The List

You know it has to be a total life changer if organized, queen-of-the-list-maker me cannot focus enough in 11 weeks to make an actual TO DO list before baby...I mean...babIES. That's right. A whirlwind of thoughts and questions and craziness has consumed my already foggy preggo-brain, and I have actually avoided making The List. Those who know me well may actually be shocked. I cannot even remember a time I did not WANT to make a list.

Sure, I have a few random Word documents saved on the laptop. One called "Twins" just includes copy/pasted paragraphs from various articles about what to buy, what not to buy, what you really will need 2 of, etc. Another called "Baby Names" is pretty self explanatory; although, we've had to add some names to that one and pick TWO top ones for boy/girl depending on what we find out. At one point before we found out that this "baby" had a sibling riding along, I had created my "Needs" list that just had the basics...orthopedic black shoes (hahaha), new black maternity pants, etc. I opened that list the other day on my computer and laughed at my naivety. IF ONLY I had known when I made that list that those simple things would be the least of our needs.

Perhaps my aversion to making The List this time is because I'm also a 'check things off the list' kind of person. And right now I want to do nothing more than sit on the couch or take a nap. Can I really make a list and have it posted for me every day....will it stress me out more than help? Bottom line, I just put it off. That is, of course, until my wonderful, supportive and encouraging parents came for a weekend visit. While mom isn't much of a list-er, my dad, God love him, just knows exactly how my brain works. One of the first questions I got at dinner Friday night was, "So Carrie, have you thought about what all you need to do? Are you going to make a list?" I shamefully hung my head and admitted I'd put it off but was hoping he/they would help me wrap my head around all this. He just smiled. And of course kept asking a few times until I finally pulled out some paper and a pen on Saturday after a good lunch and a nap. :)

Let me just interject here for my gracious husband's sake: Ben is completely supportive and helpful and was just a rock star this weekend. He just did so much, and I appreciate it so much. However, he is just NOT a list person. He knows it. I know it. It's not a problem, but when I am avoiding something, Ben just isn't the person who's going to push me to make the list. In fact, I've been thinking he may actually be secretly rejoicing that I haven't already turned into taskmaster with a list of "to do's."

So, after a brief and fairly painless talk, I made The List. It is three pages, handwritten, and 100% overwhelming. It is also posted on the fridge as a constant reminder of the fun that awaits. Oh, and in case you are wondering, we got several things marked off this weekend. :) Now...THAT sounds like me.