Are We Done Yet?!

When I posted about our OUT I listed several things we needed to do to prepare for Carmen’s arrival. I just thought I would share with you those things that we have accomplished these past couple weeks.

“We have gifts to buy” – CHECK - Foster Family: Spanish Bible engraved with FM’s name, quilted pot holders, hot pad, and apron, picture frame filled with photos, pocket knife for FD, Phillies hats for the boys, pocket books filled with cute socks and B&BW lotions and lip gloss for the girls, and a 1000 piece puzzle for all the kids to do together; Attorney: Picture frame coasters (1 filled with a picture of Carmen, the others left empty to fill as he chooses) and a Wind Chime; Facilitator: Butterfly Throw; Agency workers in Guatemala (specifically O & K): Picture frame filled with photos and a Wind Chime; Agency (group gift): Quilted bag filled with B&BW lotions and lip gloss, local merchandise specifically manufactured in or representative of the area in which we live. The only thing left to purchase is several boxes of candy to include in the bag for the Agency staff, and to use for miscellaneous gifts should we have forgotten anyone.

“Curtains to make” – CHECK -

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself! Especially for my FIRST ever REAL sewing project!!! Many thanks to Grandma Kathy for the tips she offered in turning the ties right side out after sewing them inside out, as instructed! It took 1 1/2 hours to do just 4, but after her help I finished the last 20 ties in about 30 minutes!!!

“A toy shelf/closet to ‘build’” – CHECK -

In a desperate attempt to keep toys in 1 place (yeah, yeah, yeah…go ahead and laugh! It IS important to set goals, right?!) we turned the closet in the reading/play room into a toy closet! BH built shelves and installed them and we bought most, if not all, the storage containers you see at IKEA!

“Floors to clean” – IN PROCESS – This is the hardest and most time consuming chore on the list and is being worked on in stages. Yesterday I vacuumed the living and dining rooms, moved all the furniture to 1 side, mopped 1/2, and then BH took over and finished mopping the rest! Now we need only shampoo the rugs that belong in both rooms before moving the furniture back to it’s rightful place. Today will consist of vacuuming and mopping the hallway and cleaning the furniture in the family room in preparation for shampooing the carpet!

“Windows to wash” – CHECK

“Packing to do” – IN PROCESS – We packed the gifts and laid out the clothes we intend to pack for Carmen. It’s amazing how much stuff a baby we won’t even be traveling DOWN with can need!!!

“Cabinets and outlets to baby-proof” – CHECK – And might I throw in a plug for one of our favorite stores – IKEA, where we purchased the cabinet locks. Unlike any cabinet locks I’ve ever seen before, the IKEA brand safety locks are designed so when the drawer is pulled open and the lock catches, the drawer then cannot be pushed back either. Now, not only is baby protected from getting the drawer or cabinet completely open, she is also saved from pinching her fingers as the drawer bounces back off the lock. You go, IKEA…ingenious, I say!!! INGENIOUS!!!

“Baby necessities to buy” – CHECK (for the most part – of course every day I think of something else we need) – BUT, the necessities are done! And upon notification of our Embassy date, BH got to FINALLY install the carseat as his reward! Ladies and gentlemen, I would be happy to hire BH out as a professional carseat installer for a mere $100/1/2 hour!!! I have never seen anyone install a carseat as tightly and securely as he manages each and every time, and without any gadgets!!!!!! Who needs gadgets when you have Superman as your BH?!

Amidst all the cleaning and running around I have also discovered the following chores that also need to be completed:

Scrub the bathtub/shower; Laundry.

I guess that’s not too bad. I’m sure that list will grow as I continue through my week. But for now, everything seems to be going fairly smoothly. So much so that I might even dare say that we are “ahead of schedule?”! SSSSssshhhhh!!!! I better not say that too loud! I’m sure something will happen in the next day or 2 to put us behind, but for now I’m feeling pretty good about where we are at!

Oh…and might I also add that much of the chores that have been accomplished so far, that were NOT included in my original list of tasks, have been completed with the ever-so-wonderful help of Sie, who continues to come to the rescue at every turn!!! Lucky her was faced with what might have been the NASTIEST jobs in the house…cleaning out the fridge and washing the ceiling fan! Of course washing the ceiling fan turned into a bigger job, as she then turned to washing the ceiling, which led to washing the walls, which led to washing the windows!!! I must admit, I’m not sure our kitchen has shined this bright since we first moved in, 9 years ago!!! BH even commented that he no longer thinks we need to paint!!!! HAH!!! It’s amazing what a little soap, water, and lots of ELBOW GREASE can do for a kitchen!!! Aside from subjecting her to the nasty jobs, Sie’s most important role in helping out is to keep me company and keep me on task, to which she does both EXTREMELY well!!! Since she’s coming back tomorrow to help out, and since she’s proven to take her nasty chores so seriously, perhaps I’ll set her loose in the bathtub!!! LOL…just kidding, Sie!!!

So, it’s off to continue my chores! Hopefully the next time I post it will be a “WE’RE HOME” post with lots of stories to tell and pictures to post (of which I’ve never really done, so perhaps it will give my readers something to look forward to!!!)! Thank you for the many thoughts and prayers you have sent our way these past few months! They have certainly been felt and GREATLY appreciated!

~ by shoolady on March 4, 2008.