Understanding Through Lists?

Making lists is something I find very satisfying, though I don't tend to be an overly organized person.  But maybe that's why this article made some sense to me.  I really like the idea of itemizing every single thing that I do as a stay-at-home mom.  I get a lot of help and the roles in this family are definitely not typical (my husband does what a LOT of husbands don't), but a lot of what she said still rings true.  I don't think a list, or agreement, as she mentions, would really solve a lot of problems, but I think for me it might just help to clarify what I'm dealing with and help me to make sense of the life I now have and will have for the foreseeable future (with baby 3 on the way).  It's not what I expected, and I think that's a big part of what makes it hard.  Perhaps understanding just exactly what it is that I do all day would help me (and maybe my husband) understand how I feel about it...

Doing Nothing

My dear friend sent me this quote from this amazing blog post and I thought it needed to be shared with every new mom.  So I'm storing it here in the hopes that when someone I know has a new baby, I'll remember it and send it to them.  If you're a new mom, read the post.  Here's the quote:

So the next time you find yourself wondering how another day is gone and nothing is done, stop. Hold your baby—feel the way that tiny body strains to contain this giant soul—complete, and full of potential all at the same time. Take a deep, slow breath. Close your eyes and measure your day not as tasks, but as feelings, as sounds, as colors. Exhaustion is part of it. And it’s true, you will get “nothing” done. But the hard parts will fade. The intense, burning love is what remains, and it is yours to keep forever.

Loft Bunk

Just another shared room inspiration.  Love the creative bed rail and the simplicity of this design.

Slot-together Crib

Before we had our first daughter there was talk of building a custom small crib to make more space in her tiny bedroom.  We didn't go through with it, but if we had, we should have done something like this.  Totally simple and brilliant.

three in one

I must keep track of these inspiring people who manage to find ways to squeeze multiple kids into one bedroom.  This is a great example and this one too..  Being creative (especially with storage) is totally central to making these arrangements possible and I hope I can do that myself when the time comes...Soon!

First Birthday Book

Here we go - SouleMama does it again.  She claims she put this together at the last minute, but really?!  Amazing.  I can totally see how a one-year-old would LOVE this.  And since it's just something small, you could easily put it together using scrap fabrics that you have lying around.  Being the sentimental mush-brain that I am (especially as a pregnant person) I sigh a gigantic sigh when I see this type of thing.  Definitely one to file away for, perhaps, the fifth child...

Word Book

I love this idea** of making a book with words and pictures of specific things in your home that baby might want to know.  And this book would be useful for a long time, even once your child starts to learn letters and spelling.  I have also been thinking about making a face book (ha) for baby with pictures of all the people who love her.  She LOVES to see pictures of faces and familiar ones are just that much better.

**Unfortunately it seems that saraspartyperfect.com is down for some reason.  Sorry that the links from her website no longer work! In this link she had made a photo book (like something you'd make on shutterfly) using pictures she's taken of objects around the house (train, spoon, teddy bear...) and also of those words written out using those magnetic letters.  Super cute.

Moon Bed

I just LOVE this adorable little baby bed.  Oh to have time and space for such a whimsical luxury!