Lists

Annie's six-month mark was this past week! Her first two teeth have broken through (Huzzah!), she's scooting around all over the place and can almost sit on her own, and she's started solid foods--and absolutely HATES them. She's bright, curious, determined, BIG, and busier than ever. I thought my hands were full a month ago...haha funny joke! I don't know why I think I'll get more free time as she grows older. While I may be getting incrementally more capable as a mom, she's becoming exponentially more capable as a human being. Free time is a thing of the past, my friends.

I've said it before and I'll say it again--being a mom gives me lots of thinking time and ZERO doing time. At least zero doing time that's back-to-back with more doing time. With all of this extra thinking time what do I fill my mind with?

LISTS.

Yep--boring, systematic, methodical lists. Profound? Rarely. Therapeutic? Absolutely. These lists range from your basic "Things to Do Today" all the way to "Inventions I Want to (but never will) Create." They are almost a mental journal of things I've learned or experienced in the last six months of my life. A mental therapy journal that brings order to the chaos of my new reality.

As part of this form of "therapy" and in an effort to see which moms out there relate, I thought I'd share some of these lists with you.

Things I've Done with One Hand: aka baby attached at the hip. constantly.

• Load the laundry, switch it over, etc.

• Make oatmeal with sliced bananas and pears

• Attempt to chop a sweet potato--DO NOT RECOMMEND! (don't judge me, I was desperate!)

• Blow-dry my hair

• Put on makeup

• Brush my teeth

• Make the bed

• Strip the bed and wash sheets

• Wash and unload the dishes

• Fold laundry

• Workout---HA! Yeah right.

• Sweep the floor

• Slice and eat an apple (again...I know knives and babies don't mix...don't judge)

• Clean room, kitchen, etc.

• Vacuum

• Pee. It was only once. I couldn't hold it.

• Write an e-mail or blog post

"Hold me Mommy!"

This was taken just seconds after the previous smiley picture.

Things Annie has Tried to Eat: drool...just...everywhere

• Napkins

• Packing peanuts

• My shoulder

• The bed frame

• Pillows

• Blankets

• Her crib--I've caught her licking the crib bars IN HER SLEEP!

• My face

• My hair

• Her shoes

• Place mats

• The table

• Her pack-and-play

• Cups and bowls

• Towels

• My food-but never her food. Typical.

• Her own hands

• Her feet

• Diapers

• Wipes

• The tassel on my sweatshirt--she actually swallowed it one time and I had to pull out. #momfail

That Tongue!

Things Annie Prefers to her Toys: She's six months old and will literally give me the "I'm bored" look when I try to give her a toy. We are never buying toys again.

• Combs

• Ribbons

• Tags on anything--do NOT cut the tags off of swaddles, blankets, toys, etc.

• Shoestrings

• Shoes in general

• Paper--especially important papers (how does she KNOW!?)

• Plastic baggies

• Saran wrap

• Business cards

• Glasses case

• Washcloths

• Diapers--used or unused (don't worry I don't give her used diapers to play with. What kind of mom do you think I am!?)

• Wipes bag

• Diaper bag strap

• Computer

• Cords

• The bucket that HOLDS all of the toys

• PHONES

• Anything I'm holding is infinitely more interesting to her than any dumb toy. Oh how early it begins...

"NO mom--I want the Saran Wrap YOU'RE playing with."

Projects with babies = add at least 45 minutes to your timeframe

Welcome to my life. Or my brain at least. Cataloging away the silly, sometimes frustrating, yet somehow endearing small moments of our lives. These little details and memories--riding the stationary bike while holding my needy baby, the feeling of her little mouth sucking on my chin, reaching my wit's end trying to entertain her--these are the moments I'll miss someday. Maybe that's why everyone tells me to enjoy this stage while it lasts. Yeah--I'm starting to understand what they're talking about. Though I will say, I'm really excited to get both of my hands back again.

#Lists #Annie