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Just some tips, I have a basket in my living room for ALL of Amayas toys (small blocks, stuffed animals, books, etc) that she plays with on a regular basis. We can dump that basket out and she plays and plays and plays, then at the end of the day I jsut put it all back in there, for the kitchen, unload the dishwasher (I really hope you have one, if not look into investing in a moveable one)at night when dh is home and then all day long as you use dishes just put them in the dishwasher when you are done, when the baby is done eating the bottle clean it right then (I dont sterilize after every bottle feeding, I actually dont sterilize at all lol) My dh does trash, that is really the only "chore" he has to do, but he is really good about helping with laundry, dishes, etc. As for laundry, I need help with that one also, I can keep clean clothes, but I just cant find the time to fold and hang clothes (when I fold Amaya just knocks them all over) Another thing that always helps me, put on some music and turn the tv off. When there is something on tv to watch you are more than likely going to stop what you are doing to watch it. Oh and another thing, just get in the habbit of making your bed each morning (I am still working on this one) With a clean, neat bed you will sleep better at night and your room will look cleaner all day (even if it is the only thing you got done that day, you accomplished something) You are going to have to deal with the fact that for the next oh say 18 years you are going to have children things around your house, Right now in our living room we have an exersaucer, baby gym, swing, pack n play, a baby piano, plus living room things and Christmas stuff, so it does get crowded, but just remember that if you do small things like fold the blanket that is on your chair or couch or do your dishes that you will feel so much better.

Start chucking things away! I'm guilty of hoarding useless c___p, and every once in a while designate some time for organizing. The more things you throw away, the less you have to pick up later! Shoe boxes work great for keeping things hidden. After you fill the boxes, shove them under the bed. Shelving helps keep things up of the floor, and those hanging shelves for closets are great for hiding things!

OK sorry I didnt realize that I wrote a novel, one other thing, with the baskets, we put them under the end tables. Another thing for your kitchen, if you can find the room, remove one of your kitchen chairs and put the highchair there, it wont be out in the middle of the room and your baby will be more at the table with the family. Remember to use closets wisely and under beds. Get rid of all of the nick nacks and candles that you dont burn and anything else that has to be dusted on a regular basis.

I can't seem to keep up with mine either...yesterday, for example, I cleaned the living room, kitchen and front bathroom, while also doing laundry. By the time I was done with the kitchen and bathroom, the living room floor was no longer visible...my three year old had dragged out every toy within reach. I don't have much closet space (not even enough for the vacuum cleaner and carpet machine) or a garage, so I have a bunch of plastic tubs stacked in the corner of the dining room. The kitchen is the only room that's 100% organized. Everything there has a place, down to where the utensils go in the drawers. I've also managed to keep up with the baby's stuff...a chest of drawers, a toy basket in the living room, and three plastic tubs under the crib take care of that. But my three year old's stuff is all over the house, and my husband leaves his stuff in trails from the front door to the bedroom.

Oh do I kn ow about having t oclean after doing it the first time. Bf is a big messer. As soon as I clean one thing he messes it up again. MEN !?

Yeah..you just have to do it...trust me, you'll feel much better afterwards...I make sure that the kitchen and the bathrooms are clean first. Then comes living room, dining room, and last bedrooms...Just do a schedule...that way you won't get overwhelmed with work. I thaw the meat that I'm going to cook for dinner the night before...Cluttered house=cluttered mind...Clean up no matter what, you'll DEFINITELY feel better.

I have been in the same slump, but honestly after reading all of this, I'm actually in the mood to clean!

Here's what I do. I have a task list and do one each day on a scedule. Each day I do something different-like bathrooms one day, dust another, vacuum another....I try to take about 15 minutes each day to pick up, clear off the counters, go through the mail etc. I try to unload and reload the dishwasher each afternoon before hubby gets home. It works out good. I put Mason in his bouncy seat and take him to whatever room I am doing so we can "talk".

I do my cleaning when my baby is sleeping. I do a lilttle bit each day.

I have 3 children to look after, I get no help at all from my partner with anything except the cooking. My daily routine is get up at 6, feed baby, do housework. that takes me to about half 7. I get oldest up for school, give him his breakfast while I iron his clothes. He gets his teeth brushed and dressed while I feed baby. Take oldest o school. When I get back I will wash the bowls and cups used at breakfast and get my daughter up. Get her dressed. Then I have the rets of the day to do play things. Everyone thinks I'm mad cos I do my housework at 6:30 each morning. But it's the only time I get to do it. If I didn't do it then it would never get done. During the day I will wash things as I use them, I'll wipe the benches after I've used them. The only thing I usually do once a day is hoover. I don't own a dishwasher. There is no space at all in my kitchen for one. Every 6 months I will have a good clear out, cupboards, bedrooms everywhere. I hoover the bedrooms on a Sunday and wash the sheets and covers. I only do that once a week unless something happens and it needs doing again. I am not usually a tidy person but I have to keep this place clean and tidy now. When it's messy it makes me feel depressed and it gets me down.

I have this poem on my piczo site. It is so true. - I hope that my child, Looking back on today, Remembers a mother, Who had time to play - Children grow up, While you are not looking, There will be years ahead, For cleaning and cooking - So quiet now cobwebs, Dust go to sleep, I am rocking my baby, And babies don't keep :-)

It really does help with the clutter to have a toy basket in the living room. I have my son's small toys in a Christmas gift bag right now, and his diapers and wipes in a basket by his swing. Also, my guest bedroom is a lifesaver! Whenever I have laundry but no time to fold I throw it on the extra bed and close the door. Then I don't have to look at it! Well, until I do get time to fold it and put it away that is :)

Um my first baby is 4 and the house still isn't clean. I have very serious doubts things will be any different with this baby : ) As for feeling gross, I made a rule to have a shower every single day, even if it meant leaving the baby to cry. As for the house, I seriously am not concerned until there is smell (or my mother is coming over)... I have too much to do with working and raising 2 kids.

House cleaning and cooking just aren't my thing even if I didn't have a baby. I am not domestic in any sense of the worrd. After the baby the mess is much worse, thing is I HATE clutter. I am a work at home mom so it's not like I don't see the mess everyday, all day. I used to try cleaning between working and taking care of the baby. That was not working for me, I never had time to just take a breather. We got a maid. First we tried one of those Maid Brigade or Merry Maid services. They do an ok job and they are pretty quick. They are quick because they actually send several people over --at least they did for us. I think it really depends on the size of your house and mess. I didn't think the job was great and it was a bit expensive. Basically they picked up my clutter and cleaned underneath it. Next we tried a house manager, now that is great idea! You just have to find the right person, not only do they clean for you, but they run errands, go to the grocery store or whatever! That didn't work out because ... let's just say he wasn't suited for the job. He wasn't that expensive though. I was paying him over a 2 weeks what I was paying the Maid Brigade for a one time cleaning. Now we have maid that I found through an ad in the paper. She came out sized up my mess and house and gave me number I could live with. We went through a few interviews and lots of references before choosing her. A bonus for doing a maid service is that the people they send out are bonded, so you don't have to worry too much about your DVD player being a nice parting gift.

For me personally, while my daughter is still sleeping in the morning, like at 7am I run into the shower and get dressed... just house clothes but out of my pj's. I find once you're clean you have more energy... seriously. Then, I just keep up with my housework throughout the day. I think first though you need a solid day to just get organized and get the house back into shape, then its just a matter of maintaining it. As soon as hubby comes home, I do all my major cleaning and laundry. Then at around 10pm when everyone is back to sleep I unwind by the computer or watch tv. If I worked really hard that day and feel gross, then I jump into the shower again and just do a body shower. Good luck!

Have your hubby or a grandparent take the baby for a Saturday and clean the house top to bottom . I think it's easier to keep a house clean then to wait and then do one long cleaning session. Then everyday do something diffrent...wash windows for 20 minutes or vacc_m, dust, scrub shower then you wouldn't feel so behind. I am lucky that my daughter likes the sound of the vacc_m because I have to do it every day with two cats and a husky. Don't feel down its more important to spend time with your child then having a clean house.