Let's face it, I'm odd...

...I came home after classes and went to work tidying up the house. I soon found myself thinking 'Ahh--it is so nice to come home after a long week and clean'---not...even...kidding.

 For most of my life, I have been quite the slob. Nevertheless, sometime before I met Mr. Baker I decided things need to change. Now it's been a slow battle--it's not easy to completely change the way you look at your living. Keeping things clean require more than just cleaning, but a mentality of cleanliness and a discomfort of mess. I finally made significant headway before Poppy was born, but having a baby and going back to school puts everyone back a ways. Now I focus on cleaning on the weekends and aiming for "tidiness" as I cannot maintain the standard of cleanliness I aspire to until I graduate and "clean house" moves up in the priority list.

One of the things that's first to go down is this bookshelf...oh how I love to organize and I cannot wait to get my paws on these out of control, catch all shelves. (Don't even get me started on how eager I am to clear out the Kitchen cabinets.)

And don't think I have forgotten you, my darling dear. Last night I was counting potential sewing projects to fall asleep instead of sheep. Nevertheless, I know full well that anything I can accomplish now--as busy as I am-- I'll probably be able to do with more kids. So I try to sew for a few hours every week, just to keep in the habit.

And finally, these little darlings. Tomorrow night my cousin Nan is coming over to help me hang these and I printing off pictures to put in some empty frames--it only took my over a year of marriage to get down to it.

And of course, the Kitchen, oh how I look forward to getting back to my pursuit of culinary excellence. I'm going through a bit of a decadent phase (we've seen a return of white flour to my pantry).

Living in the moment today (with children), pays off tomorrow

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard parents lament how quickly their children grow up and how they wished they had appreciated that time with them more.

So just before Poppy was born, I made a promise to myself to not take my moments with her for granted. Already she has grown so much, so fast

I've found that feeding her in the wee morning hours was a lot easier when I considered how brief this period of her life is--only a year or so.

I know really it is unavoidable. No matter what I will always yearn to have spent more time with her than I remember having, but life must be lived. That goes for her just as much as it does for me.

Enjoy the rest of these pictures from play time earlier this afternoon

giving a little "mona lisa" smile