A Naturally Clean Kiddie Land

Reese will be 9 months on the 24th of January.  She has already started crawling and is able to pull up on something stable to hold herself up in a standing position. She can climb up the two steps from our family room into our kitchen with such ease. Needless to say she is all over the place. She is fast too! And tough. When she falls down and I look over to make sure she is safe, she tries again without a fear or tear.
She is eager to keep going and knows how to get to her destination. I am trying to redirect her when she is into something she shouldn't be into. I say "Reese!, no, not for babies, come on you play with this", stuff like that. She looks at me as soon as I say something, and after I redirect her, she is content with her age appropriate toys.

She is smart. Smarter than I think. I have not prepared myself for her abilities these days. I do remind myself that I am a preschool teacher and this is a job that I live for, a job I love with all the fibers in my body. I have taken advantage of these endless days home with my beauties. We have been spending our days laughing, singing and being silly together. Riley and I are teaching Reese about all the wonderful different things in this big, blue world. We are staying busy playing, creating and imagining. Taking advantage of the warmer winter weather and working as a team to stay happy :-)

Life is also getting busier with two children! My house is messier, and things keep piling up. I guess this is what motherhood/parenting is like...
I always like things to be tidy and put away, clean, and usually I am on top of everything, that is just how I am. It makes me happy to know each "folder" in my mind is checked off for the day and neatly organized.
Lately-I think since Reese is more mobile- I have been all over the place! I am learning to let things slide. My laundry is piling up, floors aren't vacuumed as often, dishes, dishes!!!!! sit in my sink after meals! (I usually load them into the dishwasher right way). But I have learned I need to make sure Reese is settled and Riley is getting the attention she needs from me. I have put the everyday tasks aside to make sure my children's  needs are met first. Then once I have a moment, usually nap time, or rest period, I tackle my chores. I am so used to doing them, they are done in a flash.
The toys are all over the place! I want Riley to be able to play with her toys in a manner which lets her expand her mind and imagination. But then I find them in every room of the house, how is this possible! I have been making sure she cleans up her toys before we move on to another activity. This keeps her on a routine and shows her responsibility. She is doing a good job with it. Reese's toys I leave laying out, because I know she will be back to them and it is helpful to quickly set her down with them if I need to help Riley or something. I do put them away at different times to start fresh again, but I have just noticed I live in kiddie land!!!

On top of the chores sitting on the edge of my shoulder, waving like a flag in the wind saying "don't forget about me!" I have noticed all the little things in my house that annoy me and things I must get clean! Now that Reese is crawling all over the place, and spends most of her time on the floor, I want everything to be clean where she will be playing. I also want to have a clean home for the rest of my family. Maybe it is the new year and wanting a fresh start, but it has been jumping out at me more and more. Feel like I'm nesting....

Reese's new position in her saucer! notice her feet :-) she keeps them tucked into a nook 

Aunt Katie gifted me a book for my birthday. A book I had added to my Christmas list.  The Naturally Clean Home, written by Karen Siegel-Maier. This book is amazing! It shows how to use natural ingredients to make homemade cleaning solutions. I used ingredients found in my home and essential oils Katie gifted me as well. I cleaned my bathroom today, and used the solutions suggested in Chapter 3. It was fun! I used baking soda, lemon essential oil and vinegar. The baking soda and vinegar made a fizzy reaction, and the small amount of lemon used created a lovely aroma throughout the bathrooms. I also cleaned my bathtub/shower with a paste made using baking soda, liquid castile soap, tea tree essential oil and water. It feels cleaner then ever! And I feel so good about the products I used to clean it. Now I feel better about bathing my babies in a naturally, chemical free tub! Before I owned this book and tried these natural ways, I used natural products I purchased from the grocery store. This is a way to save money and save the environment, by reusing bottles and containers to make up these quick, easy and heavenly aroma filled solutions. Not to mention toxin free and I know exactly what I am putting into each mixture.
I must say, cleaning has never been this fun!