Here’s a short (bulleted) list of the randomness of my life:
- Alex is beginning to walk a lot. He was very content to crawl until just this week or so. And he likes to walk while holding our hands.
- Erin is walking like a champ. She never wanted to hold our hands; she just wanted to walk. And it’s a little weird still to see her stand and walk to bring me something, instead of crawling over. We are definitely entering toddler stage!
- Yesterday, they got into the half-bath off the kitchen, and when I found them, they were unrolling the toilet paper. I have to say, I thought that was just too cliche for my babies to do…
I guess I was wrong. - Last night, Erin was up for about half an hour at 1:00 am. Then Alex was up for a bit at 2:30. I’m tired. They’re still sleeping. Figures.
- We went to the grocery store yesterday. They did marvelously, even though we missed the beginning of our afternoon nap.
- Tonight is a Twins Club meeting that I need to try to get to. I haven’t been to a meeting for months. But by the evening, I don’t want to go out. I want to stay home. We’ll see what happens…
- I am appalled and overwhelmed by the clutter in my house. For some reason, I can’t seem to get to anything but the basics (clean up the kitchen, for example), and the basics tend to repeat themselves, often more than once a day. And we are going to the farm this weekend, so I’m losing my at-home-with-help time. *sigh* I need help.
- We are going to the farm this weekend because my MIL is leaving next Tuesday on a missions trip, her first one ever. She’s going to Liberia, in Africa, for two weeks. She’s really nervous. So we wanted to get the babies out there before she goes. I think she’ll appreciate seeing them.
Random Mommy Questions:
- What do you think we should do with the money the babies were given for their first birthday?
- How did/do you prioritize your day to spend time with your kids, get housework done, and make time for yourself? I’m lost in this shuffle these days as the babies seem to be needing a lot more attention than they used to.
- What verse or passage has meant the most to you recently?
Okay, I told you it would be random. Happy Thursday.
I agree with kelly…goto the Twins Club meeting. Even though you dread going out, it is a needed break. And you’ll enjoy being a mom so much more tomorrow because you had a break tonight. It, also, gives you a chance to talk with others in the same situation that you are (and you don’t feel so alone in the world of babies!).
Ditto Gail’s suggestion for the college account. If people give us money for Will’s birthday, that’s where it’s going.
And I’m with you on the housework. We are relative minimalists when it comes to having stuff out in our house, so I manage to keep the house picked up. And 75% of the time, the kitchen is mostly clean. But the laundry tends to pile up like crazy, and I haven’t cleaned either of our showers in at least a couple of months. (Can you still be my friend after knowing that my shower is that soap-scummy?) The kitchen floor needs mopping like woah. Etc., etc. The thing is, I bet even LESS of that stuff would be done if I was staying at home with Will full-time. Taking care of little ones (TWO! I can’t fathom) is fuller than a full-time job. Know that those of us on the outside think you’re doing an amazing job!!
That said, I’m with Gail that there are certain things that I HAVE to do each day for my sanity and the survival of our family. Prepare dinner. Put away Will’s toys after he goes to bed. Make sure the chairs are pushed in to the kitchen table and the barstools are lined up correctly (that’s just an OCD thing of mine). Like Gail said, identify the must-dos that keep you sane, and get to the other things when they really start to bug you. My shower is really starting to bug me. Maybe I’ll clean it this weekend. We’ll see.
I’m still really mulling over 1 Corinthians 13. It has definitely struck a chord with me this week.
Go to the Twins Club meeting! You need the mental break from the house! I’m always glad I push myself to socialize, even though I always dread it beforehand.
1. I would open a college account for the babies with their money. Or buy them shoes. That’s what we do with money for people who can’t spend it themselves in our house.
2. My prioritizing is a mess. Somedays different things take precedence. You are still in the very intensive part of this mommy stuff. The next year or two are still times when they need constant supervision, lest you never have factory-rolled toilet paper in your home again. Establish some routines for the basics. In my world, I HAVE to do a load of laundry (wash, dry, and put away) each day. I HAVE to do the dishes every night completely before bed. I HAVE to prepare the meals. Everything else is pushed to a only-when-it’s-desperate level. Your list of mandatory stuff will be different, but I’d decide what is important to you AND reasonable. Then stick to it.
And poo on guilt. Repeat a thousand times a day, “My number one job, number one ministry is loving these kids and raising them in the Lord.” Of course, love your husband, too, but know that if you have nothing to show for the day but two smiling toddlers, clapping along happily and twirling in circles to kiddie praise music, it’s been a good, good day indeed.
3. Our Sunday School lessons this month have been out of Ecclesiastes. I’ve really, really enjoyed digging into this jewel of wisdom that is so timely and so timeless. This week is about our struggle with stuff. Ouch.