Tunnel Vision ...

As I sit here at my computer on this warm January day ... drinking a green smoothie and with a huge crockpot of split pea soup cooking for tonight's Neighbor Night ... (weird combo, I know) ...

I should be working on office work (and I will, I promise - right after this post) ... but I just have to note how OBSESSED I am with the idea of getting my house in order and beautiful and to some sort of stopping point.

Last night, my cute husband and I sat down to discuss goals and I swear to you, all of my goals for this year include decorating and working on this house (well, and having a good baby, of course - because we all know how much time and energy that is going to take so I ought to at least write it down so I can cross it off the list and get credit for it, right?). How annoying is that, though? I'm obsessed, I tell you.

We've had plans to move Jared and Will's room into the far back bedroom (formerly, my office) because it is the largest bedroom (besides the master) and will, at some point, house all three boys. My cute husband had Monday off so he decided to tackle the project. I'm not sure I was ready as I was literally hyperventilating as he was moving the furniture. All I could think about was the fact that not one, seriously - not one - room in our house was complete and finished!

He worked so hard and in that one day, got beds, desks, train tables, etc. moved and situated. And, my huge computer desk and hutch setup in the kitchen so I better multi-task getting office work and accounting done with my other jobs - like parenting and cooking - and so Jared can do his Kindergarten reading on the computer, as well. Now that the dust is settled, its working out. But, I'm still at an impasse ...

Here is the picture of the massive desk ... as organized as it can be right now with no additional supplies.

Here's some perspective on where it sits on the huge wall that I have yet to hang pictures on ...

I think I've decided that what I really need is called a computer armoire ... I need to keep little fingers out of my stuff and have the ability to close it up so it looks like a piece of furniture in my great room - and not a (messy) office.

like this.

Or even better, like this.

With two cute, patterned chairs between the desk and the piano to double as a sitting area for going through mail and homework, and office chairs.

Where we are stuck is with the overall scheme. Tim is wanting to paint the cabinets white and redo the countertops. Our budget at the moment is $0. So... I think that's why I love the idea of a painted piece of furniture - I love the green. But, what green? And, what size, and, and ... I'm obsessed - and yet having a hard time trusting that I could make a good decision.

I saw this piece on Craigslist for $125 that would be a fraction of the green Pottery Barn armoire above that happens to be discontinued. The drawback is that the top and bottom don't open separately, like the one above (which would be handy for those prying little hands).

But - I do think it looks sufficiently large and adequate for the use. See? The only problem is that Tim and I aren't the best DIY'rs ... but, I think we could paint and distress a piece of furniture like this, right? I even found step by step instructions here.

All I can think about is ... MAY! MAY! MAY! And finishing this room, and organizing the filing, and finishing Caleb's room, and (starting) finishing the new baby girl's room ... I think this obsession is just about my only discernible pregnancy symptom (other than the growing belly) at the moment. I'm 23 weeks pregnant with 117 days to go.

Lord, help me. Help me stay focused on what's important and not to obsess over insignificant things. And, provide us with the inspiration, and provision, and some good finds to make this home beautiful and complete these projects. After May 1st comes and goes, I will be on lock down here for 12 months. Seriously, that's just how it goes with a new baby. So ... tick, tock goes the sound of my decorator clock counting down ...

PS: I need to add that every girl should be so lucky to have a husband who is not only ridiculously handsome, but a really great planner and budget-er and makes sure we always have food on the table, all our needs (and most of our wants) met, and our future planned for! Thank you Lord for that cute husband!! And, PPS: If my biggest "problem" right now is trying to figure out a plan to decorate - I am doing A-OK! :-)