Cleaning Undone - An Ava Story

Yesterday I cleaned the bathroom during nap time. I did the baseboards, cleaned the window and the screen and of course the sink and toilet. This is probably too much info but it's pertinent to the story. I used the toilet (just a "number one") and Ava likes to flush it- I think it's a part of the potty training theory in her own mind.

No-nap Ava decided that while I was distracted she would lock herself into my now clean bathroom. I noticed how quiet she was so I went to peek and see what the little monster was up to.

"What are you doing, Ava?"

"Cleaning Mommy."

(In my head I shout) With my URINE?! Gee, thanks.

I was impressed though that I didn't yell. I didn't bat an eye before I suggested, very calmly, that she flush the toilet and let me rinse off the rag she was using to "wash" all the surfaces I had just disinfected.

...Later that afternoon our lovely Ava decided to have naked time. When she ran into the bathroom after a while I figured she was going to use the potty. Well she almost had it.

"Mommy I peed!"

I walk in ... on the floor?! (again, a big shout inside my head). Again, impressed with my reaction I just stated "Interesting choice not to actually use the potty." And then I cleaned up her pee puddle.

I think the bathroom is now more disgusting than before I went in to scrub it down. *sigh*

The Basement

I got the basement really on a roll and now hubby and I have a "plan" for getting rid of stuff. I have tons of items on Kijiji. No kitchen sink but there is a fridge! I'm adding more to it this morning. I'm practically giving the stuff away so we can have room for hubby to tear down some poorly designed layout walls in the basement bathroom (from the previous owner). This will open it up and allow for the window to shine light into the dark spaces of the basement. Once that is knocked down we are moving the computer area there and putting a few items to the then-cleared storage area. It feels so free to have a plan.

I have people interested in picking up items I've listed already too which makes me feel great. Everything I earn from that will go towards the renovations - and my plan is to have CASH saved for whatever we need to do. Tear-down, my hubby tells me, costs $0. How exciting!

My schedule is going great. I do one "zone" a week and some zones I am realistic with two weeks for that area. Although, the basement jumped in so I'll need to re-address the other zones that got bumped when the basement zone comes up. Because I didn't know where to start either I started at the top, front room and made my way through the house room by room from there.

Freedom from the clutter feels great and a plan feels the greatest!

The Gifts in My Life

Here is another one from Beth over at My Simpler Life. I've obviously customized this to the gifts of my life but I want to credit her with the original inspiration for this post.

Although it isn't always evident when I get sucked into the dramas of everyday living, I must admit that my life is great. I am writing this list to reflect on when I am having "one of those days".

I am grateful for ...

1. Two wonderful children who complete my life.


2. A husband who loves me for who I am even if it is a cranky time of month or a very long pregnancy. We have our squabbles for sure but what couple who has little and inconsistent amounts of sleep doesn't? I love my husband even if some days I don't show it enough.


3. Our house. It is warm in winter, cool in the summer and allows my husband and I to create a loving home for our children. It also patiently stores all of our "stuff" and allows us to personalise it to our tastes when we have the extra money. Thanks house - we are grateful to be able to own you.


4. My gym membership that has often saved me from going bananas in a house with children who have been touching me all day. I get to go and sweat out those frustrations or read and trot on a treadmill. This year the gym membership is going to whip my butt into shape - I just know it!


5. My health.


6. My Women & Money group that meets monthly and Suze Orman. Without these I wouldn't be on target for reaching mine and our family's financial goals. Most recently I developed a plan where we will be out of student loan and credit card debt in 5 years and out of mortgage debt 8 years after that. It is so nice to have a "done" date on the not-so-far horizon.


7. Reconnecting to many old friends through Facebook.


8. Not having to leave the house for work if I don't want to. Having my home day care business and the three children I care for both lets us afford to have me home with our kids and lets me indulge in a large family without the added expenses.
   

I like how Beth put it ... I don’t want to spend all of January looking ahead or behind; I want to enjoy what I have at this moment.

What to Dwell on

Thanks to Beth at My Simpler Life for this inspiring quote. Very timely considering yesterday's post!

"Don’t dwell on what you lack; dwell on what you have and use it to the fullest with gratitude.

Don’t dwell on your failures - learn from them and move on.

Don’t dwell on your fears or sorrows - dwell on your hopes."


~ Marian Wright Edelman, founder of Children’s Defense Fund (from Guideposts magazine)

I'm an Organizing Addict

I've decided that I MUST get this house decluttered. I am drowning in it. I have almost the whole upstairs done with Ava's bedroom to finish and only in Travis's room to re-arrange the furniture. His closet (which he doesn't use quite yet) has been emptied of all the hanging clothes that I had stashed there and I either donated them or sold them. There are a few bags by season to be given to a consignment store and anything that doesn't get taken from them will be donated.

I have been successful to date because I sat down one day with my calendar and wrote one zone per week (some zones were bigger such as the kitchen so they get two weeks). I started with the front room on the top floor and went from there to the basement. These zones will be decluttered and deep cleaned as I go. I am extremely excited with the project I've made thus far. I have slipped up a few weeks but luckily I've been able to catch up and when I was behind more than a few weeks such as over the holidays when I was baking or shopping on the weekends I let myself re-start where I left off and updated the 2009 calendar accordingly.

I feel lighter already!

Although now I'm starting to get ambitious and I'm looking at calendars and schedules other bloggers have created BUT after writing this blog I think I'm going to stick with what I'm doing and what is working. As I often remind my 2.5 year old daughter, focus ... concentrate!

A Birthday Note to Travis James

Happy first birthday to you, my darling Travis. One year ago today you were already one hour old. This year has swiftly passed and you have become quite the little boy. You are now seriously cruising but not quite walking. You get into everything. You even pretend to chatter on the phone and are starting to say "dadadadada" and "mamamama". You have a fantastic personality and are easy going - unless Ava tries to take a toy you really want; wow do you have a hard and fast grip and you sure tell her it's yours by shrieking at her! I've witness a few spats between you and your sister where you both cry but it's short lived and you soon both are playing nicely together once the offending toy has been forgotten. I love you Travis and I am so glad that you came into our family. I am looking forward to seeing what being one does to you :)

Love,

Mommy

Being Still

Thanks to Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie for sharing this post. It reminds me why I stay home with the kids instead of working out of the home. It is so easy to get caught up in always being busy instead of enjoying the moment. I'm going to make an effort to do this more with my children - just be still.


I have a 2 year old son.
He is an active boy.
He rarely sits still.
Even when he is watching TV he is doing something else at the same time.
I’m a 36 year old mom.
I’m an active lady.
I rarely sit still.
Even when I am watching TV I am doing something else at the same time.
The two of us are a lot alike that way.
The other night I threw caution to the wind and laid down on the couch to watch a movie without doing anything else. No folding laundry, no blogging, no eating, just being still. About 10 minutes into the movie my little guy came into the room crawled up onto the couch beside me, snuggled in and fell asleep. For an hour and a half I got to hold my sweet little boy in my arms while he slept. He didn’t move and neither did I. I didn’t want to wake him. I wanted to bottle this moment forever in my mind. Holding him and breathing him in while I rested my head on his.
Two busy bodies, one young, one not so young, finding comfort in each other’s arms.
Finding time to just be still.
I’m so thankful I didn’t miss it.

2009 Goals

Thanks to Niki at Free 2 Be Frugal for inspiring me to set my 2009 goals and post them.

Health Goals

Lose 15 pounds

Exercise 2-3 times a week

Drink more water

Eat well-rounded meals (including all four food groups)

Financial Goals

Complete Suze Orman's "Women & Money" goals over the allotted 5 months

Shop for Christmas gifts year-round

Continue with "Smart Cookies: Women & Money" group once a month for motivation

Homemaking Goals

Organize menu plans and shopping lists weekly

Sit down and eat at least one meal daily as a family at the table

Declutter!

Finish basement renovations and make into a play/games/movie room

Family Goals

Continue family nights once a week (Saturdays)

Enjoy date night once a month with hubby (and get a babysitter booked well in advance!)

Focus on each moment with the kids - the house can be clean when they move out

Creative Goals

Limit interests to ...

1. Reading


2. Crocheting


3. Pen Pals

Comments on Posts

I wanted to thank guests for posting comments. It makes me feel great about doing the posts and motivates me to keep the blog going. Some days or months are harder to find the time on the computer depending on the children and if they want to "help". Please keep your comments coming - it is appreciated more than you know :)