Baby, Coffee, and a Good Book

My private little world is filled with to-do lists. 

Things I have to get done around the house, people to call, crafts to finish, errands to run. 

Those lists haven't gotten any shorter since Ellie came around. 

Now I'm organizing my life in the midst of cleaning cloth diapers, bathing the baby, and pumping milk. 

I get very wrapped up in my lists.  

I plan my week. Monday list, Tuesday list, Friday list. I'm aware of each things that hasn't been crossed off at the end of the day. Then I'm re-writing lists for the rest of the week. 

That's how I get things done. It's how I avoid sitting on the couch all day watching more Sex in the City episodes and overeating. 

But yesterday…. ahhhh, yesterday. Yesterday there was no list. 

Yesterday, after a busy weekend away, I gave myself a day off. 

Obviously, I didn't take time off from Ellie, but my sweet baby girl and I had a day without lists. I ignored the fact that the fridge was empty and there was no sugar for our coffee. I ignored the fact that the laundry was just hanging there waiting to be put away. And I certainly ignored the bathroom counters that needed scrubbing.

"What did you do instead?", you ask?

I sipped my coffee while it was still warm, I read pages of my book that had gone untouched for weeks, I gave my puppies lots of pets, and I starred at my little girl for hours between naps. 

It was bliss.

It is so important for me to take a day off every now and then. 

I know that sounds silly, coming from a mom on maternity leave who is at home every day, but being at home every day is tiring! I let my lists take over my life, and sometimes I just have to put the lists down and remember to live. To sip slowly and smile at Ellie more often. 

Of course, when the day was over, I felt the same way I always do after days like that: lazy. 

I also felt rested and rejuvenated, and I was happy to be all caught up on my 19 Kids and Counting episodes (helps me feel better about my life with one kid!). 

But I was ready to get back to my schedule. Ready to get busy again. 

I guess all I need is one day off to relax and motivate me to tackle a new to-do list :) 

I just one day to sip my coffee, enjoy my book, and take in the cuteness of my baby girl. 

Do you have trouble letting go of your lists like I do?
What do you do when you need to relax?
Does your baby let you do it?
Just curious!

{xoxo}