The above photo depicts the new storage organizer thingies that Allison and I picked up from IKEA yesterday. We are looking to keep Ava’s new “big girl room” a little bit way more organized than we have in the past. I’ve been feeling so out of sorts lately…as if I’m getting stressed by disorganization.
I’m pretty sure that I’m nesting. Our new baby will be here in about 4 weeks. Holy. Crap.
It’s already sunk in just how ridiculously easy it is to take care of one offspring. Two is another story. Two carseats. Two types of food/drink. Two naps needed. Two sets of clothes and two extra sets for when they poop or barf on them.
Thank the Lord God in Heaven that Ava is now fully potty trained. She’s going to need to grow up really fast. She’ll probably need to get a part-time job too. I hope she’s ready.
Oddly, my new heightened sense and desire to clean and organize hasn’t yielded much success. It’s as if I’d rather be frustrated. Hmm…
PLAN FOR TODAY:
* Clean and Organize.
* List items we can live without on Craigslist.
* Prep our bedroom for painting.
We’ll see what happens.




















Love Ikea!!! Have fun painting!!! and please let me know if i can ever “take” (i’ll return her, PROMISE) Ava for an afternoon for you guys!!!!
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Ahh nesting! Good luck getting your list done, it will all work out. Hopefully Ava won’t have to work quite yet
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I wish my husband would have nested along with me…would have made things much easier! Good luck with your list today!
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“Oddly, my new heightened sense and desire to clean and organize hasn’t yielded much success. It’s as if I’d rather be frustrated. Hmm…”
Don’t worry. Soon your OCD will triumph. Mine always does.
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I love to organize so the above picture made me feel very happy
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I never really “nested”. I think because I was in denial that I was about to become a mom… and then he made his appearance 3 weeks early. Enjoy it! The best is yet to be.
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Ryan –
You know how, just with Ava, and imagining having 2, you already have appreciation for how easy having just 1 kiddo is?
Well, when you are blessed with both children in your presence and care, and are having a rough day (or likely, NIGHT…)….think of US. We went from 1, to 4! As you hold your newborn, and have your darling little girl, full of her own needs and questions beside you, imagine having 2 MORE newborns at your feet in their little seats…crying, also wanting to eat, or needing a cuddle or burp. Never mind that you have not yet had a shower, or or a meal, or a quiet wink of sleep.
But OH THE BLESSINGS they are! The JOY. The LOVE they bring to your family. We made it through, and you will too.
But ummmm…I have yet to FEEL like my house is organized ENOUGH, for me. It’s a daily challenge, I have yet to really win. But that doesn’t mean you won’t!! Perhaps I can pick up a tip or 2 from you all here. : )
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Aw, daddy nesting. My husband is slowly picking up a little bit of the nesting thing now that we’re pregnant. Though his idea of nesting and mine are much different. His involves organizing my office. Mine involves him scrubbing the shower.
Good luck keeping Ava’s big girl room organized. Ikea is fantastic for that!
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Gotta love craigslist! Good luck with your to-do list. I can’t imagine the frustration… I can’t believe the baby is only 4 weeks away! I hope the transition goes as smoothly as possible for you all.
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Possible part time jobs for Ava:
Bubble blower
Sprinkler tester
Slide checker
Flower picker
Official family snuggler
She’s a busy girl!
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Good luck with getting organized. If you get it figured out, please let me know how you did it. My disorgnization is a constant source of frustration for me. . .
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Oh, I love that thingie! I may have to get that thingie for my own children and their room… unless it’s similar to the doohickey or whutchamajiggy. Then I may have to reconsider.
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I don’t have kids, but for the last month my husband and I have been trying to reorganize and de-clutter, and it’s HARD. But, it’s a work in progress, and it’s coming along, slowly but surely. Good luck with your endeavors!
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I imagine she’s already climbed to the top of the dresser using those stairs of sorts??
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Crap – I would have had you pick up something for me at ikea. I just need that little rug that I showed you, but I just can’t justify spending a buttload on gas for something that is $5.
Hope Ava likes it. If she likes it, she will use it more!
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Okay…I had to laugh at this. Back when my husband was in the Air Force and we were pregnant with our first (of five) boys, my husband was freaking out to a captain at his office. This gentleman, at the time, had 11 children, and my husband asked him how he did it and stayed so stinking calm. This wonderful man looked my husband squarely in the eye and said in a deadpan voice, “When you have one, you double-team the child. When you have your second, you go man-to-man, and when you get to number three and beyond, it’s all about switching to zone defense.” I will never, ever forget that wonderful, humorous piece of advice, and believe me…WE ARE IN THE ZONE!!!
I wish we were able to experience at least once more, the mode you are in right now…preparing, wondering, worrying, anticipating, nesting, fretting, praying, waiting…but God had other ideas. I will say, your Ava warms my heart. Please, continue to share your journey with us…it is truly a blessing (as is your amazing gift of photography!)
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Funny funny man and your play with words and pictures. Good luck with the organization. I lost. And I am learning to live with it. May your tubs overflow.
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I am a lifelong organize-attempting mama of 4. My friend Kristin can attest to the amazing accumulation of containers I acquired over the years, to help me organize. Eventually, I weeded out what had become a clutter of containers. It also, took me years to throw McDonald’s toys without guilt, what’s up with that!? But, a trip through Ikea, or any containers still inspire a little thrill in me! -Chris Ann
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I remember the nesting phase before each of my kids. When we got the call that we had pink slip and could travel to Guatemala, I was literally in the closet cleaning and organizing. I’m not sure I ever finished that closet. I think I shoved everything back in and started packing our suitcases!
Congrats on your little one coming. Soon you’ll be a family of 4!
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Oooh, I puffy-pink-heart-love IKEA. This is really pretty, and very versatile. You’ll be fine with one more. I bet Ava will be a huge help, being a big sister is a tough job! You guys will be fine. Good luck!
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Just enjoy the journey with Ava and your new little one. Hold them close to your heart because the days will not last long. You can organize when they are old enough to help you.
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Out of the blue…
Did you happen to go to the IKEA in Canton???
If so.. I am bummed out..because I would have totally invited you over for lunch…lol
Oh Well … everything looks great… and the next time you are over at IKEA make sure you let everyone know.. we could meet and share some Swedish Meatballs !!!
Bests…
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This will be just great after the new little one is here. Yes, you will be tired, frustrated and exhausted but it’s definitely worth it all in the end.
Also, don’t be surprised if Ava has a set back in her potty training after the baby arrives. My daughter Abagail will be 3 in two weeks (!!!) and has been fully trained for a while. There is a new baby at daycare which is taking attention off of her so she has started peeing in front of the potty instead of on the potty. We are now back to having anywhere from 1 – 4 accidents a day.
Best of luck!
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The room looks really good.
When the stress creeps up on you, don’t you just look at Ava and feel excited to do it again? I hear that’s the way it goes.
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Good luck! I love Ikea!! Sometimes just getting some of that nifty, helpful stuff is enough to motivate me on to the next project, to bring whatever it is up to that level of together…hope it works for you
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