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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

An Over-Planner's (Two) Problems

I have a secret to tell you.

I am an extreme over-planner.

I am a Type A, organized, control freakish, over planner.

What? You're surprised?

Every Sunday night I have my week laid out in writing, complete with check boxes indicating each and every thing that I have to do each day. In fact, if the day comes and I end up doing something that was not on the original list, I have been known to add it to the list and check it off, just so that I feel as though I accomplished more in the day.

A few weeks ago, the Dude and I purchased a new laptop and on it we have a sticky note program. Seriously, folks - these sticky notes are my favorite. The pen and paper daily to do lists have been replaced by 5 different colored sticky notes that reside on my desktop each week and tell me just what I have to do each day.

So, what are the two big problems that I, the ultimate over-planner, am having?

Well ... you see, I'm having a kid.

And I am fairly certain that this kid is going to rock my over planned world out of the water.

Because something tells me you can't be an over planner with a newborn baby.

My first problem is that I cannot plan (or over plan for that matter) when my baby will arrive in this world. I have most definitely spoken to him or her a time or two about when the most convenient and inconvenient times would be to make the grand entrance but I know that, in reality, The Monkey could choose to come at any time between now and the end of the month. That is a large window for an over planner.

The second problem I am having is that we are sitting here, 9 days before my due date, and I have absoultely nothing to do.

I have over planned the heck out of this expectant mother thing. The nursery has been done for weeks, the clothes have been washed and put away, the freezer has been stocked, the toes have been pedicured.

And here I sit twiddling my thumbs, poking my ever protruding belly button, and wondering just how to fill my days until The Monkey is born.

Of course, I don't regret having everything done and in order by this point because, goodness gracious, the Monkey could have arrived early and then, gulp, what would have happened if I wasn't 100% ready? Then what would I have done?

Instead here I am, trying my darndest to relax and enjoy the last few days of my pregnancy while wishing in the back of my mind that I had just one more thing left to get in order.

14 comments:

Tricia Walker said...

i suggest you rent/borrow some movies you have wanted to see and sit, put your feet up, grab a glass of water and some popcorn and RELAX!!! people keep telling me I'm never going to get to watch a movie for a while after baby is born...so that's my suggestion! I have LOTS of movies if ya wanna borrow any! :)

Elizabeth said...

I'm going to go with relax!! Plan lots of sitting back. Plan lots of naps. Because that baby is going to tear into your over-planned sleeping schedule so fast and the bags under your eyes are not going to be pretty!

But honestly, by the 2 month mark, you can definitely start over-planning again. If you start working on it right away, you will have The Monkey on YOUR schedule by 2 months if not earlier. I have 3 boys 6 and under and believe me, they're on MY schedule. Sometimes, they tear through it and we have an exhausting, unpredictable day. But most of the time, it just works.

And the Sticky Notes program rocks!!

SnoWhite said...

oh, you and I share the same genes, friend. I love sticky notes too :)

Brooke said...

see that's why i don't want kids. i like my orderly world!

Katie @ Loves of Life said...

OH noooooo! you're one of THOSE?!?! hehe ;) I guess I can still be friends with you. However, kids do throw a wrench in your life and you HAVE TO ROLL with it...don't let it get you all worked up, or you'll spend too much time worrying about "to-do's" and missing moments. It'll change on it's own..guaranteed :)

Holly said...

I like Tricia's movie idea. But, if you really need something to do, you can never have too many meals in the freezer. I'm sure you've already done that too, but you wouldn't be sorry to have more!

This Texas Momma said...

You will still be able to over plan, it will just involve always having a diaper bag ready and the notion of a little flexibility! I"m bored today too, it's STILL RAINING. Still. And I don't wanna do anything!

Penny said...

LOL! That's something I hadn't thought about with pregnancy...you can't plan it out. I'm the same way -- overplanner. Good luck to you!! =)

P.S. Yes. Camo counters. UGGGHHH!!!

Mandi @ Sweetly Home said...

Even though you're twiddeling your thumbs, I bet it feels amazing to be so ready and prepared. I really like Tricia's idea of getting some movies. Enjoy this last bit of time between you and the FD. And yes, that sticky note problem is AMAZING. I keep rolling lists of songs I want to download, questions to ask my midwife, all kinds of things. I've got ten notes on my screen right now. :)

Kayla said...

O gosh, I definitely am in the same boat as you! I am so an over planner! Good luck once the Little Monkey arrives, I have a feeling I'm going to go crazy not being able to plan! Though, by the sounds of it, you may plan a bit more than me! hah That's ok!

Brittany Ann said...

OH, my friend, I am just like you. I totally understand.

Praying he/she comes early. (But not just because I'm self-less. I'd like my guesses to be right, too!)

And as for now, grab a good book and try to relax as much as possible.

Or, try some natural induction methods. Tell FD it's the least he could do since, you know, you're carrying his child and all;) I'm sure he'll comply!

Shaina said...

Maybe this will help you relax:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuQRWEKt4pg

Nana "K" said...

Listen to Katie - (I probably made you into an over-planner) and I missed tooooooo many moments - but I am going to try "really, really hard" not to miss those moments with this little monkey we are all waiting for!!!!!

d.a.r. said...

Ahh this is SO going to be me!!