Babystepping our way through February, with brews and pointy sticks!

[BlackCatTryingToFly]

Hi all, Welcome to the new thread.

Oiii!,*Carrots, bessie, Zoo, Scout, Dlamis, and anyone I've missed - Over here!!!

[Brew] anyone?

MrScout's hardly home before 8:00 p.m. Anything earlier is a treat. And considering he's gone most days by 6:30 a.m. at the very latest it's a very long day indeed. Some days, like today, I make up an excuse to go to the shop just so I see other adults and interact for two minutes with the cashier.

Tonight's dinner is sausages & mash.

Scout I completely understand that feeling.

It gets better because a) you can chat to people at the school gates twice a day when they start school. b) as they get older they get more able to chat to you properly. c) the school schedule breaks the day into sections so it doesn't seem like such a long haul.

There are still times though where I realise I need to make an effort and meet up with people.

I am so grateful that DH's job allows him to be here pretty much every morning & evening - he leaves 8-815 and is usually home for the kids bath time at 6pm.

DD2 has just got some ABs for her ear infection - she seems too young to have them! (I only had my first ones last year!!)

BC glad the appointment went ok

dlamis & carrots - lots of fluids & rest to keep the lurgies under control/ at bay.

zoooooooo where are yooooooo?

carrots have you got used to your short hair yet? And have you tried your big hair on it yet?

I need to finish meal plan tonight & do shopping list too if I CBA. Also need to declutter some wine left over from last night

Babystep reminders sound great. I was hoping to start detailed cleaning in March, but think I need to concentrate on babysteps & missions instead.

Hi bessie. Poor dd2 I hope they work quickly.

I am beginning to get used to my hair but only by drying it really straight so that it looks a bit longer It still hasn't been mentioned by anyone I don't think we look at each other properly any more.

On the not looking front, dh is making himself a sandwich and hasn't even noticed the completely transformed corner larder cupboard that he is going in and out of. If he doesn't notice that how do I get him to notice the bottom of the hoover? Or the scooped poo?

Sometimes I feel like I just don't exist

who said that?

Ha ha! Cooeee!

Dh has noticed the cupboard and is impressed.

The dcs also regailed him with stories of the the enormous bag of poo I filled while they helped me play, "hunt the poo" in the back garden. What do you bet that is the activity they tell their teachers about, not the craft, baking, educational trips etc but "hunt the poo"?

lol at "hunt the poo"!

do you know if zoo ever posted her recipe for ginger stew?

If she did then I failed to copy and paste it into a word document. Sorry bessie.

I haven't seen zoo all day. Did she say she would be busy?

lol at 'hunt the poo'
carrots that is exactly what they'll tell the teachers. When ds1 did his 'what i did at half term' thing, did he talk about going to the natural history museum, science museum, living rainforest, etc? No, apparently going to toy's'us was much more memorable.

The GPs took DD1 to a local farm - all she ever talks about is the cow that did a HUGE poo

No idea where zoo is hiding - reckon she's under that snuggly blanket with some choc!

I have almost done the meal plan. Damn TV always seems so much more interesting when I'm trying not to watch it!

morning
not been hiding.computers on the way out...NOOOOOOO
its taking 25mins to load and for some reason i have to search february babysteps to find you all
its been very lonely without you all
wish sometimes dp lived in.i regularly go to shops for adult interaction

did lots flying yesterday as couldnt MN though

had CBT again last night.harder and was very tired after
will try and come back later and post the ginger stew recipe

big hugs to all!

zoo have you cleared the cache on your browser lately? That can sometimes help a bit.

Hi all,

Zoo I have sent you a PM although not sure if you will get it.

I feel the need for a list of "To do's" and possibly a "Take action" list to stop me avoiding stuff!!
I'm going to do it on some paper and try and keep it with my control journal.
So I'm going to have a then make a start .

Hope everyone is o.k. today!

Morning all!

Hi zoo - we missed you. I hope you can get the computer to cooperate.

BC lists work wonders. It is really satisfying to be able to tick things off or score them out once the job is done.

I have been very busy pre school today. It is warm here so I dragged out the guinea pig outdoor run and put them outside for the first time this year. They were delighted!

Twilight, who has slept beside them and, at one point, clambered into their indoor cage, seems to have noticed them for the first time now and spent about an hour lying in the garden watching them, so I will have to monitor that!

I have also got a wash on and the dw on. I did some poo scooping again too.

Ds's lunch and snacks were made and everyone breakfasted.

The dcs had about an hour to play outside this morning before school and time to walk up to school as well. I am not sure how it happened but it was great!

Now time for my breakfast and a and then I will decide what needs done next.

I am stuck in today waiting for repairmen to collect our tv for repair.

Morning all

Still feeling rough {blergh}. Fortunately this flying business is working so there's not actually that much to do today.

BC I find the lists really helpful too. I use the Home Routines app on the ipod and have broken it down into several section so it doesn't seem too daunting. I don't usually get to go through the whole lot but just having it there spurs me on to do 'just one more thing' :o
I'll post it if your interested.

• we missed you too. Hope you get computer problems sorted soon. I feel lost when i can't get on t'internet.

carrots that's reminds me, we need to get our piggie out on the grass too. Also need to get her a new friend as her other one died recently :(

I have made a start on my list, it will be a long term one I think.
First I had a shower (a bit late in the day I know), next I need to have more food as I didn't have much for breakfast. I am starting with small things but they will be things that make a difference to how I feel and will hopefully spur me on to do more.

Dlamis Yes please, I would like that list if you don't mind posting it.

Awww Dlamis - sorry to hear about your piggy We have lost quite a few recently through old age. It's very sad. We have 2 babies just now though and they are hilarious. They are incredibly hairy so I think they will be long haired. They are a bit nervous today as they have never seen grass before (They are only about 7 weeks old) but very, very cute bouncing around on the grass.

Happily Twilight seems to have given up her vigil by the run and taken to curling up in amongst my newly ironed clothes hanging from a cupboard door instead. I no doubt stink of dogs anyway

I have finally finished the ironing mountain. I have folded yesterday's laundry, hung today's first wash and stripped the bed in the mbedroom and put them in to wash - well half as they are red duvet cover and pillow cases and cream undersheets and under pillow cases - not our cleverest design combo! I put all the coloureds in with the reds though so not a wash wasted.

I have the airer on the back step as it is such a warm day today.

What's next?

BC as we have learned, babysteps and soon you make a big difference!

It's based on Flylady's babysteps. I've broken it down into 5 sections and added a few of my own bits in. Some things don't really need to be on the lists like "get up and dressed" lol but it gets me started with the stars (which turn orange when i tick something off). Some things don't need doing every day so i just tick them off and move on.

Early Morning Routine (before school run)
Get up, dressed, make bed
Swish and swipe
Clear away breakfast stuff
Check calendar/diary for reminders
Sort out school stuff/packed lunches etc
Take medication
Take recycling out and feed guineapig

Mid morning routine (after school run)
Empty/fill dishwasher
Do any other washing up and shine sink
Put washing machine on
Drink water and eat fruit (i am terrible for not drinking enough, this way i have no excuse)
Do any ironing and put away

Late morning/early afternoon routine (this is the one i don't usually get thru)
Clear at hotspot
5 minute room rescue
15 minute declutter
15 minute chill out (inc. and ):o
Kellys mission (i am yet to actually do a mission!, but one day......)

Mid/late afternoon
Drink water/eat fruit
Sort out dinner
Sort out school bags
Bring in any washing still out

Evening routine
Fill dishwasher/shine sink
Take medication
Pick out kids clothes and pack school bags
Pick out own clothes
Go to bed at a decent time (this one needs a bit of work too)

It does look a bit much written out like that which is why i have it in sections. But some of the things are 1-2 minute jobs and only one section is shown at a time. On a good day eg. the whole mid morning routine can be done in 5 minutes.

I didn't launch into it all in one go. I put it together throughout January as we went thru the babysteps, so built up to it slowly. Half of it is automatic now and when i go to check the list, i can tick off several items at once which makes me feel super-productive :o

Good list Dlamis! I have a similar looking one, except my headings are

• every morning
• morning (long) - for when I have a bit more time e.g. non-work days
• every evening
• before bed

I also have little lists for every day of the week to remind me to do things like "pack DD1's bag for swimming".

I do like the home routines app, but I've currently got my list stored as a spreadsheet which I can printing off - mainly so DH can see what needs doing every day in case he ever feels like helping I can also write reminders down the side of things I need to do that week - like "return clothes to Next

Good list Dlamis! you and bessie sound very organised! .

I might pinch one or two ideas from your list although I am just sort of coasting along on basics at the mo (till I feel better).

I have just picked up DD and built her a train track she wanted to play with.
Next will be lunch then on with my list.

Brilliant list Dlamis. Your routine is very similar to mine. I can't get chore checklist, which is the android version, to load on my phone. I see my inlaws at the weekend though and my sil's boyfriend is very good at this stuff so I will see if he can manage it.

I love the idea of getting stars for doing my jobs.

I am still threatening the dcs with a reward chart for me where they tick off the jobs I have done (or stick on stickers) and reward me at the end of the day

I have been out in the garden doing major animal husbandry work. The rabbits are now out of their winter run and on the grass, although they will go back in their winter run tonight.

The winter run is currently drying off as I have given it a scrub and they will get a new clean dry run tonight as they seem to have eaten their last one

I am exhausted so having a glass of water and rest for a while.

I made need another shower as it is possible I now smell of rabbit poo!

There seems to be a lot of poo in my life this week