Time is a Tickin

So this weekend Mr. Cob brought up the fact that we have a lot of things to get done around the house before baby Lukas arrives.  He was a bit worried since he has some trials coming up in September/October as well as some weekend trips (weddings and high school reunion - which I sadly can't go to), etc.  I wasn't concerned because we still have 16 weeks until Lukas is scheduled to arrive (assuming he's an on time kinda fella).  But then I sat down and made out before-Lukas-arrives-TO DO List.  I'm now officially freaking out a bit.

Here's the list (In order of tasks to be done)…

1. Organize/clean back part of basement (probably should put up blinds or some window covering); move tools, bikes, golf clubs, stroller, Christmas decorations, odds and ends/childhood memento boxes, sporting equipment, etc. out to this area so that we can “finish” the big part of the basement. (TIME FRAME: a few nights after work or all weekend– 1st night to clean, 2nd night to hang window coverings, 3rd night to plan organizationally (i.e. put bookshelf, or hang some kind of shelves for storage – maybe buy some tall cabinets from IKEA or Lowes?); 4th night to move everything into this new space) (Do we want to put a cheap laminate flooring in over the existing floor?) - After sharing this list with Mr. Cob, we decided we would in fact replace the flooring in this part of the basement with some sort of vinyl tiles.  I know this doesn't sound glamorous, but considering the current state of this area, vinyl tiles will be a major upgrade.  So Mr. Cob is researching how to tear up the existing mess of a "floor" and we're going to tackle the floor and hopefully the entire area this weekend.)

2. Replace 2 blinds (killed by Ms. Wrigley and her accomplice Lydia) over basement windows (TIME: one night after work).

3. Clean/organize basement bathroom & take clothes to Goodwill (TIME: one night after work) - some explanation: we have a third full, finished bathroom in the basement, which we currently do not use at all.  The reason we never use it, you can't make it in the door.  It's full of "stuff".  I had bagged up a bunch of clothes to donate and left them in the basement and then let Wrigley and Lydia (her best friend) play in basement - well when I came home from work, the girls had torn into the bags and clothes were everywhere.  So in a quick fix, I just threw everything in the bathroom.  Yes, I will wash all the clothes before donating them.

4. Temporarily carpet the basement – need to price carpet tiles. (TIME: weekend project) - about a third of our basement is "finished" - i.e. drywalled.  And with the impending arrival of baby, we need to move all the furniture that is in the soon-to-be nursery to the basement.  I also want to buy a treadmill and put it in the basement with a TV.  So we decided to carpet the basement with carpet tiles so that this area is actually useable space until we fully finish the basement and put in permanent carpeting.

5. Move all the existing furniture from the nursery to the basement. (TIME: weekend morning or night after work)

6. Clean out closet in Lukas’ room and find new homes for its inhabitants (TIME: after work a few nights) -confession: this closet is my junk closet.  Anything that I don't know what to do with goes in this closet.  Is it becoming clear that I'm not exactly the most organized person?  I hide it well (hence my closets and bathrooms you've never seen....)

7. Have door taken out and drywalled. - This is the random door in the nursery that leads to a faux-balcony (I've been told its called a "Romeo and Juliet balcony".  Regardless, its going).  We're getting this professionally done.

8. Steam-vac carpet in Lukas’ room or re-carpet – need to price carpet.

9. Have built ins bookshelves built.  Depending on the quote from our GC, we may have him build these, or Mr. Cob and his father might tackle this project.

10. Pick out bedding for Lukas’ room. Or pick out fabric so grandma Sip Sip can make Lukas' bedding. 
11. Paint Lukas’ room. (Need to pick out the paint color) – (TIME: weekend day project)

12. Buy crib mattress (organic mattress from Costco) (can maybe order online)

13. Put together crib for Lukas (after work one night project – need to get crib from grandma's house- weekend).

14. Remove current contents of dresser, desk and end table from guest room and find new homes (TIME: night after work)

15. Move dresser, desk and end table into nursery. (TIME: after work project)

16. Wash Lukas’ clothes (I have hand-me-downs from Lukas' cousin Stu - lots of clothes!); Box up clothes 9 mos. and up and store; hang or put away rest of clothes in Lukas’ dresser and closet (TIME: night after work)

17. Pick up the "new" furniture for guest room (TIME: weekend day trip – need to rent van and possibly bring friend to help load furniture).

18. Grandma Sip Sip to recover glider and make window treatments.
So as you can see, we have our hands full.  I'll let you know how all these projects go as we start and complete them!