Confirming My Status as an Overachiever
Tate and I did not waste our extra hour yesterday. No we did not. Actually it worked out to be about two extra hours since we were up at 5:30. I don't know how the math works, but it seemed like we were given two extra hours. Just trust me.
So how did we spend our extra two hours, you ask? We went on an organizing rampage, that's what we did! Or an orgampage*, if you will. I've always been incredibly organized, except for the last two years when I suddenly became a slob, or a mother. (Not that I'm saying mothers are slobs, I'm just saying that motherhood forced me into slobdom.)
We were orgampaging fools having completely overhauled our office and utility/junk closet! Somehow we managed to fill three trash bags full of shredded paper (I curse you junk mail!!), plus three more trash bags of just plain old everyday trash. While we were organizing I came across some very interesting (to me, anyway) items. For example, keys! Lots and lots of keys! I have no earthly idea what holes these keys belong to, but I'm sure that I'll figure it out soon since we threw all of them away. I found phone books from both Knoxville and Decatur. Why I saved them, I don't know. I also found Jesus at the bottom of one of the filing drawers. There He was just hanging out. Poor Guy had fallen off of a wall plaque that I'd stashed away.
Tate and I (luckily) found our long-lost Bubba teeth. I think it's obvious why we had been saving these. That's pure comedy GOLD right there.
(Boy you sure do have a purdy mouth.)
The things I was even more disturbed to find, were these notes that I'd taken about Carson when he was a baby. I think the following confirm my status as an overanalyzer and overachiever.
I realize the above picture of notes is difficult to read. Exactly what it says really isn't the point, though. The point is that I was taking detailed, minute by minute notes about my baby, trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with this child and why on Earth he never stopped crying. "11/29/05, Shushed and rocked (side-to-side) for 3 minutes. Still crying." "Eat 9:53, Activity, diaper change, face washed, began crying 10:59." These notes made me kinda sad, remembering those desperate early days.
Then I found this note...
This is a very specific schedule I tried to implement with Carson after his 6 month appointment with the pediatrician and she told me how much he should be sleeping and precisely how much he should be eating. (He had been eating and sleeping just fine.) I attempted to implement this ever so carefully crafted schedule and menu. As if! Silly first time parents! This note made me giggle.
Next weekend we're planning round two of our orgampage! Kitchen cabinets, my closet, and the spare bathroom cabinets will be returned to their original glory! Hey, if you're lucky, I'll even liveblog it.
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*I made that word up. Feel free to use it. Webster's, if you heed this call, just be sure to give me credit and post the address to this blog as payment.
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40 People are even more brilliant:
Usually my own overachiever inside would rejoice and hug you in your overachieving weekend of orgampage.
However, I know the real reason why you are doing this.
Hmpf.
It's all about me!
Oh man I wish I would have kept my scehdules and notes from the first born - it would be so fun to look at now.
Oh my! That could have been my note...so funny. As if writing it down on paper would make it so!
-HH
Well, I see y'all were very productive this weekend. Well done!
OK I have similar notes...
I admit it.
I found notes like that about Ironflower when we were moving (and to let you know about my organizing streak: My kids' toys are sorted into categories and stored in appropriately labeled boxes). So cool to see all the stress right their in black and white.
And I am totally stealing orgampage, that's a great word.
Those teeth are hilarious!
And now you've made me feel guilty about my slobdom so I'm off to do a load of laundry.
Congrats on the orgampage! Sounds like you guys were really productive. I made a list for Little Elvis too, I don't think it lasted two weeks.
The notes? They frighten me.
And when you're done there, feel free to come on up to VA. I'd keep you busy for months!!
When I was cleaning out cabinets and drawers I found more power cords and computer cables than I care to think about!
What is it with the time change? I've been up at 4:30 for like 3 days now.
Notes? Wow. Color me impressed. This proves unequivocally, you are the best mom EV-AH!
The teeth? Seriously, wear those to that snooty restaurant you blogged about a few weeks ago. Live blog THAT!
I have just finished my fall cleaning and I wish you well!! It took me almost 2 weeks to finish.
We have those keys, too. We have this little bin we stash extra keys in, except I have no idea what most of them go to. WTF? Are keys the new lone sock??
Keys, ha, ha. Somewhere I have old keys to my parents old cars (it was a cruel 16th birthday joke), and we also have about 20 keys to our house somewhere too.
I become a mommy slob too. I think we have time for better things most of the time...like blogging. And I have notes very similar to that. I do think it might be fun to look back on some day, though.
you need to move to nj and be my bff. we have those teeth as well and LOVE them, when we first got them we put them in and laughed for a good hour straight- just us. then we put them on for a reheresal dinner and we thought we were hysterical, no one else seemed to think it was as funny as us. i too have the EXACT type of notes from both daughters. i mean minute by m inute, nursed for 10 minutes left side. pooped at this time and it was yellow...blah blah blah. it is funny but it stresses me out reading it...wish i could have been more relaxed.
Not only do I have notes like that, I have a book. Yes, a notebook. One for each kid. Clearly, I'm insane.
I hope I can meet you someday IRL because you speak my love language. First, you leave me breathless with your account of your orgampage, then you reveal that you,too, kept totally OCD notes on your firstborn. I kept a journal for my daugher titled, "Maddie's List of Activities and Corresponding Moods" and made anyone who cared for her write in it. I recently found mine and saw where my cousin had written, "10:03 AM gave Maddie goldfish crackers. She seemed okay. Jen, WTF with this journal??"
Anyway - sensing a kindred spirit here.
I was an overachiever with my first kid but now after 4 I would consider myself an underachiever. I need you to come have a orgampage at my house.
We are forced into orgampage every 2 years or so when they make us move. Try being limited to 1000 pounds per room. Yes, that includes your appliances. It's interesting to say the least.
I still keep lists and records of my kids. It started when Chris was born, we were forced to with Noah. Now I see it as something to pass onto the boys. I also saved every single thing from Kinder.
I have lists like that for both of my kids. Of course I ahve the ones that list pees and poops too, lol.
However the reason I am posting is because of those darn billy-bob teeth. I swear I moved to the only place in WA that does not have dentists. (OK they are here bit obviously noone that has liced here for a long time goes to one)
Also kudos to you for getting things cleaned up, I wish I could find the motiation to do that
I have lists like that for both of my kids. Of course I ahve the ones that list pees and poops too, lol.
However the reason I am posting is because of those darn billy-bob teeth. I swear I moved to the only place in WA that does not have dentists. (OK they are here bit obviously noone that has liced here for a long time goes to one)
Also kudos to you for getting things cleaned up, I wish I could find the motiation to do that
I have lists like that for both of my kids. Of course I ahve the ones that list pees and poops too, lol.
However the reason I am posting is because of those darn billy-bob teeth. I swear I moved to the only place in WA that does not have dentists. (OK they are here bit obviously noone that has liced here for a long time goes to one)
Also kudos to you for getting things cleaned up, I wish I could find the motiation to do that
I have lists like that for both of my kids. Of course I ahve the ones that list pees and poops too, lol.
However the reason I am posting is because of those darn billy-bob teeth. I swear I moved to the only place in WA that does not have dentists. (OK they are here bit obviously noone that has liced here for a long time goes to one)
Also kudos to you for getting things cleaned up, I wish I could find the motiation to do that
When I had Pants, I obsessively charted when I nursed him. This would not have been the first time that I kept obsessive notes, or even just random bits of crap.
Our entire house was like your junk drawer, I swear.
After Katrina, I sent Flylady a note unsubscribing from her emails saying, "I have successfully de-cluttered. All at once and entirely thoroughly."
De-cluttering by hurricane. Highly effective.
While reading, watching two year old & using bathroom I read orgampage. I also thought it said something very very different when I first looked at it orgasm. Whew. I was going. WOW Jen & Tate get excited by cleaning? Interesting! If you have some free time next DST, come & clean for me, okay?
Orgampage is brilliant! I also have crazy notes from my first born's early days/week/months. I ridiculously tracked the ounces of milk I pumped/froze. It looks like the marks of a person trapped on a desert island...
Oh man, I am so glad I didn't take detailed notes of those first 12weeks. I would have nightmares re reading them I think.
I didnt take notes with Liv, but have with Gabe.. then I got depressed and stopped. I too am an organization freak. Sounds like you used your time wisely.
Despite my Beta tendancies, a clean closet makes me tingle! You go girl!
So...what is the real reason you're doing this?!
Oh, I have stuff like this too - not from the 6 month visit though - thanks to the genius mommybloggers I know I can ignore the stuff on sleep from my ped :)
OH! OH! See? Do you SEE? We're the same person! I made that list. I have that list. I POSTED THAT LIST. Oh, dear god, on the other blog.. damnit.. the other family one.. it's there, the list, when LB was brand new. I'd find it for you but, well, you already know how eerily the same we are.
WOW! That's all I can say, WOW!
I am currently recovering from the slobbness that has taken over since Baby A was born. I felt so in control after S hit about 2 and our house was great. I remember when we first moved to Germany and my neighbor was always so impressed (as she had 2 little ones at home and one on the way, she was in full blown slobbness) but I didnt understand what she was impressed with. NOW I do because on days when the house looks like it looked like then I. Am. Impressed. Good luck with your regime.
seriously....what is it with keys? the last time we were going through some stuff we had, we found like 239432847893798 keys...wtf???
our house could use some intense orgampaging! especially before we move...i don't want to be sorting stuff last minute...or in the new house!
hey, did you get those teeth from my inlaws nightstand?
Seriously, just wanted to say I'm here, I'm reading, I'm just having a hard time dealing right now, so I'm not all happy & witty & shit. But I'm here :)
Can you come orgasmasize my house next?
Oh I want so badly to organize around here, I totally should have used my extra hour that way! When we moved in the house was all neat and clean and things looked like they belonged where they were, but now it feels like there's juts junk everywhere. Ugh, I'll get to it eventually!
I wish I felt more like organizing here too! Then maybe I too could find something fun like those teeth (that is a fabulous picture!)
And the lists from Carson's infanthood? We were seriously separated at birth. I had similar schedules and would obsess about every minute detail with Elliot. More so because I felt like I had accomplished NOTHING every day so I started writing stuff down. When I saw every tiny thing I had to do with her, I realized where my day was going. Not sure if this made me feel better or worse...
You have a couple pages .... I have volumes. Sad, but true. I do think it helped, for me, to see all the chaos in black and white - or crayon or whatever. That there was some rhythm to my daughters crying and constant needs.
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