a new month - a new baby

So many pictures and so little time, my friends.

Things like preparing the baby's room, cleaning, finishing projects, naps, reading, yard work, freezing dinners and oh, chasing a talkative toddler, are occupying my time these days. Tomorrow is a new month ... July, if we're being specific, the month of a new baby. Maybe belated pictures will be posted for you all to see (since I know you're not sleeping at night wondering what's going on at our house), but maybe a baby will come before those pictures. Or how about a happy medium ... pictures of a new baby and her 0h-so-excited, but totally clueless older sister! Yay - wouldn't that be fun? I know, I can't wait!

I'm due July 16th and the doctor casually mentioned on Monday that we're making progress and I'm measuring ever so slightly ahead (it wasn't really that casual). Any guesses on her arrival date? Just in case it affects your guess, I was 6 days early with Mallory. I have no guess - any day would be perfect for me just so long as all goes smoothly!

I should probably finish packing that hospital bag...

Closet Update

Remember this??

I figured you wanted an update ... actually I'm sure you didn't, but I finally got the rest of the shelves up, so you're getting an update anyway. Everyone loves a good "before and after". Lots of room to grow into on this side...This is what started it all... oh, and see those 1x2s on the floor? Since it's the basement and we've had a history of water problems (pre-sump pump era) and leaking, my dad got me in the habit of propping everything up on scrap strips of wood. In the event of a leak or whatever, nothing gets ruined. It has saved us more times than I care to remember. (Not so much an issue with plastic tubs, but why risk it??)There's a little room to grow into. The tubs are filled with Mallory's "too small" clothes (what else do you do with them??) so they'll be rotated out soon enough. Some off-season, non-maternity clothes and blankets, pillows, etc.
This shot kind of looks like a disaster, but there's a method. The black bag is "too big for Mallory - Finley clothes" and behind that a space bag that needs replacing. Also, we don't use that door, so the bottom shelf sticks out in front of it and I considered it wall space to hang some bags.

One more section of organized heaven in our house. Casey was losing sleep over it, just ask him. :)

Move over spatula ... where's my drill??

Some women bake ... I like to build things. And if the task includes power tools it's all the more exciting and rewarding. (Pies are realllllly not my thing, just ask Casey.) Some would say I'm "nesting" since I've had the overwhelming urge to clean out every closet in the house (I'm getting there), but really I just can't stand clutter. Organization makes me happy. :)

Today's task was putting shelves in the cedar closet in our basement. Of course, I could ask Casey to help or do it for me. And he absolutely could and would. BUT, what fun would that be for ME?!?! This project involved a trip to Menards, a radial arm saw and a drill. Don't worry, honey, I'll do it!

Anyway, here's the before:

And here's the after:

I installed three shelves in less than an hour - so satisfying! I'm a dork, I know. After creating such handy storage space I'm re-evaluating what I will actually store in this closet which of course means I'm going to have to move some other things around too. (I'm working on purging and re-arranging the rest of the basement, so that shouldn't be a problem.)

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And as is the case with most projects, another trip to Menards might be in order since this is the OTHER side of the closet. I see more shelves and less clutter in my future.

When I finish a project like this I always ask Casey ... "See, don't you feel SO much better now?" He always smiles and nods, but really he just thinks I'm nuts.