Mine is a house of order

My goal as of late has been to improve my home management skills. Thanks to FlyLady I've been going strong for over a week now. I've developed some basic routines for the morning and evening and have been decluttering for at least 15 minutes every weekday.

Now by the time I get the baby out of bed I've exercised, read my scriptures, showered, gotten dressed, and done my hair and face--I feel ready to tackle the world. It's a vast improvement from rolling out of bed when I hear the baby and not finding time until his nap to get myself ready, which can be a total disaster on days he chooses not to nap. My bed is made every day (which is funny because when Rob and I got married we agreed we were okay with not making our bed). My bathroom stays clean and clutter-free. I do a load of laundry every morning (no more no less). All of this is a big change from running in circles trying to figure out what needs to be done the most.

During my scripture study one morning I came to a realization that this is important. It's more than just keeping my house clean and tidy. This life is about practicing for the next life and teaching our children to love the things of God. One of those things is order. By keeping my household running smoothly I am patterning my life and home after His and teaching my son to do the same. I am creating a peaceful atmosphere where my family can feel a little closer to Heaven.

No, I'm not perfect, neither is my home. However I am a little more organized and things are a little more calm and peaceful. I have a little more time to be with my family. I also have a little more time to read, do hobbies, or spend time with friends with a little less guilt.

Snow

I dreamed about gardening last night and then woke up to snow. I really didn't mind though. It was so beautiful. When Blue Eyes woke up I was so excited to show him; I took him out onto the porch before I even changed his diaper.

I opened the curtains hanging over our french doors near the dining room table so that we could watch it snow as we ate breakfast.

We then bundled up and played out in the snow for a half hour. I love that Blue Eyes is getting big enough to enjoy these things with me.

Spring Fever

I wrapped Blue Eyes in a blanket today and took a walk around our house. Even though there is still a good month of winter left, spring is hinting at what is to come. I noticed the buds on my lilac and snowball bush. My daffodils, tulips, crocuses, iris and other bulbs are starting to peak out of the ground. It was beautiful and exciting.

The next thing I did was take inventory of my seeds in the garage. I really want to start gardening. My goal for the year in this area is to build some garden boxes and plant a vegetable garden. In the past I've only planted a few beans, peas, and other simple things in among my flowers. Now that I live with someone who eats vegetables (my son, my husband does not) I can plant a few more things and know they will get eaten.

Trying to garden with a baby at my feet will be interesting. Last year I did take Blue Eyes out with me when I picked strawberries but he was little enough that he just laid on the blanket and enjoyed the sun. We'll see how much dirt he eats.

A brief verse about Me

Welcome Friends!

My name is Cassidy. I’ve been married to a good man for nearly seven years (wow how time flies). I am the lucky mother of a beautiful little boy, who we'll call Blue Eyes. I have a Masters degree in Social Work with an emphasis in mental health therapy. I have about three years experience (including practicum) then I had a baby and decided no one can parent my child like me and quit my job.

My son recently turned one which means I've been doing this stay-at-home mom thing for a year now. Much of the time I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. Well, that's not completely true. Motherhood has actually been a pretty easy adjustment; as the eldest of five siblings I kind of feel like I've been there before. I watched my parents and often helped with my brothers and sisters, especially my youngest brother. Except for sleeping. I just don't seem to remember anything about how my parents handled babies who don't sleep well--probably because I was sleeping during those struggles.

Other than working through baby sleep problems, I have a hard time with housework. Not that my house is terrible dirty or cluttered. I think that I just want it to look perfect and if I don't have the time or energy to do it to the nines I'd rather not do it at all. So I clean like mad for a day and then let it go to pot for a week (or more) until I can't stand it and do it all again.

I love to read and often have several books in process at the same time. However I really don't make time for reading. Usually if I find time to read I feel too guilty to enjoy it--I always think that if I have time to read I should be cleaning or doing laundry. I've learned that books on tape from the library are great when you're doing dishes or folding laundry. And I enjoy reading self-help books while on the treadmill (I know it’s a weird combination).

I've also been collecting domestic hobbies. I scrapbook, make jewelry, sew, and like to decorate my home. I have similar issues with my hobbies as I do with reading; I keep telling myself its okay to make time for them. I recently converted my kitchen hutch into a craft cabinet. I moved all my crafting, sewing, etc. supplies from their boxes in the basement to a place where they are more easily accessible (and easier to put away), we'll see if I make more time for them.

Socially I'm not the best. I consider myself a pretty likable person and I know several of the other "mommies" in the neighborhood, but haven't really had a close friend since high school. We all make choices to balance our lives. One choice that I made while going through six years of college was little (if any) social life since I didn't have time. Now that I have time, if I make it, I kind of feel awkward and out of place in social situations--like my social muscle as atrophied. I go through stages where I’ll call up friends and try to get together, and then I give up and become a hermit for a while then try again.

While we're being honest. I've struggle with depression on and off again since I was a teenager. I've tried taking medication which helped but also gave me horrendous headaches. I've learned that I can keep my symptoms at bay with exercise, socializing, and making time in my life for things I enjoy. I know that if I start to feel blue for more than a day or two there is something out of balance in my life, once I take care of that I usually start singing again. I sing out loud all the time. It’s my canary in the coalmine, I know that if I’m turning my life into a musical my life is balanced and I’m generally headed in the right direction. It’s a trait that my son loves. The song de jour “Can't Take My Eyes Off You."

Oh one more things about me. I'm obsessed with anything French. I started learning to speak French in middle school. I've wanted to go to Paris since I was 14. I haven't made it yet. But until I get a chance I've decorated my house with French-inspired things. I love movies and books that take place in Paris. And when I have those days where I feel like running away that's where I imagine I go.

Well, that's it for today. Until next time.