Oh, hi, little nesting instinct of mine. I remember you. But I’d forgotten just how fast you came to town and how quickly you’d set up residence again here in my midst. I know nothing these days if not the 1,002 things I’d love to tackle and accomplish in the next 3-4 weeks.

Thankfully, you motivate me. I should be exhausted tonight after four hours with the kids at the pool on the heels of a busy weekend, but instead you’ve got my brain on a hamster wheel. It’s fascinating how you work.

Everywhere I look, there is something to do. And you make me very practical, which is nice. Nope, no time for that. Yep, that’s a must. No…wait until the A list is complete first. Yes, bump that one up to the top of the pile. Every day there’s more to do in one category and less in another. And the beautiful thing is, baby is going to come in his or her timing whether I’ve completed every list or none, anyway.

I’m so glad that your presence here in my world helps me to prioritize things like milking the summer with the kiddos for all it’s worth while we can, but also nudges me to vacuum every day and a half. (Ok, I don’t really like the vacuuming part, but it’s a good reminder to try a little harder at least). Jason has a thing about the baby and dog hair, and I think it’s catching, because now when I see traces of our four legged creature anywhere, I just want the evidence gone immediately. Nesting instinct, if I give up on the dog because of you, there are small people in this house who will never forgive me. Reign it in on that one, ok?

In spite of our family’s continued efforts to reduce what we have in the house, and although we have tossed, sold, donated or recycled well over 1,000 items since May, your influence makes me see things everywhere that I want to ditch so badly. I’m trying to be realistic, and most of the time, that means “I’ve not seen or used this in way too long. Adios.” Hallelujah for this baby growing business to result in an intense need to purge my life and space, too. Bonus!

Remember this, old friend? Progress, not perfection. Even though perfection would suit us both right about now.

If we can work together well for just a few weeks longer, I think I could really start to feel great about welcoming baby into the newly organized and cleared out spaces we’ve made together. To the benefit or detriment of the rest of the fam right now, you’ve got me on a serious mission. It feels good, and I like it.

Pretty soon, we’ll pull out some of the baby gear again, and new/old things will make their way back into the living room, our bedroom, the kitchen, my purse…so long as there is a place for every thing, I’ll be quite delighted. And if we can somehow accomplish “everything in its place,” I think we’ll have supernaturally made a giant leap over the reality of a house with small humans running through it, which would be something for your record books, for sure.

Lastly, I’m all about this non-caffeinated burst of energy that has me puttering and processing and scheming organizationally all throughout the day, but I’m thinking sleep might be a pretty good plan at this point, too. Let’s see if you and I can strike a happy medium, ok? There’s going to be a premium on fully leaded sleep around here awfully soon, and I wouldn’t mind a little stockpile 😉

Thanks for being you, nesting instinct. No doubt God created you, and for good reason.

lining up all of the ducks (although the kids prefer them in the bathtub, and they’ll likely move them back again before I can blink, just FYI),

mm