Working in the Livingroom

I have a "work space" in the living room. It's a desk and a super yard baby gate.I usually enjoy crafting, writing etc...in the middle of everything. I have a view out the window of the backyard and of Riley's art table and play kitchen to my right. There's lots of sunlight coming in and I can hear when the washer/dryer stop. The difference this weekend is that my 9yr old is staging a continuous battle of wills with no regard to how big, small or even pleasant a request is and my 2.5yr's volume knob seems to have broken off.

I made multiple requests for Mike to be on kid duty this weekend so I could finish my work for my company's first event next weekend. It would be important to me either way because the guest of honor is my sister-in-law. I want to give her a great shower and make a good first impression. I've got a great team on this one and I'm working with a unique, fun theme (which is my FAVORITE) so things are going great. I just needed a few hours to finish up some projects.

Mike, bless his good intentioned heart, decided I couldn't work at my desk single moment more without additional shelving. We did recently shuffle things to make room for Leeloo's big girl bed and he did use all pieces we already had, but I had no access to my desk most of the morning Saturday. Once the new shelf was up my desk was demolished so it took awhile to get it back into a state I could work in and by then nap was over. Sigh.

I got a few things done Saturday, but nowhere near what I'd hoped. So, this morning as Tangled blared and Riley sung along at the top of her lungs I tried again. It's the stop and start that throws a wrench in the creative process. If you can't see each step in your idea to an ending point you lose momentum or the idea entirely. Perhaps you're painting letters on a banner with a stencil and a 2.5yr old in dress up clothes grabs hold of your desk chair forcefully turning it towards her while proclaiming that she needs her movie restarted. Argh. Maybe, you're trying to write something clever for a shower game that will become a keepsake for the new parents and even through headphones blaring music you hear your 9yr old asking in a whiny almost tearful tone for help finding something for his lunch (that you are positive is right in front of him). Sigh.

I have accepted that whether my business takes off or not I will never be granted an 8hr work day. That's ok, but when I have a hard time getting an uninterrupted hour or two a week it's really disheartening. It all got done because well, I wouldn't have it any other way, no matter what. It's just more adapting to motherhood in another context. I know the kids won't always be happy to make forts together on the weekend. Angst and broken volume knobs and all I like their chaos better then the idea of how quiet the house will be in a few years when they're both in school all day.

Yesterday Was a Good Day

I often start composing a post through out the day in my head. I think about things I have to point out in the post or funny things the kids did. Sometimes it all goes according to plan, I come home and find a moment to type up what I composed in my head all day. Other times It's almost involuntary the way my fingers dance around the keys and when the post has been published I'm almost surprised at the result. Yesterday, I composed a post about domesticity and resourcefulness in my head. A happy little housewife post, but then I wrote something different.

Yesterday, I managed to clean out Riley's dresser and closet while she played happily on the rug behind me. Afterward I packed up the too small clothes and all those remaining diapers. I passed the clothes to smaller kiddos and gave the diapers to Riley's daycare. I was thrilled to see the diapers go. Good Riddance! Woo, hoo.

We stayed at D's (aka Riley's daycare) long enough to visit our favorite toddlers and have lunch. It was just girls and they were "Aaaa-Door-Bull" as Miss Boo would say. I'm so glad I get to visit my favorite toddlers so often. After lunch my mom wanted to run some errands with us, but Riley was done. We put her to bed (while Mike worked in the next room) and ventured out on our own.

I had some rewards dollars for Home Goods and I'd never been there. It was fun and I got some sorely needed items as well as a gorgeous sparkly bowl that is the centerpiece of the dinning room table right now. We also hit Target where I had a remainder on a gift card. I needed a bigger dish drainer as we do not have a dishwasher (besides me. The one we were using was shot and too small. I found one at Target and even "splurged" on gummi bears and a DIY bride magazine. I came home with easily $80 worth of stuff for $8. I felt so proud!

Mike was thrilled about most of my purchases. He helped me change the table cloth to match my pretty new bowl. After I put everything away in my house that was still clean, hurray! I washed the dishes in the sink and wiped down the counters. It was really satisfying. I felt victorious and nested. Riley even slept longer than normal so I got some writing done.

Speaking of which, I think I've scared up another lead, but this time I'm not going to discuss it until it's a done deal. I was all glowy and happy and ready to write about my conquests that day which seemed so significant, but I wrote something else. I questioned whether anyone would even care about my small victories in the domestic realm and Mike was very encouraging. So, I feel better having shared them as well.

Pats on the back for me! Productivity with a toddler in the room, organized drawers and clothes, no more diapers, social interaction, good deals, pretty and practical things for the house, a clean house and some quiet time! What a day.

Naps

When Riley was little she took two two hour naps a day. Sometime after her first birthday she went to one two hour nap a day. Lately, she more apt to either pass the two hour mark or spring up at exactly an hour. It's a variable amount of time. Midday it'll be quiet and I'll have an opportunity to write or clean up in peace.

After my back surgery I always slept when Riley did, but these days I write or lay down and watch TV. I feel horrible guilt when I hear the pitter patter of Riley coming down the hall and I haven't accomplished something.

This week had been rough for me. I have had a lot of pain and fatigue. Mike ended up having to go into the office today, so atypically I asked from help. My mom came and helped with Riley and laundry. It wasn't a day off, but it was a lot less stressful. I suddenly realized as Riley was finishing her lunch that there was no reason to be upright. Riley was happy and eating and Grandma was on stand by to put her down for nap. So, I went to bed.

I climbed into my bed and thought briefly about turning on a wedding show. I decided against it and drifted to sleep listening to my mom reading Riley her naptime story. When I woke up very disoriented I realized it must be late in the afternoon, 2:45pm. I stayed still in bed listening like some forest creature in the brush. I heard no movement and wondered if Riley had woken up and gone somewhere with my mom. It turned out about inspection Miss Roo was still very much asleep.

I stumbled out to the living room where I was informed of my mom's trip to Wal-Mart and quiet browsing the net time. I didn't even feel guilty shortly after when I heard the pitter patter of tiny feet coming down the hall.