To Do

I’m a list maker. Lists motivate me. Or really, getting to check off things on my list motivates me.  I even will write down things I’ve completed after the fact, just so I can have more check marks on my lists.  It makes me feel productive and in control.    If I’ve had an especially productive day, yielding a list with a significant number of checks, I’ll totally leave it out, all nonchalantly, so my husband can see it when he gets home and marvel at the amazing woman he gets to call Wife. 

This past week marked not only my baby’s second week of life, but the two older boys went back to school and the husband went back to work.  I began my day on Tuesday with a list of basic household chores to get done.  Tuesday I made this list.  Today is Friday and I’m just now checking off the last of that “daily” To Do.  Apparently Ivy doesn’t really put much importance on lists.  Or at least not on the fun of checking off.  And the girl is seriously persuasive in her apathy. 

One thing I have been able to get done all week is some mild daily exercising.  Don’t be too impressed, we’re talking walk-around-the-block type of stuff.  But I’ve been feeling great.  So this morning I decided to try out the basic level on the Kinect Zumba I received for Christmas.  Before we go further, you should know, I have no rhythm.  Like, at all.  I took guitar in high school.  When I went to pass off my first song (Proud Mary), my instructor grabbed my fret board, looked me in the eye and in a forced-calm voice asked, “Do you even know what rhythm is?!”   But once that disc was in the console this morning, I’ll be damned it I wasn’t going to see it through to the end of the beginners’ work out.  I need that check mark!

The routine started its warm up and Ivy started her crying.  After a minute of competing priorities, I picked up my baby and moved to the beat (and my own rhythm) holding her at the same time.  I received game-given compliments on my in-time movements! Ivy calmed down.  Back into her bouncy seat.  Back to Zumba.  Compliments stop and the onscreen instructor turns a discouraging red color.  Ivy cries again, this time more demanding.  I start to nurse her, taking a break from the workout.  But if I don’t finish, I can’t check it off.  So I decide to Zumba with baby attached.   How’s that for a visual.  And guess what?!  The game started complimenting me again!  And so it went until baby was asleep and I could lay her back down and get back to Zumbaing with full rhythmless relish. 

Then the three year old joined in. 

Thankfully, his sporadic “dancing” didn’t garner any more compliments from the TV than mine.  I don’t think my ego could have handled that.  But we got through it.  One check mark on the list for today at least.

All this is to say, sewing may not be discussed as much here in the immediate foreseeable future .  But I do have a few projects on my list and a pen itching to make another check mark, so it will happen.  I just have to get a better daily rhythm figured out first.