Day 2: Getting Organized Challenge {The Computer Desk}

As I mentioned, I'm doing a little 21 day challenge.  Day 2 was the cleaning of the top of the computer desk.  Ugh.  Okay, here's time for honesty.  I hate my desk, like a lot.  It's hard to move (we've been in three apartments in three years), it's clunky and there are a whole lot of spots for me to stuff random stuff.  I'm a bad random stuff stuffer.  I like things to be organized, but am not very good at following through.  My desk becomes the place to put everything I don't want our long-legged, long-armed little Miss to get into.  It gets ugly.

Case in point:

Apparently I couldn't even be bothered to try to take a decent picture of it... my apologies.  Those two glasses, by the way?  Um, I collect water glasses... I just pick up one everytime I walk through the kitchen.  This is pretty good, of course, I took this earlier in the day, so I think I added a couple more before I was done.  My big issues always come from the random stuff.  I just don't know what to do with it, and some of it I just can't pitch!  I did take everything off the desk; though, even the computer, so I could scrub remnants from whatever had been sitting on the desk away.  That printer?  Well, as much as I love printers... this one has been on the fritz for a while... it works, but sporadically.  We decided we should move on and consider finding something smaller, but useful, when we can afford it.  LOVE having that space back.  The printer didn't sit all the way back in that cubby, so I was always losing things behind it. 

I worked hard to sort the random (that took me into the evening... sorting random things doesn't work with a nearly-2-year-old who wants all the random things).  I even weeded out my overflowing mason jar of pens, moved some pictures around, put the cleaning supplies away and added that little tower of drawers.  I'm not sure it looks that organized in the after picture, but trust me, it so is.  It feels SO nice to sit down and work, now.  I kind of love it, I even tried to get a better picture of it, I liked it that much.  I'm not promising it will stay this awesome, because I just don't work like this.  But I promise I'll keep returning it to this awesome, because I do work better like that :).  My hope is to replace the desk someday, but in the meantime, I can be happy with an organized hand-me-down (except, ahem, for the drawers... luckily today didn't include those!).  Happy Friday!

You can find Day 1 here.
 

21 Day Challenge: Day 1

So, our apartment is a bit of a mess.  Part of this is because we're busy and I'm an awful sorter, and part of it... well, no, that's pretty much it.  Oh, and we have a two year old.  I saw this 21 Day Organization Challenge {she had a button, but apparently too many people have used it, because I couldn't get it to link, so go to that link right there to check it out!) through pinterest and decided I would try it... baby steps, right?  Yesterday was Day 1: The Junk Drawer.  Well, we have a whole lot of drawers... with junk in them, but no specific junk drawer, so I chose a few drawers in my kitchen.  They weren't necessarily rife with junk, just messy, disorganized and in need of a really, really good scrub down underneath everything.

Here are my befores:

As you can see, the top drawer is kind of the catch all - crumbs, scissors, random utensils and cookie cutters that didn't make it to their home.

 
This drawer really just needed to be straightened, the cookie cutters to find a collective home and to move those aluminum pans somewhere else (I needed one once and now have the leftovers forever!)

annnd... After!  They aren't perfect, but much happier.  Random utensils moved to another, less opened drawer, all the drawers got scrubbed and silverware washed (just in case).

Here the cookie cutters found a home and all of our boxes got a straightened up a little.  While we're trying to cut down our use of all the plastic baggies, we're not quite there, so they need a place for now.

And, I don't have a before of this one because I didn't know I was going to do any organizing... but it's Miss Anni's drawer.  Pretty much imagine all of those spoons (I'm not sure how we have so many, but we do!) and other little parts scatter everywhere!  I got this little organizer while picking up some other organizing bins at Big Lots yesterday, and she was pretty excited to un-organize and sort everything!  It's nice having a place for things :).

That sweet day

Yesterday, Daniel took the day off.  That had more to do with the fact that I couldn't hold a toddler and stay still during my thyroid scan than with the fact that it was Valentine's Day... but that was kind of a bonus.  I went to take my radiation pill by myself, because it was supposed to only last 15 minutes and Anni was just rolling out of bed.  By the time the first half hour had ticked by, I was lonely and wished I had both of them there.  This part was technically simple, they brought out the (single) pill in a lead-lined bottle.  I mean... really.  One pill in it's own chamber.  Should I really be putting that into my body?  It had another container inside, from which I was supposed to put it straight into my mouth (no touching with my HAND!  This was supposed to go in my body and destroy things there).  Okay, probably being a little over dramatic... but you wouldn't read this otherwise, right?  After that I went home and was tired.  I had to go back for the scan in a few hours, but in the meantime, it was breakfast burriters and chocolate... lots and lots of chocolate.

My scan was actually super quick and nice and painless (minus the moment of panic as the um, scanner? got a little too close.  I'm just a wee bit claustrophobic).  The tech told me there would be three "pictures", each 10 minutes long... except, after the first one, he helped me out so he could measure something and pronounced me ready to go.  When I asked why, he told me it was pretty obvious from the first scan, and I didn't need to do anymore.  I, of course, just wanted to know what was obvious and he (after an appropriate disclaimer that I would need to wait for sure to hear from my doctor) told me that a normal thyroid absorbs this stuff at a rate of 16% by this point (or 6-9%, Daniel and I disagree on what we heard... either way) and mine was currently at 1.4%.  Yeah... my thyroid is barely functioning, which kind of blew my mind since it was supposed to be crazy overactive and all that.  He explained that hypothyroidism (thyroiditis most likely in my case) presents as hyperthyroidism when an infection sets in and explodes a bunch of hormones everywhere.  Weird.  I'm not exactly sure what any of it means, so more waiting until my doctor decides to call.  That's all.  Except the tech was wearing Cornhusker crocs. 

Upon returning home, we realized there really wasn't time to make the stew I had planned, and we threw together a haphazard meal as we walked through the aisles of the grocery store while giggling (just a teeny, little bit) at the vast horde of men gathered around the flower section, a few looking completely bemused. 

Luckily, my husband saved the night with wine and love songs on the guitar and taking care of me when I felt yucky.

Oh, and more chocolate.

Today my funk continued... I'm blaming it on my darn thyroid.  Luckily, sweet Lucy and her mama came to play in our amazing blanket tent.

They brought sugar cookies and talked and played.

Anni adores Amy!  They spend enough time together that she's completely comfortable with her.  Plus, Lucy is kind of her best friend.

All in all, a pretty good day.

Take that, funk.

A traveling we go...

This weekend, I had a wedding to shoot in Wichita, so we extended the weekend a little and Miss Anni came along for some extra bonding time with her grandma and the rest of my family.  I took my first plane ride when I was in my mid-twenties, on my way to walk across the country.  Anni; however, has already flown multiple times... at only 21 months.  This was actually our best flight yet.  She ate apple sauce (three tubes of it), cheesy crackers and homemade granola bars all while checking out other passengers and singing Baa Baa Black Sheep in every possible form (moo, moo brown cow anyone?).  While we miss Daddy a lot, it's always wonderful to see my family.  We drove straight from the airport to my sister, Katie's, and spent the rest of that first day watching them on and off as my mom and sister ran errands, picked up the oldest from school and headed out for evening meetings. 

Anni actually had a lot of fun and when she saw one of her triplets, Jimmy, her face lit up and she shouted, "HI!  HI!"  I'm not sure she's quite as excited about him as he's spent most of the weekend beating her up, but she's still loving snuggles with her girl cousins and following her oldest cousin, Charlie, around as much as possible.  (She asks for "Tayee!" all the time, even in the middle of the night the other night.)  She also finally go to satisfy her requests for "Aunt Tinie," though connecting faces with the voices she hears on the phone gets a little confusing for her each time.  The night after the wedding, Miss Anni woke up almost as soon as my head hit the pillow... and stayed up, telling me about diapers, Tayee and Mr. Sun and kicking me in the face when I attempted to bring her to my bed to get both of us some sleep.  After three or so hours, we went through her bedtime routine again and she fell right asleep.  I did start sleeping in a different room; though, just in case it was me rolling around nearby that woke her up.  She woke up again the next night, but this time I was prepared and after some comfort, a little snack and her night time routine, she happily snuggled down to sleep.  I think my poor brother is ready to move out after all the interruptions of his sleep, though.  Good thing he loves us!

My sister hosted a cookie decorating party and all the littles gathered around a table and coated their cookies in frosting, crushed andes mint chocolates, sprinkles galore and a few well placed red hots.  Well, Anni mostly just ate cookies, though her cousin Lizzy was the best!  She would decorate it, lick all the decorations off... and repeat :).  Anni was a little overwhelmed by her cousins, but she loves watching them, even when she gets a little tired and cranky.

The weather turned cold and my niece started to get sick, so the next couple of days were a little laid back.  We had Sunday dinner with everyone healthy and listened to all my brother has learned on his new violin (he's had three lessons and is picking it up so fast!).

We celebrated my (other) brother's acceptance into grad school, and he and  I stayed up late watching Office re-runs while I worked on my hubby's Valentine's Day gift.  We finished out our trip by tromping through a dusting of snow and ice to visit my sister's classroom where I embarrassed myself singing Oh, Mr Sun (the request was for Baa Baa, Black Sheep... I politely demurred... did I mention these were 7th graders?).   

It was good, really good.  I miss them already, but was grateful to get home to my beloved and our little apartment. 

Oh!  Happy St. Valentine's Day.  Or Cyril and Methodius Day.  Or Single Awareness Day.  Happy whatever you want to celebrate today, just be happy!  We're celebrating by lighting up my thyroid and seeing what happens :). 

Last Thursday it started snowing... and it snowed and snowed and snowed.... for nearly 48 hours.  I could tell you I have awesome snowy pictures, but I don't.  Anni and I stayed in our pajamas and tried to stay warm while crossing our fingers that Daddy would have a snow day (he did, well, he worked from home, but we just love having him around).  On Saturday, we made the trek up to Greeley to spend the weekend celebrating Daniel's dad's birthday (yes, we watched the Super Bowl... er commercials as well). 

Anni's baby is still a constant companion; though, one of her blankets has joined the favored ranks and has be dragged out of bed every morning.

You probably don't know this, but my husband is kind of an amazing musician.  He's played the piano for the better part of his life and kind of rocks at it.  Unfortunately, there's no way a piano is going to fit in our apartment... so we dug out his guitar from high school and he and his dad took turns serenading us on it.  Man with an acoustic guitar and father of my baby?  *swoon*

Our baby is sweet, wonderful... really just about everything you could wish for in a nearly- two year old... but she has recently got the tantrums down.  (I promise I wasn't neglecting her here... she is definitely not the toddler that needs to be comforted to finish her rages, she needs to be ignored so she can forget why she was sad... intervention tends to escalate things, I've learned.)

The crazy hair?  Because "tailies" only last so long.  We did a whole lot of singing.  Anni's attempt at the hand motions to the itsy bitsy spider make me smile every time.  This is me doing the parental gush.  ohmygoodnessshessocuteandsmart

But really, lots of fun.  All weekend, we could hear Anni singing and humming to herself throughout the day.  Daniel's mom told us that his preschool teacher always knew where he was because he was always making some form of music. 

Every once in while, I get these brief little glimpses into who our baby is going to be... really who she is that I haven't even realized yet.  I get that little shiver that tells me to hold this second, this one right here, of her giggling on Daddy's back and being obsessed with her coat and Nonna's cane.  There's no going back.

I wish I had better words sometimes... that I could weave together my quiet thoughts throughout the day into something recognizable.  I read people's lives, stories that make me laugh and weep until Anni toddles over and pats my back, making sure I know she loves me.  I guess I don't have anything fascinating to say.  I work, I raise a baby, I love my husband (in a variety of orders).  I'm sick, and they'll light up my thyroid next week like one of those glow sticks in a rave so they can take pictures and tell me why I'm sick.  But I'm not that sick.  I'll defer treatment until after Ireland if I need to, because I want to go, and I think that's okay. 

I think I'm learning, that maybe I won't say anything that means anything for a long time, but I'm soaking in other mommas' wisdom and hoping that I can love like my loved ones deserve.  Because, my dear loved ones, you truly deserve to be loved and cherished with every last drop I have. 

Happy Week, my friends!