My mother-in-law, who is one of the most organized people I know, is coming for a visit tomorrow. That means I’m spending today getting the house all spiffed-up for company. The laundry is humming away, I’m digging out the fancy soaps and making my grocery list so we can pick up some of Grandma Betty’s favorites. Company is always a great excuse to tidy up and pick up a few little extras at the store.

My to-do list still has 763 things on it, so that means the long post I have already crafted in my head about our three-day trip to New York last week is going to have to wait a few more days before finding its way to the blog. In the meantime, I’ll give you this little shot of my family in Times Square as a preview of what’s to come.   

Lately my baby girl has decided that the only thing that will calm her is for me to hold her while I pace the floors in our house for hours on end. I have a sling, but she prefers my arms. I suppose I can’t blame her, but as I wander from room to room, I can’t help but notice all the things there are to do. There are books to be organized, toys to be sorted and things to be put away. As my feet wander, so does my mind. I start thinking of phone calls to make, e-mails to send and work to do. But today I read this little poem and I am going to remember it when I start thinking of everything on my to-do list: 

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow, 
For babies grow up, I’ve learned, to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust, go to sleep. 

I’m rocking my baby, and babies don’t keep.

–Author Unknown

 

I’d rather be a mother than anyone on earth
Bring up a child or two of unpretentious birth…
I’d rather tuck a little child all safe and sound in bed
Than twine a chain or diamonds about my [carefree] head.
I’d rather wash a smudgy face with round, bright baby eyes
Than paint the pageantry of fame or walk among the wise.

– Meredith Gray, from The Beauty of Motherhood

Cary Grant said, "I pretended to be someone I wanted to be, and finally I became that person." I’m going to follow his lead and pretend I have everything under control. I think wishful thinking will help get me through the next few months as we figure out baby girl’s schedule and settle into a routine. In the spirit of hopefulness, here is my goal:

I’m going to be the mom that gets both children bathed, dressed, fed and ready to go by 8 a.m. The beds will also be made, of course, and it goes without saying that I, too, will already be ready for the day. It would be a nice little bonus if it was a good hair day for me. 

I will be the freelancer that manages to meet all deadlines without a late-night crunch the night before. I will meet all of my current clients’ needs while also pitching my wish-list publications. I will get interviews with all the right sources, who don’t ever stand me up or refuse to answer certain questions. 

I will create happy memories for my kiddos, keep a tidy house, cook healthy meals and give my hubby a kiss each day before he heads out the door. I will also be cool, calm and collected each day when he gets home–so will the kids. I will be the friend, sister and daughter that remembers all birthdays, sends thank you cards on time and calls just to say hello.

To top it off, I will do it all without ever feeling frazzled. It may be a tall order, but I figure I might as well dream big. Wish me luck! And, I’d love to hear more about who you would pretend to be! 

Let us, then, be up and doing
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.  
–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I didn’t intend to let this little blog languish for almost a whole month, but, well…things got busy around here! We have been “up and doing,” which has taken every ounce of energy I can muster.

I had (somewhat) perfected the art of juggling a toddler, a freelance career and a household. Adding baby girl into the mix has meant I needed to adjust my stance and find my footing again. It is important to know how many balls you can juggle at once and which ones you can sit down from time to time. The blog is one I had to sit down. Now that I’m finding my stride, I’m ready to pick it back up again. 

Regular posts will resume again next week. I have lots of ideas and can’t wait to share a few stories. Thanks for reading!