do you know how much time I spend looking for matching socks?

A lot.  Too much.  And pants, and undershirts, and that's just for Alex--I won't even get started on finding an outfit for myself.  My problem isn't having clean clothes, it's having folded clothes, and I've always been this way, and I know I need to work on it, but that's a new year's resolution for 2011.

This year, I resolve to have Alex's clothes ready the night before.

















Originally, I had planned to sew a drawstring bag for every weekday, and to fill them all on Sunday nights.  Might still do that.  Bags (rather than a spot on a chair) because sometimes we get dressed downstairs, after breakfast--easy to lug.  But a bag with a T for starters, because not only can it represent Tuesday or Thursday if I do make the set, but right now, it can also stand for tomorrow...get it?  I knew you would.

(It also doesn't hurt that Alex's favorite letter is T.  He spots Ts everywhere we go...on signs, in arrangements (like if two pretzels fell into a T shape), even on our doors.  Eagle eye, that one.)






















And so, I give you The Tomorrow Bag.  I pushed to finish it during the naptime after a particularly "hectic" morning, which may have resulted in conversations held in a sterner tone that I usually prefer to use.  When I got myself together, we had a talk about independence as it relates to getting dressed, three-year-old style.  And about sleeping in a little bit later, please, it will make Mommy less grumpy, but I don't think that part really sunk in.  To drive it home, I pulled out this book at bedtime, still in heavy rotation even though we're 2-months-plus past Halloween. And when we read the last line (covered by chubby little fingers here: a costume for tomorrow):

















we looked over at his tomorrow bag, filled and hung ready on the closet door,






















 and I think the connection was made.

Tutorial in the sidebar.