coffee frosted cupcakes? You have got to check it out!

Hope you all have a fantastic week!

Clean

Happy Friday!

Today has been a busy day for me so far. Right now Mariah is napping. Benjamin was in his crib earlier until I started hearing delighted squeals and raspberries coming from his room, so I retrieved him {so he wouldn't wake up Mariah}. Now he is sitting here at the table with me eating his fruit snacks and ritz crackers. Me, I'm eating a Special K protein bar, which doesn't taste too bad, to be honest. I'm also thinking about the Daily Scripture.

Did you see it?

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” - Deuteronomy 6:6-7

One of the reasons I added the daily verse was not only to share a verse a day with my friends, but because they are often thought-provoking for me. I like to take the verse and meditate on it throughout the day. On days where I do this, my day always seems brighter.

I love that verse, Deuteronomy 6:6-7. It puts in perspective the real, true responsibility we parents have. There are so many parents who make the biggest fuss over the littlest things, like having the perfect appearance, having nice cars, having a pristine home, doing exciting, fun things all the time. I'm not saying any of those are sin - but sometimes we prioritize and forget what should be at the top of the list: God.

Benjamin loves his Bible Class. Whenever we go to church, he always runs into his classroom before we've even started, before anyone even gets to the building. He loves to see my Bible and to turn the pages. He is all smiles when we sing his favorite Bible class songs. He loves to look through his animals and hear about creation.

I love that he loves Bible class. There are some days when he is a bit too cranky to really love anything, but usually Bible class is very fun and exciting.

But, Bible class will not be the main source of Bible learning. There are so many teachable moments throughout the day, and I need to make it a priority to take advantage of this. I can spend all day cleaning and doing laundry and organizing, or I can spend the majority of my time teaching my son about God and the Bible and Jesus and the Church. I did this for a while yesterday when Benjamin and I were in his playing with his toys. We listened to his Bible Song CD, and Benjamin enjoyed it.

This is something that is always on my mind. I was fortunate enough to have been taught from a young age to love God and the Bible, and I want the same for Benjamin. I might go a day without folding a piece of laundry or picking up the living room, but as long as I don't go a day without teaching my son, I'm perfectly okay with this.

Clean or not clean, my house isn't going to last through eternity, but Benjamin's soul will - and whether or not his heart is clean in the end is what matters.

Close the Laundry Door*

*Laundry Room, by the Avett Brothers. If you have not checked them out, and you like Bluegrass, you should. They are my absolute favorite band.

I hate going into the laundry room for a couple of reasons:
1} It is related to laundry, which I hate doing.
2} It is usually always messy.

Until today.

I decided today was the day I would tackle the Laund-mess Monster. {Okay that didn't turn out the way I thought it would!} Ahem. I decided to break down the beast, gut it out, and claim it as my controlled space, not some niche of chaos.

I did it. I totally did it. I conquered the Laundry Room. I can't tell you how excited I am!

It took me one hour to go from this:





To this:




Complete with much-needed sweeping and mopping! I even Oxy-Cleaned a little tote for used diapers because we frequently change Benjamin down in our bonus room and it's too much of a hassle to go all the way to his bedroom to drop off a diaper.

And it only took an hour. One our out of my day completely focused on one room showered me with these results. I couldn't be more pleased. Well, actually, I could. Only because there are a few billion loads of laundry to fold, plus one in the wash and one in the dryer.

Sigh.

All in a day's work! Benjamin is thinking, "Who are you and what have you done with my mommy?!"

the Fluff is the Stuff

Don't you love getting mail? I love getting things that come in lovely packages that don't fit right in your mailbox (and some even that do). My husband is the one who really likes to get the mail. Mail-time, if you remember, is a big to-do in this family.

Today was a wonderful mail day! It was raining nearly all day long and the mail still managed to come and make my day! You see, earlier this week my husband had come across the website Baby Steals and they had a 51% off package deal of 6 gDiapers cloth diapers! We snagged those babies up quick! And today they came!



Beautiful orange and vanilla bean diapers came for Benjamin... oh it's been a while since we've gotten Fluffy mail, and oh man! It was good!



Don't you just love them all lined up? Don't get excited, Tennessee fans (Stephanie, you especially!) - we are still Georgia Bulldawgs. These were the only colors! But they are still beautiful!





The inside of the diaper. We didn't buy inserts or refills. We have a slew of inserts here so hopefully those will work with these diapers. If not, we will see about getting some.



First time trying on his new diapers! Doesn't he look handsome in orange? It's funny because in bible class and even at home he is usually always drawn to orange things. And tonight he was just carrying his orange diapers around the room everywhere!



Don't you just love a fluffy bum?? I love the way the velcro goes around the back instead of the front. That way he can't pull at it and try to pull his diaper off. Yes, friends, he has done this before. And it hasn't always ended up pretty...



Ahh, Fluffy mail. How I missed thee! And this is probably it for a while, I'm afraid! Unless someone wants to send us some more?

Tonight I am listening with one ear to Rush being played from my husband's laptop as he sits across the room on the couch, and in the other the soothing sounds of my dishwasher. You'd all be proud of how clean I have kept the kitchen this week. Actually, my mom would be proud. I give her kitchen a run for her money! Oh yeah, mom! Let's have a contest! (She looks at my blog, you see...)

I do have a confession to make...




... All week long. And that isn't the half of it. But you know what? I am proud of myself for what I do get done. And I am no longer ashamed that my house isn't tidy all the time. You know it is something I struggle with internally, and something I've recently been trying to come to terms with. So my downstairs and about half of the upstairs is a bit messy. It's something I am working on, but it isn't something I am stressing about. And I feel very liberated posting those pictures. Thank you, Miranda, for inspiring me with your post.

A quick note on the watermarks. Those are going to be from here on out. Not necessarily the design (I'm trying to work up something more attractive). And you might notice I didn't put them on the pictures of my messy house. I'm not so sure I want to claim those... haha!

I'll claim this though...

Not Me! Monday

Ah, a new week... Actually, a new month! January seemed to have lasted a year for me! I guess because of all the exciting things that happened. And I gotta say, I am just thrilled to be moving on to February. Not only because we don't have any parties to plan or big vacations to take, and not only because Lost starts up again tomorrow... but Valentine's Day is coming up and I just love Valentine's Day! Call me a sap or mushy or gooshy - whatever! I want to make it special this year because Benjamin is older and can enjoy a special day with us!

Check out Benjamin from last year early February:



He's a little bigger now, don't you think?



ANYWAY: It's also a New Not Me! Monday! Get excited!



I certainly did not spend a good half hour on my hands and knees with a magic eraser scrubbing my kitchen floors this morning. Why in the world would I need a [heavy duty] magic eraser to clean my kitchen floor? A mop and bucket with some pinesol works just fine. There is no need to scrub so hard that my hand cramps up and my knees ache. Especially not when I'm feeling sick anyway. You know me, my kitchen is always clean... perfectly spotless!



On a different note, I did not forget diapers yesterday while heading out the door for church (which lasts 3 hours in the morning). I was absolutely surprised when Benjamin pooped a massive pooped. I mean, he never poops in the morning! It's not like I had any reason to prepare for such an event. I did not go into a brief panic mode until I remembered the rogue diaper left in the backseat of the car (clean, mind you). Oh, and I didn't forget wipes, either. I didn't use Boogie Wipes on my son's bottom. Nope, not me!

I'm also not still cleaning up from Benjamin's birthday party which was 2 Saturdays ago. I am so on top of things.

So, ahem, what didn't you do lately? Head over to MckMama's blog to grab your Not Me! Monday stuff!

Inhale, Exhale

My eyes are murky from inhaling too many cleaning fumes today, and my body is screaming for me to take a good, long rest already! I have been cleaning pretty much all day today. Tomorrow we are having a fellowship at our house, and this is the first time since New Years that we have invited the congregation out to fellowship. Isn't that terrible? But with a new baby, and everything else that was going on - plus not really having been very moved in when we did have Benjamin - we hadn't had the opportunity. Well, as of Halloween, we have been here an entire year - in Fort Valley, that is. We have not lived in this house that long. We moved in here the day after Black Friday last year. Can you imagine driving a UHaul truck through the Mall of Georgia area on Black Friday - me, 8 months pregnant, and already a stressful passenger?! Whew!

Anyway, we wanted the house to look presentable for everyone ... isn't it sad that it has taken so much out of us just to have it presentable? And I don't even mean spic-and-span - that will probably never happen. No, I know it will never happen, and you will see why in a few minutes.

I was thinking about what I could possibly write about today in my blog (since I missed yesterday - oops - sorry!), and while I was mopping my kitchen, I realized exactly what I would write about.

This is why my house will never, ever be spic-n-span - and no, it isn't the baby (or the husband):



No, this is not a photograph that I have taken, nor is it one that is taken with things I own or in my house. However, this is how I feel when I am mopping. I feel like I am mopping with the most ancient mop and bucket, and that I am mopping an impossibly dirty floor.

I don't know what the deal is. Seriously, I can sit there and scrub away all day long and it still looks like an entire football team has hustled through my kitchen with dirty shoes, and then a herd of cattle (Cattle? Why not.). There have been times when I would go through with a Swiffer mop, then the regular mop, and have resorted to getting down on my hands and knees with a clorox wipe. Okay, maybe I am a little obsessive compulsive when it comes to cleaning. I may not enjoy cleaning, but when I do get down to it, I never want to do it half way. Go big or go home (That's for you, Stephanie!).

After all that ... why, oh WHY can I not get it clean?! There is a stretch of linoleum that just remains black, beneath the cabinets. I am afraid there could be something nasty down there but I really don't know if I want to find out. All I know is: it can't be scrubbed up from the top... could it be the bottom?

Let's not think about that. It might spark my obsessive compulsive side.

Then again ... I am renting ... would that be something the landlady would have to take care of? Hmmm...

Anyway ... that's what's been grinding my gears tonight! Oh, did I mention that I am not finished cleaning yet? One room remains to be cleaned before tomorrow (our guest room is not it - that is littered with stuff from the yard sale and has yet to be sorted through). The family room. It shouldn't take too long. Tomorrow Hubby and Benjamin will be going to a Veteran's Breakfast over at the American Legion, so that might give me some time to situate things over here, and then decorate outside some.

So, here's my question for you wonderful* housewives: How do I get my kitchen to really sparkle, what mop do you suggest, and what could it be that is making my kitchen floor remain that dark color beneath the cabinets?

*Wonderful as in ... you are wonderful. You don't have to be the best housewife in the world to answer. I know for a fact that I am not the best!

Oh, and before I leave you to it, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to my husband for helping out so much today with cleaning. He got his office all straightened up - which was a HUGE task in and of itself! Way to go! I love you!

... One more thing ...



Benjamin learned how to comb his hair today. Smart boy!

Hope you all have wonderful weekends!

Ham.

Can I just take a moment to say how amazing you guys are? You step up to the plate, ready to hit your knees and go to God in prayer when prayers are asked for. It's wonderful and heartwarming to know that so many people care. I haven't had an update on Lyndsay lately, but Heather, her sister, wanted me to thank you all for praying for her sister and her family. It means a lot to her, it really truly does.

Thank you so much! And keep them coming!

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I have been busy today, y'all! I am trying so hard to get my house clean before next Saturday, when we are having a little get together at our house with many friends (hopefully!) and possibly my parents as well! I know, I know ... it should be clean already! But you know how things are with a newborn (and for you pregnant ladies with your first - you will!). It is hard for me now to clean especially as I watch Mariah during the week as well. But I am trying hard to get in the swing of things and hopefully soon we will have things under control (for once?).

Today we tackled three baskets of laundry that had been sitting in our laundry room to be folded. I hate folding laundry. It just seems like it is neverending. Right now the washer is going as I strip all my diapers down to get all the residue from the detergent out - you see, Ben has been getting sores down yonder and they get better for a time and then come back - so it could very well be the detergent we've been using. He has such sensitive skin, and poor little thing got it from me! My skin is just as bad - if not worse!

So tonight Ben sleeps in a disposable diaper. For the first time since ... March? Or maybe April? I can't remember.

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Saturday we are going out to buy the necessary items to put together a coupon binder. Yes, folks, that's right! I am starting my journey with Couponing. I am very excited about it, actually. My dear, dear kindred spirit Autumn has gotten me into it and I've already had a dream about it. So I guess that means my mind is committed! haha.

We spent a good deal of time today clipping coupons and ... I actually ... enjoyed it! My mom has used coupons for years and years and I was always thinking "Oh no, here come the coupons" ... but when Autumn told me she had only had to pay less than $21 on a bill that would have been over $113 without coupons at Target ... okay, that totally sold me. So you may have noticed the links on the sidebar to coupon and saving sites. Really that is for my benefit, but yours as well if you'd like to check them out!

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Benjamin and I spent some time together tonight while Hubby was out at a meeting. We had a really good time. I enjoy spending alone time with Benjamin, as long as he behaves! And he did this time!

I tell you, he is such a ham ...






I really shouldn't be up so late! I am about to head to bed. I just realized that tomorrow (or, today if you want to be technical) is Friday! That ends my day (early morning) on a very happy note!

And, since I keep forgetting to mention it and I will probably continue to forget (thank you Mommy Brain + Holidays + Exhaustion): My birthday is Monday!

With a big: Hurrah! for prayers being answered, houses getting clean(ish), coupons being clipped, money being saved, precious boys being hams, tomorrow being Friday, and Monday being my birthday, I leave you all! Good night!

Whistle While You Work

All right, finally I am able to sit down and blog ... Benjamin is in bed (crying) and I am taking a few moments now before I go to bed myself.

Right now, amongst the smell of fermented juice that apparently sprayed all over the room (I was getting ready for Bible Class - Hubby was the one who witnessed this marvel), I am going to blog further about my cleaning system that I always sometimes stick to. It's ironic, isn't it? I'm blogging about cleaning while I suffer the stench of a juice bottle I should have taken care of a while ago.

Anyway, if you remember this post, I briefly mentioned our system of cleaning. It was noted that it really wasn't easily viewed, so I decided I would elaborate for those who are interested. Here's our schedule guideline:



Monday - Laundry, Vacuum
Tuesday - Bonus Room, Kitchen
Wednesday - Bathrooms, Wash Towels, Vacuum
Thursday - Kitchen, Laundry
Friday - Bedrooms, Dust, Vacuum

And Saturday and Sunday are my days off from my schedule (mainly because I will spend those days catching up on the stuff I've missed).

Optional: Whistling while you work.

Like I said, this is more of a guideline than a schedule. This week has been very busy and I am ailing with a very hurt shoulder (pinched nerve?), so I haven't gotten as much done as I am supposed to. But I have tried. And that's the thing. As long as I put a good amount of effort into this, I don't feel as bad if everything doesn't get crossed off during the day. And of course, when Ben needs me and wants to play, he is who I am concentrating on, not my house. The housework will be there when I get done playing, who else is going to do it? (I joke - I woke up one morning to a couple of baskets all folded - thanks to a sweet hubby who stayed up late doing that for me!)

And there you have it! This is what works for us (unless, of course, you have a really sore shoulder). It may not work for you, but if you want to give it a shot, go for it!

Ben is out of bed, by the way, and standing beside me (holding onto the couch) crying. So I suppose that is my cue to say Good Night to the blogging world, and attempt to say Good Night to Benjamin once more.

Phew.

Decoration and Schedules!

When we moved into this house back at the end of November, I was too pregnant to even think about decorating. Earlier this year, I just didn't have the energy. And now, finally, I am starting to think about decorating. Starting with the Guest Bedroom, which is a blank slate at the moment. I have always considered myself fairly creative (up for debate, I suppose!), so this blank slate excites me! Hopefully in the next few weeks/months I will be able to keep you posted on how the transformation goes. It may take some time, but we're going to do what we can.

Here's what I'm starting out with:




We have decided that the Hope Chest, against the wall there, will be moved. It was the last thing my grandfather was able to make for me before he passed away two years ago.


The bed was my OTHER grandfather's while he was in college, and he made the dresser for me.

I'm excited. That's a lot of blank wallspace just waiting for some wonderful paint!

Other than that, I wanted to share our system for getting things done around here. Granted, we don't always stick to this because things come up, such as yesterday (when Ben was SUCH a pill). But so far it has seemed to work nicely.



I am a list/schedule kind of person. Although I am no expert, I appreciate organization. Anyway, that's what we do! And for most things, Ben can sit a few feet away and be fine. Such as with laundry and tidying up.

Do you have a system that works for you?