the one with all the multi-tasking and organization

Well, because this little girl is just too cute not to post pictures of here is a cell phone shot (hey! sometimes that's all you have!) of baby girl having some tummy time. Which she is slowly warming to-especially if I am right there in her face :o)

I am supposed to be doing schoolwork right now because J is at work and little one is sleeping, but I am just too motivated to write, so here I am. (Oh, and I am eating dinner at the same time)

I wanted to finally share my "back to work" organization plan. Because I am begrudgingly back to work, I wanted to work hard at maximizing my time. In the past, I typically would have to spend good chunks of time on the weekend cleaning and picking up. Now, I want to be able to maximize the time that I do have with my daughter and not spend so much time doing housework. I figured that if I broke it and up and did just a little each day it would spread things out and allow me to enjoy my time with baby girl (yes, sometimes I do call her by name, but she has NUMEROUS nicknames: little girl, little one, chunky monkey, princess, baby girl, sweetie pie, punkin, etc, etc, etc) and my hubby. So far, it has gone pretty well. I don't do everything each day like I plan, but I figure it's a skeleton that I work from. AND I don't stress it if I don't get to everything on my list. The point is to make this less stressful. And another bonus is that many things I can do while wearing Maya (i.e. vacuuming, wiping counters down (with toxin-free-cleaner-mind-you :o), folding and putting away laundry, dusting, etc. ) That way we are still spending time together. I talk to her and she "talks" back. She is getting all kinds of visual stimulation as I walk around the house. And label things as we go around (building that receptive vocab!-for my SLP friends). Have I mentioned I HEART BABYWEARING????

So I have a little spreadsheet that includes my menu plan for the week, the daily chores, monthly/seasonal chores, and grocery lists for the different stores. I print it off and post it on the fridge. Across the top are dates and special events (i.e. Bri's class or Jared working late or holidays) and we take those things into account when planning. I just cross off meals and chores as I go (TRUST ME it is a working document and things get moved A LOT). The monthly chores are things that can be done if we have time and then I cross off what has been done until it is all done. In the excel workbook I also have a list of frequent meals that we use and a printable grocery list. While this all sounds a little complicated, it really isn't. You will notice that the major chore on Sunday is meal plan and groceries-which usually we do while we are reading the Sunday paper out on the deck with Maya. I would guess it takes 15 min max. Here is a screen shot:

So far it works for us. During work weeks, I also work to get everything ready to go the night before after Maya goes down. I make bottles, make my lunch, pack my work bag, her diaper bag, my pump bag, and lay clothes out for both of us. It takes some major organization but so far we are doing well. I was up and out of the house by 6:30 almost everytime on work days. What are your tips and secrets for being a working mommy?

Oh and if you follow me on Twitter, (which if you don't you should because my Sling and Swaddle journey is almost over and I promise I am interesting-well, I will let you be the judge of that) you already know about these....

Yup, these are slipper genies which clean my floor as I walk. AND the bonus is that the bottoms pull off (velcro) and get thrown in the wash. Am I a dork? YES Do I care? NO! :o)

I bought this funny little invention at Walmart today along with a cute little maxi dress that I planning to wear on our VERY FIRST DATE NIGHT on Sunday. Mom and Dad are going to keep baby girl while we go see Transformers and have a quick dinner. I had to be talked into this a little because I just really don't like to leave her if I don't have to. Yes, I know it is important to have time as a couple too (and we do), but I just HATE leaving her. Speaking of....I did a major thing today-I booked a stay at the Hermitage Hotel for our FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY (September 4) this year. They are having a super summer deal which is too much to pass up. We stayed there almost five years ago for our wedding night and we always said that we would come back for our 5 year since we were there for all of about five hours last time (early honeymoon flight). I am excited, but very anxious and unsure about leaving little girl for the night. I asked if I could bring her and got several no's from several people. I was kidding (well, sort of). She will be fine, but the question is will I????

Okay, I seriously need to go to some schoolwork now (did I mentioned that in about a week I will be completely finished with my coursework!!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!) Also, go take a gander (did I really just use this word) at my other blog that I am starting called the behavior analytic mom. I am hoping to get some traffic over there and get some good behavior discussions going but so far there isn't much interest. I'll give it a shot for awhile and if there is not interest I will shut it down, but just wanted to see.

Okay, so have you had enough of my (parenthesis) and CAPITALS? Did I mention I had some starbucks this afternoon? (I know, I know the caffeine...but I don't usually have much) G'night all!