Foster License!

Finally, after 5 long months, I'm licensed to foster. My license is for one child newborn to three years of age with an option to add another child in 6 months. I'm nervous, excited, scared, anxious, and sad. I feel terribly sad for the children who are about to enter my home. I know they've felt pain and fear; I never want them to feel that again.


I've spent a lot of time preparing my home for the arrival of my first child. All of my outlets have covers. I have a crib, clothes, diapers, bottles, changing station, bath time items, and toys. I've spent months previous to beginning the licensing process searching and collecting clothing and toys and necessities for my future kiddos.


  I may have gone a little overboard on clothing; I like to be prepared. I have Newborn diapers and clothes in the first two drawers of the dresser and 0-3 months clothes in the bottom two drawers. The closet par has clothes separated by size from newborn sleep sacks all the way to outfits the size of 5T. It's an insane project I've been working on. So. Much. Organizing. I actually ran out of hangers and I'm not sure how much more weight that poor bar can handle!

I feel like one of those crazy pregnant ladies in the last week of gestation. All the stress, and waiting, and waiting is driving me CRAZY. Although, I'm not pregnant, have no real date of when a child comes, and my baby will be a toddler.

 I've gone so stir crazy I've packed and repacked my diaper bag 6 times!!
 
Gatsby and Whiskey even helped! (well, they played mostly.) They aren't much real help, but they try to be. (: Now what else can I organize while I wait?

Keeping a Clean House

As a full time student, employee, best friend, and housekeeper, I feel as though my home is never clean. I finally established a list of rules that help to manage the house and keep me from going OCD crazy!

1. Basket in the bathroom.-- I keep a clothes basket in the bathroom for dirty clothes. Some people frown upon this, but it's better than having wet towels on the floor! This way, after work all I have to do is dump the laundry into the washer and press start.

2. Laundry everyday-- When I say everyday, I mean everyday. Don't put it off until your day off or you'll have no clothes, no towels, and a whole day devoted to laundry. No one wants that. Toss a load in before work and throw them into the dryer when you get home. 5 minutes, that's all it took.

3. You Dirty it You Clean it-- Wash the dishes as you go! I made the mistake of putting it off for a while and I stood at the sink for 3 hours. I could have watched a movie, gone fishing, or walked the dog. Now I wash as I go.

4. Nothing stays clean for long-- Literally, nothing stays clean for long. I may wash it, pick it up, put it away, or vacuum; but it doesn't take long before it needs to happen again. It is the definition of insanity, but with a little music and dancing it doesn't have to be monotonous.