Cleaning the Kitchen

We are having people over for dinner on Wednesday, so I have no choice but to clean, clean, clean. I've decided to take it one room at a time, one day at a time. Today, I'm tackling the kitchen. It's actually been fun! I've been moving from the right of my kitchen to the left. I took a before picture and then I'll take an after picture and post them later on. I'm not only cleaning (I could clean the kitchen in probably 15 min.), I'm DEEP cleaning the kitchen as well as organizing stuff. Since I'm now making baby food, I need to have my food processor and needed supplies on hand, so I'm working on rearranging some of my cupboards in order to make making baby food easier. Woohoo!

Back By Popular Demand: Cleaning Overhaul

Now that our trips are complete, I've been focusing in on getting the house cleaned and decluttered again. I've been really trying to focus on just doing lots of little things each day so that I don't feel so overwhelmed and so far it seems to be going really well. Aug. 1 was my "start again" date. I forgot to shine my sink yesterday, so I'm doing it right now.

For those of you just tuning in, I've been using www.flylady.net as a resource to get my tush in gear and get my house cleaned. Since becoming pregnant with Monkey things slowly went down hill around the Monkey household and I've been slowly but surely reclaiming it. It's a lot of work...

I think I forgot to mention in my last post that monkey is teething. I've been suspecting it for awhile (since around the first week of June, actually), but we just saw the first bit of tooth come up as of last Tuesday. I was hoping that the worst of it was over, but it appears that maybe he's getting his second bottom tooth because he's been chomping a lot on that side and has been extremely clingy and fussy the last few days. It makes it quite difficult to get anything done. But, he is my first priority, so I'm trying to fit in cleaning when he and time allows.

On the Baby Food front, I've almost read Super Baby Food. It had a lot of good content but definitely wasn't the best organized book ever. I need to return it to the library in 5 days, so I need to make sure I made enough notes before returning it. The author (can't remember her name) is kind of a health nut and is vegetarian, so there are something things I won't be following as closely as she would recommend. But, it had some very good overall tips and recipes that I will definitely be using.

Onward and happy cleaning to all and to all a good day!

It's Been Awhile...

In fact, it's been a long while! I think we were home a total of about 10 days this month. It's good to be home and finally and settling back into life. My house exploded with all the running around and now I'm working reclaiming it.

Exciting news...IKEA has opened near our neck of the woods! We went and checked it out last Friday, I love that store! Yes, some a lot of their stuff is cheaply made, but you can't beat their prices!

Here are some cute pictures of Monkey to share...he had such a great time on all of our trips and he did SO well. I really couldn't ask for a better baby.



We're going to dinner with some new friends tonight! Friends have been slow in coming in these parts since we moved here two years ago. But, we have dinner plans tonight at what I hear is a really neat restaurant. Any way, we're excited.

Is anybody in need of an Infantino Front Pack carrier for a baby? It's not the greatest, but it does the trick. My mom bought me a Baby Bjorn and I like it better, so I'm willing to part with this one. Just say the word and it's yours!

We started feeding Monkey cereal on Saturday and so far he is really enjoying it. I've been mixing it with formula because I'm too lazy to pump because my pump isn't working right right now. He's actually been eating more than I thought he would to start off. Monkey is still working on learning the whole swallow thing without sucking first, but he's getting the hang of it and I'm sure will be a pro in no time flat. I think next we'll start on Sweet Potatoes and start feeding him twice a day, maybe cereal in the morning and and potatoes in the evening. Right now I'm only feeding him "solids" once a day. I'm thankful he hasn't give up nursing because that was a fear I had. Seriously, we can't afford formula, so I keep praying he'll keep nursing for at least a year!

Well, I'm off to fold some laundry and Monkey is getting tired and probably needs another nap (he took a 3 hour nap this morning! That's a record!)

Baby Food

I am going to begin embarking on a new journey, and that being of baby food. Monkey's Doctor said that we could start him any time, but there really is not hurry. Because of the busy nature of our summer and because of some information that I've read on the internet regarding starting babies on baby food, I've decided to wait until Monkey is 6 months old. In the mean time, I have lots of research to do because I'd like to make Monkey's baby food. I want him to eat the healthiest way possible and I want to avoid the cost of pre-prepared baby food. I will keep you all posted as I begin this new adventure, I may even start a sister-blog to keep recipes and such, of course that will require the help of my dear husband, so it may not be for awhile.

I would be very grateful for any advice you have to offer.