The "Mama Motivation" Thread! - Page 2

[tracymom1]

Okay - in no particular order except for the first one:

CLEAN FOR PASSOVER!!! I need to start this now because it takes forever

make pads for mama cloth

finish DD's summer clothes

finish DS's summer clothes

make DD's birthday dress

make 1 maternity dress 

make a couple pairs of comfy elastic waisted summer pants for postpartum

make 1 dress for the postpartum summer parties (both other DC's birthdays)

make a few more newborn diaper covers

make some extra wipes

make something special for the new baby

finish ordering and organizing birth supplies

blow up fishy pool to make sure there are no leaks

And if that all gets done:

make some new fall/winter jammies for me, DD and DS1

I think it is totally doable, especially since DH and I just worked out an agreement that he will be the primary caregiver one day a week and I get to do whatever the heck I want that day!!  I figured since he is not working and I don't have very long before I become a mother of 3 children under the age of 4, the least he could do is give me an entire day once a week to take care of myself and the things I want to get done!  Boo-yah!!

[OrangeMoon]

Originally Posted by MaryElizabeth 

Oy!  I'm sore now! All that cleaning killed me! But I have good news and bad news....... good news: I made over $325 selling back books on amazon! --- I just did all of our textbooks, maybe I will try all the fiction/random books next and see what happens! Bad news-- half the stuff I tried to dye didn't take :( I really wanted it to work, but I kind of knew it wouldn't... The receiving blankets and such turned out fine, but the bouncy seat cover and tummy time mat didn't even budge. I suppose this little boy will be covered in pink  Doesn't really bother me so much about him being in pink--- it's more me feeling like everyone went all out for DD and now that DS is coming he gets all the leftovers. Oh well, it won't matter in like 10 months when he doesn't even want to use them anymore. 

I'm glad that I got a running start on my cleaning and organizing--- but I still have so much to do! But, now I can shop for those last things with my new Amazon moolah 

OrangeMoon-- Thanks for reminding me about going to the chiro! And we have to put our house on the market too. I think we are going to do it right after the baby pops out.... I need at least a week to recover and then I'm totally going to hire a cleaning lady to come and make sure everything is in order. BTW, did you use a realtor or are you doing it FSBO or with a set price listing agent? 

Hey MaryElizabeth! We're using a real estate agent because it's just what everyone does in this neighborhood. My husband really wanted to do FSBO, and I can totally understand why but I think it would make us look really, really weird here, lol. I wish we could sell our place after the babe comes because I'm a home birther, so the idea of possibly not having a home when the babe is born is kind of upsetting to me but I just know I could never pull the place together with two kids, I can hardly do it now with one, lol. We have a cleaning lady coming once a week but I still have to do  soooo much cleaning, argh. So stressful, I cannot cannot cannot wait until it's over. I think some study said the stress level of selling/moving is up there with like a divorce, lol. Good luck!!! Will you guys be selling your place yourselves?

[MaryElizabeth]

OrangeMoon-- I really wish we could just hire an agent and let them do all the work, BUT I am way too cheap to throw 6% of our $ out of the door. Where we live there is a mix of Realtor listed and FSBO--most people use a "flat fee" listing service or agent. This is probably what we will do. Just pay to have it listed on the MLS system and advertising websites like Zillow and then do a lot of other advertising, like on Craigslist and Facebook. I'm also going to make a website for the home that has a ton of pictures and descriptions so hopefully people will have a good idea of what the house looks like before coming over. We have put so much time and money into this project that watching over $10k go out the door makes me wanna vomit!!!!! Worst case scenario is that we can't negotiate the buyers to pay their own realtor's commission...but I highly doubt that I will let that happen :) 

Also, we have to move in August, so if we haven't sold by then... I will have to hire a Realtor/property manager to finish the process :(

[tracymom1]

Realtors aren't all bad - DH has been one for 10 years.  It used to feed our kids...

[MaryElizabeth]

Originally Posted by tracymom1 

Realtors aren't all bad - DH has been one for 10 years.  It used to feed our kids...

I agree they are great! Having one would really take a lot of stress off of me. I just can't part with the money. I do think that more realtors should be flexible with their commission rates. We have found a couple who said they would work with us on their rates, because we have few needs and are willing to do a lot of work ourselves. Especially with the internet, when we bought both of our houses, I did all the legwork and only needed the Realtor for the key and to draw up the papers. <--- I'm a little controlling, so I generally take charge just out of me being me! 

[OrangeMoon]

We never said they were. Or am I missing something ... ?

Originally Posted by tracymom1 

Realtors aren't all bad - DH has been one for 10 years.  It used to feed our kids...

[tracymom1]

Oh, I am just sensitive.  In a matter of 2 years we saw our income literally become nothing because of the real estate climate in this country.  I am pregnant, poor and bitter! Sorry.

[MaryElizabeth]

Originally Posted by tracymom1 

Oh, I am just sensitive.  In a matter of 2 years we saw our income literally become nothing because of the real estate climate in this country.  I am pregnant, poor and bitter! Sorry.

I kind of know where you are coming from... a lot of my friends have already had to switch careers bc of not only the market, but the change in how the whole home buying process works! It just really sucks when your career goes from being promising and profitable to--- nada.  hugs to you and hoping that everything will turn brighter for you and your family! :) :)

[MaryElizabeth]

ummm... p.s.---> I did like nothing on the list today!! I mopped the downstairs and vacuumed the carpet annnnnnd bought a diaper on diaperswappers.com haha. I also found out that the painter that I hired won't be able to come back for a month. That's right.... a MONTH. Looks like I will be painting the entire upstairs of my house.... 

[MaryElizabeth]

Originally Posted by MaryElizabeth 

Things still to get/do for Finn William-

-my breast friend pillow

-bedding set

-stroller

-hats

-belly bandit or something of the like

-nursing bra

-nursing tanks/shirts

-dye blankets

-paint dresser

-diaper bag

-batteries for swing

-diaper basket

-pacifiers

-recover rocking chair ottoman

-hang curtains

-fill out baby book

-take maternity pictures

Things to do in the house!-

- finish kitchen cabinets

- paint doors and hardware

- buy/hang curtains in master bedroom

- install new vanity/hardware in guest bath

- install new vanity/hardware in master bath

- redo shower doors

- bleach all tile floors

- paint master bath

- recover pillows in master bedroom

- buy new sheets for master bed

- clean out van!! and wash car seat covers

- reorganize DH's closet

- paint and install new fixtures in 1/2 bath

- buy rug for playroom

- finish landscaping

- sell books

.... and the list overwhelms me

Alright--- today I am going to finish "shopping" for all the baby stuff that I need-- aka let it sit in my Amazon cart until my credit comes through for all of these books!--->  I am going to figure out what exactly is going on with the painter and decide if I can hire another or just start painting it myself! And....that will probably be it. Maybe I'll take a nap 

[OrangeMoon]

Sorry Mama :-(  I would definitely be sensitive too if I were in your shoes. I know the real estate agent we're using said it's been a really tough year or so.

Originally Posted by tracymom1 

Oh, I am just sensitive.  In a matter of 2 years we saw our income literally become nothing because of the real estate climate in this country.  I am pregnant, poor and bitter! Sorry.

[MaryElizabeth]

Soo It's official. I am painting the upstairs by myself. Great. I also went to Walmart today to pick up a couple things and ended up spending $148! <---How does that happen?? Granted, I did by 3 cards and the supplies to make 2 presents, a printer, fabric dye, and an AV cord. I wasn't planning on grocery shopping but had a panic that DH would be home this weekend and all I had was... me and DD food . Still, how did I spend that much?? ....

[tracymom1]

Mary - I just wanted to say that we found painters for our place by placing an ad on Craigslist stating exactly what the job was and exactly how much we would pay. A couple of college students replied and I told them I would let them do one room and if it looked up to my standards, we would work out a deal for the rest of the house. Could you try something like that? Or put up an ad at your local community college or natural foods store?

I actually like painting when it isn't such a big job - I did paint the living room, dining room and kitchen at one of our places before we moved in and I was so proud! It is hard to do all the work, though, just so someone else can enjoy it.

I will be officially starting on my list this Friday. DH is taking the kids for the day and I am going to start on some of my sewing projects. Probably the mama cloth pads and diaper covers - hopefully I can get some fabric cut for DD's summer clothes and dresses. I will be cleaning for Passover on April 15th and 16th - MIL will come to keep and eye on the little ones and help me out. She has professionals come and clean her house for the holiday so I think wants to help us to feel a bit useful.

[MaryElizabeth]

I did place an ad on CL, we worked out the price and all that. It really boils down too I don't want to pay $1000 for someone to paint and people who don't charge that are unreliable and not so professional. Anywho... I've come to grips that unless I want to pay, I will have to do it. My DH promised he would take a couple days off work to help me so that should really help things move along. I have made a promise to myself to get it done next week! This weekend we are hopefully going to finish up the kitchen and floors-- a bunch of trim work and touch up painting. I will be so happy when this is all over! but then I have to focus on selling the place--> haha. Got a few things done today though :) And DH gets to come home early :)

[MaryElizabeth]

Things still to get/do for Finn William-

-my breast friend pillow

-bedding set

-stroller

-hats

-belly bandit or something of the like

-nursing bra

-nursing tanks/shirts

-dye blankets

-tie dye flats

-paint dresser

-diaper bag

-batteries for swing

-diaper basket

-pacifiers

-recover rocking chair ottoman

-hang curtains

-fill out baby book

-take maternity pictures

Things to do in the house!-

- finish kitchen cabinets

- paint doors and hardware

- buy/hang curtains in master bedroom

- install new vanity/hardware in guest bath

- install new vanity/hardware in master bath

- redo shower doors

- bleach all tile floors

- paint master bath

- recover pillows in master bedroom

- buy new sheets for master bed

- clean out van!! and wash car seat covers

- reorganize DH's closet

- paint and install new fixtures in 1/2 bath

- buy rug for playroom

- finish landscaping

- sell books

- paint upstairs bedrooms!

.... and the list overwhelms me

[Smokering]

Arrgh. My motivation is all kablooey. I felt a bit icky yesterday and didn't do anything except a bit of knitting. Today I was meant to make DD's winter PJs, but I felt icky again and had to lie down all morning. While I was doing that I flipped through a pattern book I have and found a winter pinafore I could make her - the pattern isn't very gorgeous, but I think I can adapt it. I'm gonna put three pockets along the bottom in the shape of flower pots, with Suffolk-puff flowers coming out of them. :) So now I'm feeling all inspired to do that, albeit still icky... but the pattern pieces for the PJs are spread all over the table, so I should finish cutting them out first. And then I need to see if I have enough corduroy and blue fabric for the pinafore... but I won't know that until I cut the lining for the second pair of baby rompers out of the blue, and see what's left. So I should do that first too. Only the thought of doing those things has totally quashed my inspiration, and now I just want to lounge around on the couch and watch Friends... only DD wants me to, you know, feed her and interact. Darn kids. :p

Oh, and also? I have this urge to make a knitted baby aviator cap. I have two not-yet-completed knitting projects, and should really be spending my efforts making newborn wrap tops and suchlike long-sleeved warm things... but I really wanna start this hat! Grrr.

[Mamatoabunch]

Well at this point it seems we will be in our home here in NM for the birth so I guess I should get on w/ getting a list of things I would like to accomplish.

Finish school for Taegan on down

Get Taegan to complete her paper for me to grade

Read w/ Ellery to improve her reading before baby arrives

Have Kellen read to me

Finish Kellen's math

Finish Balen's math

Get permission from state to teach Makaley and Arden to drive

Sign up for course and mail payment

Get new social security cards for Makaley and Arden

Get Makaley and Arden provisional license

Teach Makaley and Arden to drive 

Order Makaley and Arden's 12 grade school books

Go through summer clothes in attic

Organize yard sale

Have yard sale 4/16

Take maternity pictures

Buy another boppy cover

Buy herbs for end of pregnancy and birth

Buy gauze, alcohol and hydrogen peroxide

Wash carseat cover

Wash baby clothes

Make sure dh completes and is approved for FMLA

Make sure dh gets approved deferral for jury duty that arrived the other day

Wash diapers

Edited by Mamatoabunch - 4/26/11 at 2:46pm

[MaryElizabeth]

mamatoabunch--- I have two extra Boppy covers-- one is a light green jungle print and the other is a pink and white paisley. You can have either one for free!

[Smokering]

Ha! I finished the mei tai. I like it. It's on the small side - I'll probably have to make another one in 6-8 months - but oh well! I bought lovely beige quilting cotton to make it out of before I realised it wouldn't be strong enough, so the whole thing is interlined with denim (old jeans, in fact). I was going to pad the straps, but they're wide and soft enough that I don't think it'll be necessary, especially with a small baby. I curved the sides in, added a padded panel to the top for a combination "headrest" and a cover for the strip of Velcro which holds on - my favourite part! - a detachable pocket/bag for me to carry my purse and a spare nappy in. This way I can just take the baby, no handbag! Which is just as well, because the straps are LONG and adding my backpack-style bag to the mix would be way too much clutter on my shoulders.

Also, I think this might be the sturdiest thing I've ever constructed. It's topstitched fair nigh unto death. :p There's no way that baby can escape.

Right, next project! Eh, it should be DD's PJs, but I'm feeling very uninspired about those. Might go iron the owl fabric for DD's new winter dress. Or... oops, I was meant to bake a pie for tonight. Should get on to that.

[tracymom1]

Smokering, post a pic of the mei tai!  

Well, even in all my crankiness today, I managed to finish making my mama cloth!  Things got a little hairy here this afternoon so I decided to step in and help out DH (who was supposed to be watching the littles 'all day').  I think I am going to work on a few of these for DD next.  She needs some summer clothes that aren't her big brother's hand me downs!

We are having a garage sale the last weekend in April so I need to start thinking about sorting out stuff for that, too.  I really don't have much this time around - DH is going to clean out all his tools/hardware stuff and try to get his workroom down to just the essentials.  I think I might finally break down and try to sell my "skinny" clothes... I know that most of it will just never fit again so it is kind of silly to hold on to them.