the little things

month three.

Dear Grayson,

Happy 3 Months, little man! You have grown and changed so much this month. You are LOTS of fun! And we love you leaps and bounds!

This month you...

Wore your first tie to church.;) Hehe.

Were dedicated at church on Father's Day.

Really started "chatting" up a storm! ("hoo-hoo" and "uh uh" are your most used "words" hehe!)

Love to "fly!" You smile so big when we swoosh you up!

Started sitting in your Bumbo right 8 weeks old and love it! You think you're so big when you're in it and sit for a long time, holding your head up SO well.

Met great grandpa Phipps' oldest sister, Aunt Buenos. You did good until you realized we accidentally woke you up from your nap and then you were NOT a happy camper!

Are really starting to like tummy time, especially now that you can ROLL OVER!! You rolled over for the first time (belly to back) on June 17th and I have yet to be able to get a photo just yet. you're fast! ;)

You also really love Sophie. You recognize her squeak and instantly smile. You also enjoy chewing on your swaddle blankets, bibs or burp cloths.

You are officially out of all newborn clothes and into 0-3 month sizes full force! You can finally wear some shorts and one pair of pants, but no shoes yet. Your feet are so little none of them stay on quite yet!

Wore your shades for the first time and LOVED them!

Went to your first parade on June 29th! I think you would have liked it much better had it not went through your bedtime and that it wasn't so loud. Friends loved seeing you before it started and many people in the parade loved you too, ooh'ing and awww'ing over you! Now, that you enjoyed! ha!

You love mooches. You love your plastic book in the tub, "Farm Fun" (the sheep page is your favorite!) and you LOVE bath time! You are such a good splasher and always make me laugh!

You are developing quite the little personality, Mr! We love all your facial expressions. Sucha ham!

You're in Size 2 diapers. You sleep straight through the night from 8-6 or 7 a.m. every, single day! Praise the Lord!

You eat about every 3 hours. Sometimes longer, rarely less. You're also a champ at napping, too. Usually after you eat and play in the morning, you're ready for a snooze about 2 hours later.

You are not a fan of your carseat. I think that's because you're naturally what I like to call a "mini oven!" You are so hot all the time. And your seat is hot. So, you fuss quite often unless you are cool in the car or absolutely exhausted.

You're noticing lights and sounds like crazy! We let you watch Veggie Tales, Backyardigans, Sesame Street, Dinosaur Train and Mickey's Clubhouse and you LOVE them all. You're so fascinated with the songs and colors. 

You drool. A LOT. Oh, and you love, love, love chewing on your hands!  You started noticing your feet too and it's kind of funny to see you stare so hard at them, trying to figure out what exactly those are you almost cross your eyes!

You are growing and learning every single day. I love watching you grow, even though it makes me sad a bit at how fast the time truly does go when you have a little one.

Daddy and I love with all our hearts and thank the Lord for you every day, many times a day! Can't wait to see what this next month brings! Love you, Grayson James! Stay sweet!

Love,

Mama and Daddy

being thrifty

I've always liked a good bargain or two, but I must admit it was always kind of a chore to get a good deal. That is until I got pregnant. I'm not sure what it was...okay, yes I do. It was the fact that we're a one-income family, had a baby coming and would like to put him through college one day! ;)

Annnyways...once I had a bean growing in my belly I was all about getting a good deal, especially on baby goods! Right around Christmas Nate and I ventured into a Children's Resale shop for the first time ever. I know, where had we been, right?!

It was Once Upon a Child. Now, I now know that garage sales are pretty much where it's at if you want a rock bottom price on something, but when a garage sale just won't do or it's off season, Children's Resale shops are the bomb.com! I've pretty decided I WANT and NEED to open my own shop! Wouldn't that be amazing? I think so!

Honestly, aside from a few outfits and new items we've picked up and all the wonderful baby shower gifts we received, almost all of Grayson's wardrobe (and some of his books and gear) are from second-hand places. And after a good wash or scrub depending on the item I am a-okay with that!

I love getting a good deal! Take for example the photo above. (Side note: how CUTE are those little trunks?! I about flipped when I found them!) It's from our last trip to the best Once Upon a Child ever (seriously. They've been voted #1 best store for like 5 months in a row or something like that!) where we scored not only those 11 pieces of clothing for somewhere around $13, but picked up this (after I may or may not have shrieked a little with excitement!):

This very one. Which is $60 on Amazon right now. We got it for $20! It's in perfect shape (aside from one of the blue bins being attacked on the bottom by a permanent marker from the previous owner! Haha But, it's on the bottom outside and you can't even see it!). Super sturdy and will house Hot Wheels, trucks, Lincoln Logs, etc. just wonderfully we think!

We also picked up 2 like brand new Melissa and Doug wooden puzzles (LOVE those!), once of which is the magnetic fishing one for $5 total! Oh, and we also found a wooden puzzle holder that houses wooden puzzles perfectly!

(I really gotta start taking photos of this stuff! Ha.)

I brought all those cute finds home, dropped the clothes in the washer, sanitized the puzzles and put them in our "hold/gifts for Grayson pile" upstairs and soaked, scrubbed and sanitized all the bins in the tub. 

It was a good day!

I love getting so much for less. I also love getting so many neat things for Grayson to be used as gifts for Christmas this year or birthday next year. He will never know the difference and it helps cut down cost so much. Not to mention it's so stinkin' fun looking for good finds!

During a previous trip we managed to get a Fisher Price Rainforest mobile for $12 (saw it at Target that same day for over $50!) and it works perfect and Grayson LOVES it!

I also love checking out Craigslist from time to time. That's where I've found Grayson's Lamb swing, his playmat and now his new jumperoo that we'll be picking up tomorrow for 1/4 the price of what it is in stores! I always do that safely, though. Taking Nate with me, always meeting in a public place, etc. But, the savings are so good, I love it!

So, have you ever found good second hand or thrifting finds? Baby or otherwise?  Share about them! I'd love to hear! :)

five for friday

I decided to join in Kayla Aimee's little diddy this Friday. Childhood Nostalgia. Fun!

My favorite childhood toy was a toss-up between my Little Tykes Kitchen set or my Barbie Camper. Seriously, LOVED those things so much and played with them all. the. time. I remember the Christmases I got each of them! I have photos I need to find. Love those memories!

My favorite song from when I was little was anything Garth Brooks. Not kidding!  He was my first ever concert when I was 8 and I will never, ever forget it!

My favorite childhood memory is fires in the backyard in the summer, playing video store/grocery store/restaurant with Megan (using the Nintendo Gun as our "scanner" for scanning movies, books and groceries! Hehe), getting water from the fresh spring and garage sale-ing with Granny, and spending the night at gramcracker and gramp's house, usually waking up to the smell of gram's toast and fresh-cooked sausage on the table and going swimming or fishing with them later on! Even though my childhood was wonky with having an alcoholic father, I am still so thankful to have had MANY awesome and happy memories!

My childhood crush was Jonathan Taylor Thomas (JTT!!) and Brian Littrell from the Backstreet Boys! I had it bad for both those boys! I'll be seeing one of them next month at their concert and I am stoked! ;)

The thing I was most afraid of as a kid was Santa Claus living in the upstairs of grandma and grandpa's house! Bahaha. I wish I were kidding. The story? Well, I was 5 or 6 and it was a few days before Christmas and I was spending the night at gram and gramp's. I remember gram calling me to the kitchen to help her with something and when I returned to the living room, Santa had left a pretty cool pretend coffee pot that looked like coffee was actually inside and when tipped it would disappear (as if you had poured it out! I loved that thing!). I was STOKED! And then seconds later FUH-REAKED out when I somehow insisted Santa must have been upstairs the whole time waiting on me to go help gram so he could deliver my sweet gift and it seriously scared me to death!  I loved Santa, but didn't love the idea of him being upstairs! Hahaha!  It took me 3 years to stop being afraid to go upstairs in fear Santa was up there! Oy.

a few favorite (baby) things

Before I had Grayson I spent several hours scouring blogs, Amazon and various other websites for the "must-have" baby items. The planner in me loved it! And I'm happy we picked up different things along the way during those 9 months of waiting for baby.

I thought I'd list a few of my favorites (or should I say, Grayson's favorites? ;)) that have made life a little easier these past almost 3 months (oh my word! 3 months? Really? Already?!)...

After I lost my breast milk supply when Grayson was 3.5 weeks old and he had to have formula, the Medela bottles I had on hand just weren't working.  The liquid came out too fast, causing him to choke and get very frustrated. So, thanks to my cousin Steph's recommendation, we tried the Early Years Breastflow bottles and were hooked!  They're all we've used this whole time and love them.

Aden and Anais swaddles. Quite possibly the best baby item ever! They're soft, light, and big. They seem to become the temperature around them, cool or warm. I still swaddle Grayson in these at bedtime. He also loves them "swooshed" down his face (always laughs at that!) and LOVES grabbing them while playing or taking a nap in his swing. We got ours for $30 with 10% off at Target.

We have this playmat (thanks to a great Craigslist score!), but any playmat seems to work. Grayson started playing on this at about 6 weeks and would last about 5-10 minutes each time. Now, he hangs out and laughs and giggles at everything for 30-40 minutes at a time! I added extra links that hang down (a Once Upon A Child find for $2 that I am so thankful I bought!) and he loves those things! He grabs them and chews on them all while laughing and cooing. It's adorable.

Oh, Sophie. This one probably isn't a shocker. Especially since it's the #1 baby item on Amazon. But, it's not without reason. Sophie is great!  Grayson can't quite grab and hold her like he'd like quite yet, but he loves holding her and chewing her ear at any given chance! I scored Soph (as we like to lovingly call her around these parts) for a mere $2 on Amazon before Grayson was born thanks to a credit and coupon from Baby Talk! Love good deals like that!

Another registry item from Target that I really like. The Sarabear diaper caddy is so nice to have out in the living room where 100% of the dipes are changed (on his pack n' play diaper changer) at this point. We have it in a white,waffle fabric and love how much it holds.  It holds about 20 dipes at a time, plus a thing of wipes and ours also holds nail clippers, mittens, sanitizer, lotion, a teether and face wipes. We keep it right next to where we change him, but the handle makes it nice to pick and carry if needed.

Not sure what we would do without this thing!  The My Little Lamb swing. Grayson took to it from day 1 and anytime I need to get something done or he needs a nap, but won't quite fall asleep, he goes in here and within minutes he's out!  He's been known to sleep in it almost 5 hours straight at times!

 

This was a gift from Grayson's Aunt Tana and he is so fascinated with it.  It hangs on the handle of his carseat and rattles. He's a big fan and so are many people who see it!

There's plenty more, but for now I'm off to get a few things done before bed. I came down with a bad cold yesterday and it has worn me out!

the last few days

Someone learned to roll over on Friday! (forgive the blurry photo...he sure is a mover!  This was right before one of his rolls that day.)

Grayson was dedicated at church on Sunday! (Mom took the photos and she's uhhh...a little rusty ;)) Our church believes that should a baby pass away, they will go to Heaven. We believe so until they are at the age accountability. There is no water or dunking in any way. It's just a statement of faith mainly for the parents to declare they will raise their child to the best of their ability to know the Lord and teach about Him and His word. It was a wonderful service!  Grayson was one of 6 babies dedicated that morning and of course he was the fussy one! Haha. We figured out he was just too hot in his little outfit!

Cousin Roman also got dedicated. :) During service Nate took Grayson out to cool him down and change him. After service we had the boys meet up for some photos.

Roman was so fascinated with his cousin Grayson! It was precious!!

After church we went to gramcracker and grandpa's for lunch. It was so good and Grayson was such a good boy! 

He LOVED the swing gram brought out. He sat in it any time he wasn't be held by someone! (He also loves his swaddle blankets! A definite baby must-have in my opinion!)

Nate had a fantastic first Father's Day! It was so touching to see him with Grayson. It literally my heart so full! I am SO blessed!

After getting a dipe change, I just decided to let him bare all out on the muggy porch! He LOVED it!

He also loved chatting it up with great gram!

And getting a nice, big squeeze from her too! 

He also got plenty o' lovin' from grandma Leah!

It was a wonderful day and such a great Father's Day for Nate!

Yesterday, Nate and I ventured to Pittsburgh, PA while Grayson stayed with grandma Leah. Our main mission was IKEA! We haven't been in over a year and I had a list of things I "needed" ;)

It was a nice date day. Nice to have the time alone, just the two of us. We're trying to go on a date once a month. It's important to us. And to Grayson.

IKEA didn't disappoint!  I'll do another post of the things we picked up. No time now, because today we are painting the bathroom, putting the Expedit shelf we got together, Nate is currently cleaning out the garage and I am off to pick up, feed the babe and try a new recipe for lunch thanks to the only place I get recipes now: Pinterest! The recipe is for teriyaki chicken over rice and I am excited to give it a try!

little bits of our week

Grayson dressed up for church sporting the cute tie onesie Nate's cousin, Melissa made for him just after we found out he was a boy! It's one of my favorites!

Though he's been sleeping through the night officially for the last two weeks (8-10 hours every night-go Budder!), he was still a bit on the crabby side Sunday morning. He likes his tie shirt, I promise. It was just a wonky morning! He quickly cheered up for service though and everyone loved seeing him!

I am loving watching him grown and change each day. And that is not an exaggeration. I'm telling you he feels heavier every morning I lift him from his crib! My growing boy!

For the past few days he had a cough and I noticed it was getting longer, so I decided it was best to take him to the doctor just to be sure. Thankfully, it was nothing and Dr. Keating said he is healthy as can be with clear lungs, etc! We love Grayson's doctor and are so thankful for him.  He is so kind and patient, especially with us first-time parents!  He sat beside Grayson on the table after his exam and talked with him and had him hold his finger. It was sweet.

I love mornings. Ha. Before motherhood I never said that, as I've never been a morning person. Until now. Now that I have Grayson who goes to bed at 8 every night and wakes between 6 and 6:30 most mornings.

He doesn't even cry when he's up. I wake up to him cooing and "talking." He's already a big "talker!" I love it. It allows me to wash up quick, get a bottle ready and his clothes out. Then, I walk in his room and usually find him smiling so big as I smile back and sing the "good morning song!" (which is just a song I made up that says 'good morning' to a beat over and over again! haha)

Grayson is so calm. So lovey, all day. But mornings are usually the best. He smiles as I change him and talk to him about whatever comes to mind. He's really a big fan of chewing on his hands and fingers even when he's not hungry.

We watch the Disney channel as he eats breakfast and I seriously get lost in his big, beautiful blue eyes!

His smile melts me. He's also loving his Bumbo chair, being the color lilac and all (hey, it was free and brand spankin' new! I wasn't passin' that up!) as well as his activity mat. He thinks he's something else when he reaches for the links that come down! 

Bahaha! He is still loving bath time! This week we put some bath toys in with him to kick around and he loves it. I couldn't help being silly and putting the octopus on his head. He couldn't figure it out and mama got a few good laughs!

We're loving this time growing as a family. Still trying to figure it all out, but thankful for each day!

a start.

The other day I posted about how I was anxious to get our home in better organizational order. It's just something that has got to be done before I lose it! Ha.

So, the other morning while my boys were still sleeping, I decided to get started with the hallway cupboard and drawer. I purchased this drawer organizer (okay, not this exact one b/d I couldn't find the exact one on Target's website, but you get the idea!) at Target for a few bucks and thought it was just what that messy, pesky drawer needed!

I apologize for the bad lighting. There is no natural light down that hall, so I was forced to make do with the yellowish indoor light!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I decided to place all of our cords (just three for now) and batteries (gotta keep AA's and D's on hand at all times now with Grayson!) in a cheapo shoebox-size container I picked up at Target for $1.38 last week. It usually has a lid on it, but I took it off for the photo.

I also thought it'd be a good idea to keep the flashlight within that drawer too. Much handier for emergencies.

I feel so much better about it already!

Next up was that cupboard where we house everything from games to wash rags for cleaning and paper supplies like napkins, cups and plates.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I found the white basket at the top BEHIND all those games while cleaning it out! I had forgotten all about it! It worked nicely for all the little card games and score sheets we have.

The middle shelf that houses all the paper items still looks a bit messy, but I promise it works so much better now! The napkins and Kleenex can be easily reached, as well as all the paper plates, cups and cutlery that I have tucked away in a plastic tub from last summer.

The bottom shelf is for cookbooks (previously in the drawer), old towels I use to clean with, the iron and things like Febreeze, a small sewing kit and a lint roller. All contained in a little basket and one of the white metal tubs I picked up at Target last week!

On Thursday, we had to get dipes at Target, so I decided to check out the sale they were having on their Closetmaid Storage items. So glad I did because they had one short shelf left and I knew it would be just perfect for our entry closet to help with that mess of shoes! It took Nate all of 2 minutes to put it together and I am over the moon with how much better it helped make that closet look and for only 8 bucks!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 Other than the shelf, I didn't do much in here. Just removed Nate's hoodies and that bucket (took it to the basement where it belongs!) pushed the hangers to the side and placed the broom in its new little niche beside the shelf! And again, it's functional and I am so happy with how it looks!

So, there's a peek at the start of Duenke Organize 2011! Simple little things, but have already helped relieve some stress from me and I'm happy, happy about it!

Little over a week until Nate and I venture to IKEA to hopefully get the rest of our "needs!" We've also decided on a new wall color for the bathroom that I'm pretty excited about! Hoping to paint it the day after IKEA, but we'll see! 

Hope you're having a great weekend so far! Our started out a bit stressful last night as our whole county was under a Tornado warning for quite some time. I listened to the weather station for quite a while as I packed up a small bag for Grayson (just in case) and then watched the skies get really dark and thought it would be best to head to the basement. Grayson and I actually made it our 35 minutes down there very fun! He was such a good little guy and never fussed even one time!

I was thankful for many text's from mom, Megan and Nate to help the time pass by rather quickly and also thankful that the storm didn't produce anything more serious.

Just hoping this summer doesn't prove to be filled with any more happenings to the basement! ;)

quite the little charmer

Though he's only a bit over two months, Grayson is quite the little charmer already! He knows how to work that grin and those eyebrows...for sure!

He's also quite the little ham! He responds every single time I say, "who's a ham?! Are you a ham?!" Haha. I love it.

Goodness, I just love him to pieces!

Yesterday he had his first round of shots ever. I was a bit nervous, but was prayerful all week and boy did the Lord work! Other than an instant, loud cry (and super instant red face and little body!) for about 30 seconds, he did AWESOME! Once the band-aids went on, he continued to fuss for another minute, but then he ate some and instantly started smiling and cooing while still in the office!

We stopped by mom and Phil's so they could see him and we sat out back on their porch and Grayson loved the fresh air and visiting with his gram and gramp. :)  He was so content and happy.

We brought him home and he was so drowsy. So, I gave him a bath (his favorite!) and put some Johnson's Sleepytime lotion on him (one of MY favorites!) and got him all bundled in his pj's and he rested so well in his swing.

He slept fantastic overnight too. Going to bed at 9 and slept straight through until 6 this morning! So proud of him!

His 2 months stats were:

10 lbs. 11oz.

and 22.25 inches long. Yey for a happy, healthy, growing boy!

Thank you Lord for your blessings on me.

Grayson also is a big fan of his new mobile. (Can I just say it still breaks my heart that we couldn't use the one my sweet bestie, K got us that matches G's room? :( The crib is too wide all around and the clasp on the mobile wouldn't extend for it. Still makes me sad.) Anywhoo, we purchased the Fisher Price Rainforest one, brand new at Once Upon a Child for $12 and he loves it!

Check him out staring at it last night! He just coos and coos and smiles so big as he watches the leaves sway up and down. That's the best money we've spent in a while!

I believe today will be the start of Duenke House Reorganization 2011, as I start with that dreaded hallway drawer I showed a couple posts down!  I managed to find a nice drawer organizer at Target yesterday (along with cutest white metal wash tubs!) and am anxious to make it all work! That cupboard and drawer are driving me b-a-n-a-n-a-s!

I'll be sure to post an update when (and if) it's finished!

And thank you all so much for the kind, encouraging words on my last post. I means a lot to know I'm "normal" and that it truly is okay to have a mom-break. Thanks again!

a break

This week has left me quite exhausted. Physically and emotionally.  And I'm a wee bit embarrassed to admit that it got so bad yesterday afternoon I thought I was going to have a meltdown. (Okay, I kinda did. A little one, but still.)

This isn't a complaint because I AM BLESSED!  Grayson is my answered prayer and I am so honored to get to be HIS mom. But, unfortunately, I'm dealing with some very un-fun hormonal issues (thank you, Yaz.) and it's putting me on edge way more than I'd like.

I strive everyday to be the best mama I can be and I know every single second won't be sunshine and rainbows. That's life and I'm way beyond cool with that, but these hormones are making me crazy! Haha.

Grayson is either having tummy trouble or his gums are preparing for teething or a mixture of both or SOMETHING because the poor little guy cries hysterically in the afternoon, without fail.  It doesn't matter if he's well rested, or if we're home or away, or if he has a full belly and dipe change..he's not happy about something and makes sure the world knows it. For hours. Not all at once, but in spurts throughout the course of an entire afternoon and sometimes into the evening.

I am tired. Not so much from him, but because of my hormones. And this new pill. And my body being so out of whack I can't stand it.

So, yesterday afternoon when I was feeling so bad because I just had no energy and was dealing with an awful headache for the fifth day in a row and because I couldn't get poor Grayson satisfied no matter what I did, I cried. A Lot. I put him in his crib and walked away, hoping he would finally take a much needed nap (he fights his sleep so bad too!).

Mom just happened to text me asking how the day was going. And I just told her. "Not good" I replied.

She offered to come and get Grayson for the afternoon. They were going to their friend's house to hangout. The first two times she asked I said no. Because, hello? If I said yes, I just KNEW that would make me a weak mom. A mama who just needed to suck it up and take care of herself and her son the VERY best she could. Everyone would for sure judge her and think about what a bad mom she is.

Right?

About twenty minutes later when my head was pounding and I was dealing with some lady issues I texted mom back after her third offer and told her YES. Come and get him.

So, they did. And I cried for twenty minutes after he left. So sad. Sad because I missed him like terrible. Sad because I gave in. Sad because I felt like I was a "bad mom." Sad because I needed a break. When I'm SO blessed.

A little time went by and I tried to rest but couldn't. So, I cleaned up the house a bit and prayed. Then, I decided to scrap some. In quiet. No tv. No music. Nothing. I even ate a Dove chocolate and had some soup (my latest favorite). And took some deep breaths. And noticed my headache was letting up a little bit and I was okay.

And more importantly-Grayson was okay.

Mom sent me lots of fun and cute photos and she and Phil were SO excited to have Grayson and I saw he was so happy and I knew he was being taken care of. It was wonderful!

But, I still missed him like crazy. And still thought of what a failure I was at being his mom.

But then mom sent me this photo and all of a sudden it was like the Lord said, "Nichole, it's okay. You're okay. Grayson's okay. We all have these moments. Rest and relax."

Grayson on his first boat ride with the best grandma ever!

All of a sudden I knew it was normal to have these moments (even though mom had tried to tell me over and over again it was normal to feel this way and to have these trying moments, I just didn't get it) and those feelings of "knowing" everyone would judge me and that I was weak?  They went out the window that very moment.

Because the four hours I had to myself was just what I needed to be a BETTER mama! 

When Grayson got home I was happy and felt better than I had in weeks. I was rejuvenated almost! I missed him like crazy and was so happy to have him home, but was also very thankful for two amazing parents who could take over the reigns for me for just a bit.

I'm sharing this not only for me to look back on in a few years time, but also to share with any new mom's or mama-to-be's who may think that they can't or shouldn't have these types of moments. Let's face it, just because you get the BEST gift ever when you have a baby and love your child like crazy, it doesn't mean we lose all sense of emotion and don't still need some quiet time every once in awhile!

Just something they don't tell you in all those "great" baby books! ;)

ready

I am ready to get our home in order! Before Grayson we had a little list of things we'd "like" to do around the house (ie: paint the bathroom, trim the beach grass thing out back, clean the basement, etc.)...but, now that he's here and has been for two months, it seems like our my list has grown by one hundred!

It's amazing how in just a short couple of months what a wreck your home can become!  I am not a fan! 

Now, I admit. I have a hard time letting go of even the smallest thing. Everything has meaning to me in some way, shape or form and I cherish even the littlest note or momento. Nate can't stand it! Haha!  So, over the past year or two I have worked really hard to let go. Let go of things I don't use (or won't ever use). Things that don't work or fit. Things that I simply do not need. Especially things things that like to take up too much space in our tiny Cape Cod.

Right after finding out I was pregnant, Nate and I purged our entire attic, bedroom and upstairs closets. It felt great! We took two car loads of STUFF to Goodwill. 

Fast forward almost a year and I am ready to do it all again, but this time...the whole house. And with it ORGANIZE!

I love organizing, but for some reason just never took the time to do much around here. Now, I'm ready. Ready to purge. Ready to put things in new and useful places.

Take a look at a few of things we'll be working on this summer (after a trip to IKEA in 2.5 weeks!!)

Anyone else have a drawer or drawers like this? Ha! What a mess. This poor drawer is so heavy! It holds anything from phone books, to cook books, to tools and thank-you cards, batteries, envelopes, cords and way more! I hate not being able to find anything. That will soon change!

Right above that drawer is this great cabinet of storage. However, we can never keep it straight for more than a few days!  It's a hodge-podge of stuff too. Picnic supplies, all our board and card games, haircutting supplies, the iron, old, ratty towels for cleaning, etc. etc. Just a big ol' mess and I can't wait to make it more functional!

This "space" makes me giggle. It's in our dining room and as you can see, is currently housing my essential scrap stuff that belongs upstairs, but lately when I scrap, it's been at the dining room table because it's more convenient with Grayson right now. However, it's gonna have to move soon because we'll be getting a 2-row Expedit bookshelf to hold Grayson's toys and such that will eventually be making their way into his life. :)

What's wrong with this picture? Haha!  We never used those hooks until Grayson came along.  Now, they're wonderful to hold his little hooded bath towels, but the mismatch-y-ness drives me crazy!  All 3 will be replaced with 2 (maybe 3) new hooks that match! 

This is the top drawer in our bathroom. It's mostly my stuff like makeup, nail polish, hairbrushes, etc. But also houses Nate's "get ready" stuff too. Toothpaste, deodorant, etc. It all needs help. Especially my makeup and nail polish. Oy.

This poor bathroom. Ugh. What a mess. That horrendous green color was a big OOPS on Nate and I's part 2 years ago!  It was NOT supposed to be that bright or that green! Haha! And the shelf I still love. I just want it white now and all that junk removed and reorganized. I can't wait to re-paint the bathroom (it's at the top of our to-do list) and repaint the shelf to lighten up the small space!

And finally the messy entryway closet. Oh, blah. What a downer! ;) The shoes are everywhere. However, I plan on fixing that real soon with a new little shoe shelf I found at Target. The rest?  Well, I'm not quite sure yet. But, I'll figure it out! ;)

There are so many other little things I want to do. Like, get our seasonal clothes organized and labeled into plastic containers (and stored in the walk-in attic). I'd also like to get curtains for the living room and bedroom.

It will all happen with time and as we save little by little. However, the organizing?  That cannot wait. It must happen soon so I don't lose my mind! 

Do you have any must-do/try organizational tips you'd like to share?