It's January.

It's January.

Which means I'm doing what I do every January. Going through every cupboard, drawer, shelf, box, and closet in our house to make sure everything inside is something we need, want, and use. It's a new year, and I am all about "Out with the old, and in with the new."

If there is junk, or 'stuff,' or anything else that makes me feel disorganized, and if it does not fall into one of the three categories then I say goodbye, and it's gone.

It seems like I just barely went through everything when we moved, but I can tell it's time to do it again. It is amazing how fast things can accumulate. And if those things don't have a specific place in my home, then I really don't want them here.

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The idea is to get an early start on my spring cleaning, so that when spring actually arrives I can be outside enjoying it instead being inside organizing and cleaning my house. Putting away the Christmas decorations is like the kick off party. Next I dig deeper into the storage closets as I am already there putting away Christmas. Once the storage is under control I head to the master bedroom. More specifically, the mater bedroom closet. This is a tricky place to begin, because I usually have to hold Justin hostage in order to get it done, and if it's not first on the list chances are it won't get done at all. After the Master Bedroom is tackled then it's on the kitchen. The kitchen always seems daunting, but I spend a certain amount of time maintaining it day after day, so once I get going it's not as bad as I thought. Our bedroom, and the kitchen are the two main functioning rooms in our household, so once they are complete, everything else starts to feel more organized, even though there is lots more to be done.

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There is not much rhyme or reason to how I go through and organize the rest of the house, other than I try to take it one level, one room, one drawer, one closet, one cupboard, one box at a time. I always take a note pad and pen in my pocket, and as I stumble along things that I need to shop for I write them down. The grand finale is my inventory lists. After all the junk is gone, and all the things we need, want, and use are in there place I make inventories of my food storage, and house hold supplies. This way when I go to the store it's easier for me to shop for and replace the things I need, want, and use.

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So there you have it. Sounds easy right? Well, it's not exactly hard, just a bit tedious, and time consuming. But it makes me happy to feel clean and organized when I'm finished. Plus, I'm not the craftiest, so organizing my house is a project I actually enjoy. And, becoming organized now frees up oodles of time in the spring and summer, so I can spend time doing the things I love to do like playing outside with my kids, and getting exercise.

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We have been home from the holiday break for a week now, and we have taken a big dive right back into the swing of things. Justin and I say to each other everyday how much Miley and Scotlin are growing and changing. Scotlin seems like a different baby from one day to the next. And Miley is more busy than ever. Here is a little bit of what the two have been up to:

Mi Mi's loves to be chased around the kitchen table, and when she knows she's safe on the other side she bends down, and looks under the table at our feet so she knows which way to run. She squeals and laughs herself silly the entire time.

When Justin and I have a chance to tell each other how the day went I'll tell him how Miley had been so funny, nice, or naughty while he was gone. He'll always say "did you get the video camera out for that?" Um, yeah hun, When I was bathing the baby and Miley wanted to get in the tub so badly that she went into her room, opened the bottom drawer of the dresser, grabbed clothes out, and then came and threw them in the bathtub water, I definitely thought first to run and get the video camera....

Hmm. Discipline Miley? Wring out wet clothes? Bath Scotlin? Video Camera? Which one should come first?

Sorry, there are many more naughty instances like this one to tell about, that don't have pictures or video footage to back them up.

What is it about Bumbo Chairs that make babies look so chubby?

Plus, it has to be pink to top it all off. Poor Brother:(

Miley's playtime is extremely repetitive these days. But, she is pleased as punch to do the same things over and over and over again. Like throwing toys out of the basket so she can sit in it, then climb out, then back in, and sit again. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Scotlin is getting stronger each day. He has awesome neck strength, and has started to bare weight with his legs while standing. He is full of smiles and coos these days, and I bet it's safe to say he's over his colic. He is starting to fall into a more predictable day and night routine, and his overall disposition could not be any more tender and mild. He has finally settled into the baby we always knew he was which is practically perfect in every way.