My list

I'm what you would call a "MAJOR Lister". My life is a complex stack of to-do lists, in boxes, and post-its. These are all my form of checks and balances. It's how I know that I'm completing what I need to do as well as tracking what still needs to get done. I have a motto "if it's not on the list, it doesn't exist!". (This also applies to our family calendar.)

The reason I love (and I mean LOVE) these lists is because they help me know that I'm on the wright track and that I'm doing what I'm suppose to.

Almost two years ago my life as a "Lister" was completely turned upside down. I became pregnant.

The second I saw the pink line on the EPT I grabbed my day planner to see what I had going on the third week of July (my estimated due date), and started to list all the things that I would have to complete at work prior to my maternity leave.

The next nine months were a blur of things to-do lists and tasks completed. My OBGYN gave me lists of vitamins to take, foods to avoid, gallons of water to drink, labs to get and exercises to do. I was in heaven with all the tasks, the sense of accomplishment and the knowledge that I was doing EXACTLY what I was suppose to be to have a successful pregnancy and health baby.

Then the unexpected happened. I went into labor 3 weeks early, in a restaurant, with my in-laws. This wasn't on my list. The unexpectedness of the whole situation was almost too much for my anal retentive self to deal with. I wasn't ready for this. I packed my hospital bag that morning but I thought I still had weeks to recheck it. THIS WAS NOT ON MY LIST!!!
I gave birth to a beautiful and healthy little girl the next morning.

After months of trying to create a to-do list of what I needed to do with Samantha everyday (feeding, diaper changes, tummy time, more feeding, diaper changes, etc.) I gave up. She didn't (and still doesn't) care what's on my list for the day. She's just as content doing nothing as she is at getting a million things checked off Mama's list.

Now with two little girls in toe, I still create a list EVERYDAY but my lists are different. They are shorter, simpler and more like "wish lists". I also have a new motto "A man should never neglect his family for business" -Walt Disney.