getting things done: february

We all have those things that need done, but never seem to get done. I think the word for that is procrastination.
I always think that I'll do such things when I have a spare minute.
... Listen to me throwing "spare minutes" out there like they actually exist. I don't know whether I should laugh or cry.

You already know how I am with lists. Not the best.
So. Since making a list isn't effective for me, I put a "pin" in things.The thing about those pins is that you have to remember that they're there. Unfortunately, my rememberer isn't what it used to be, and so, pins aren't really effective for me either.
Just to be clear, I am not talking about the kind of pinning you do on Pinterest. I'm not sure why Pinterest is the first thing I think of at the mention of pins.
I may need help.

Anyway. This month I tried something new.
I have a big calendar inside my pantry door that I write everything on.
When I have to keep nursery, potluck, guests staying with us, babysitting, doctor appointments... I even have "don't forget your secret sister" written on it.
At the beginning (or end) of every month there's always a little empty space. Last month I filled in that space with a few things that have been getting put off for way to long.
I guess that's kind of the same thing as a list.
A very forgiving list. Or maybe... I'll call them monthly goals.
That way I can avoid calling it a list.
I gave myself a whole month to accomplish these "goals", and because I had given myself so much time, I knew I had to get it done or consider myself a complete failure.
That's motivating.

1. Trim Amber's hair.
She's growing it to her waist for Locks of Love and it was getting a little scraggly on the ends.
Check.

2. Order birth certificates.
It's true. I may have or have not waited until now to get one of those fairly important documents known as a birth certificate for Drew and Charlotte to have. I'm not proud of that.
But... check.

3. Get a baby book for Charlotte.
My mom kept baby books for all of us, and boy am I glad she did.
My littlest is the only child that is without one, and that's just not fair. I did keep track of everything on index cards and put them in a file for later.
Her baby book is now in the mail and I just have to fill in the blanks.
Check.
Oh yeah!

.
4. Send pictures of the kids in the mail.
Pictures from last fall that were supposed to go out with the Christmas cards.
Then I didn't do Christmas cards because I ran out of time... and when I went to send the pictures out after the new year, they had vanished into thin air.
I have searched the house from top to bottom to no avail.
All I can think of is that I must have absentmindedly thrown them in the trash. No surprise there.
Aaaaaand check!


It was oh so satisfying to drop the re-processed pictures in the mailbox and cross that last thing off the calendar last night.

Considering I'd put a couple of them off for years, I'd say that's getting things done.