Minimize

I have come to realize that my life is too full. Too full of the unimportant things, that is. Some things in my life I just can't get enough of (like B and Vegas Baby). Okay, that's probably a lie. There are times when I need a break from them too but when I'm gone for a millisecond I already miss them and start wondering how they are surviving without me. So it is better just to stick it out and avoid that guilty feeling that apparently moms get (I don't remember feeling that way before I was a mom). Shoot, I'm getting side-tracked on my loves and off-subject.

Anyway, back to my life being too full of the unimportant things. I am feeling like there is too much of that stuff in the way from really enjoying every moment with said loves. The biggest time and energy suckers are our jobs and work around the house. Besides getting burned out and unhappy, we get so busy with those things that we don't sit back and enjoy the things we're working for. And then even if we weren't busy with those things, other distractions get in the way like watching television or being on the computer (yes, I know I'm on the computer now and also procrastinating as there are multiple areas of housekeeping needing done this very moment but alas I am burned out).

Shouldn't we be playing and conversing and enjoying each other's company? And being outside when the weather is nice, enjoying the fresh air? Instead, our typical evening consists of me trying to get dinner for us and the baby, entertaining baby, bathing baby, throwing in laundry that someone needs for the next day, cleaning up the kitchen, and putting baby to bed while Brett is working from home on the computer or trying to get stuff done around the house and trying to squeeze in some time with the ever-changing baby. Then after the baby is in bed we might be able to watch a show or two that we TiVo'd and both like. But after that it is right back to work or time for bed so one of us can get to work early the next day and the other can take baby to daycare.

I regret to inform you that we got some things wrong before we figured some things out. Such is life. And we are learning from our mistakes. We are slowly trying to change but as you can imagine changing your entire lifestyle is pretty tough. It will take a while and we will have to let go of some of our "addictions" like the computer (you caught me red handed).

So here's what we are doing - MINIMIZING. We are working on getting our house on the market and sold. It will be on the market sometime in March. Hopefully the first half of March but we are procrastinators and perpetually late (especially me and my time estimates) which is why we didn't meet our original goal of February. Once our house is sold we will have some freedom due to having less monthly expenses such as mortgage and utilities. We are planning on renting a modest but nice apartment that we can enjoy but not get consumed in (and it won't be too big that I can't keep it clean!). We will sell or give away a lot of our furniture now that we realize our house is much bigger than we need or want it to be. We have already cut our cable and are just getting antenna stations. Once our budget has shrunk I will more easily be able to stay at home full-time and take care of all the day-to-day things. B won't have to come home and worry about what he's going to eat or how to get the lawn mowed before dark. Instead, we can grill out, play outside with Vegas Baby, go for walks, or sit in and play games or watch movies or just talk and relax when the weather is bad. There won't be as much housework and hopefully less work work too.