A Day in The Life

The number one question I've received since deciding to be a stay-home mom is "What do you do all day?"

I understand the curiosity.  Before the Kiddo was born I really had no clue what I would do all day if I decided to stay home.  And now I know.

I take care of my child.

I am the primary child-care provider.  I am day care.  I am also night care.  And everything in between care.

In the first few weeks after The Hubster returned to work I had some difficulty sorting out what I should be doing...what my priorities were.  I think I thought my job description was something along the lines of "All-Encompassing Domestic Goddess".  I drove myself crazy trying to keep an immaculate house, cook fantabulous meals, shower/dress/do my make-up {I wasn't going to be a frumpy housewife mama}, and oh yeah, care for and nurse a child round the clock.  It might not sound like a lot on paper, but when you're nursing every 2-3 hours {and then it was more like 2} you have one hour on and one hour off.  And I never took naps.  And I burned out quick.  And thought I was a failure.

With this falling flat on my face came the realization that first and foremost I was home to take care of my little guy.  Not to be the maid.  Not to be our personal chef.  And not to look picture perfect every day.

It took time, but our routine eventually developed.  It's not written in stone, things get moved around a little depending on what's on the calendar for the day. But there is a healthy dose of grace infused in our days and I really feel more productive {and waaaay less stressed} than I did when I first embarked on this adventure.  I share it with you because I'm always curious about how moms structure their days and I love getting ideas for little things I can add to my own routine.

6am-ish:: Our little one summons me.  He gets milk, a clean diaper, sleepy smiles and kisses from mom, and goes back to bed.  Mom and Dad try to get more sleep {fingers crossed}.

8-ish:: We're up for real this time.  Dad makes coffee {bless you Hubster} and I feed the Kiddo breakfast number 2 {usually apples or pears or oatmeal}.  He gets to play {aka: crawl around and get into EVERYTHING while I tell him no and redirect him to his toys} while Hubster and I share coffee and {try to} read our Bibles.  Some days we do this in the backyard if it's a cooler morning.  I love those days.

10-ish:: Babester has been up for 2 hours and is super cranky.  Naptime!!  I go for a 30 minute run and get super sweaty in this lovely Texas heat {good incentive to make sure I get to take a shower}.  When I'm done, Hubster gets to workout.

11-ish:: Babester is up and at 'em.  We have lunch as a family.  Babester gets to play some more.  I put Pandora on the Toddler mix and sing along with the silly songs.  He loves this and laughs {most likely he's laughing at me...silly mom}.  I try to grab 5 minutes to myself to go put some make-up on.  It makes me feel more put together.  I don't worry about my hair anymore...it air dries most days.

1-sih:: Hubster leaves for work.  Babester and I go to wave good-bye each and every day {though he has yet to wave...but he loves watching Dad get ready and go to work}.  We read a book and cuddle {though he's getting more squirmy}.

1:30-ish:: Babester is replaced by super-fussy-monster.  Naptime!!  I clean the kitchen from lunch, get laundry going {there is always laundry}, and pick one room {ONE} that most needs my attention.  I do what I can and don't worry about perfection because...

2:15-ish:: Babester is up again.  This time we play the piano together, or blow bubbles, or scribble with {and chew on} crayons.  Some days I make baby food...so Babester plays on the kitchen floor.  If I'm shopping, he's my shopping buddy.  Some days we play outside...grass is soft and he loves crawling off the quilt I spread out and exploring.  Every day is different, but I try to have some activity going.  On days when I'm exhausted from a bad night the night before this is usually the time when I plop on the sofa and pray that he'll be amused with his noisy light up guitar {alas, it's never that easy}.  My second cup of coffee might comes right about now.  If I'm really drained I grab an espresso {thank you again Emily and David!!!}.

4:30-ish:: It's a toss up.  No matter how cranky and fussy Babester is, he may or may not take a third nap.  I roll with it.  We read a book quietly in an effort to have some downtime.  If he's in a reasonable mood I get to cook myself dinner.  If not, well I can always eat later!

5-ish:: Dinner for Babester.  It's usually a pretty fussy ordeal.  This is what my mom has coined "the fussy hour" and it lasts until bedtime {and sometimes even later}.  Sometimes Baxter sitting next to Babester makes him smile and breaks the fussy spell.  Sometimes not.  I endure.  I am no longer easily ruffled by whining fussy cries.  Only real cries.  And these are cranky cries.  They will not last forever.  And tomorrow morning I will have my sweet child again.

6:30-7-ish:: Bathtime!  Most of the time Babester rallies for his bathtime.  He LOVES to splash and play with his toys.  If he's too far gone, this is where he'll have a real meltdown.  If he's looking more awake we read a book after bathtime.

7-7:30-ish:: BEDTIME!  It usually takes at least 2 tries at putting him down for him to fall asleep.  So after I put him down the first time I do more laundry, clean the kitchen...something that can be done in 5-10 minutes.  Then I go "reset" him.  He's usually crawling around his crib, looking around his room, and calling "Mamamamama".  I tuck him in again, and most of the time that's all it takes for him to go to dreamland.

7:30-8pm-ish:: I eat.  I finish my chores.  I put my feet up.  I watch cheesy TV and I knit or crochet or read.  I make a cup of tea.  Our Pupster comes and cuddles up with me, happy our little one is sleeping and he can have time with his mama.  And we wait up for the Hubster to come home from work.  Some nights Baby wakes up every couple of hours fussing.  Some nights he sleeps with no problems.  I enjoy my peaceful moments and feel blessed that I get to be his Mama.

{Lather, Rinse, Repeat.}

Okay, so it's not glamorous.  But it's what I do. This is our routine.  It works for us.  And I know that if we should be blessed with more children, this routine will only get busier and busier.  So I enjoy it for what it is now. :)

7 Months and Summer Fun

The month of June was filled with exciting milestones for our little family.

Our first ever family vacation…

We rented a beach cottage in Rockport, TX and enjoyed taking life at a slower pace.

The Kiddo and Baxter both had their first trip to the beach.

We saw the oldest tree in the USA.

And Baby and the Hubster collaborated against me in a game of checkers.

Two weeks before our vacation our little one cut his first two teeth. {He's shy about his teeth though, so no pics.}

The week before our vacation our little one rolled from his back to his tummy, got up on his hands and knees, rolled across the room, and dumped out his toy basket for the first time all in one day.

Three days ago he started doing push-ups. {The Hubster LOVES this.}

Two days ago he crawled for the first time.

And yesterday he crawled way across the living room floor into the uncharted territory beyond the sofa.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, Trouble is hereby on the loose!

6 Months

This is so long overdue...there is much to tell!  Our little babester is growing so fast.  At his six month well-baby visit he weighed in at an even 20 lbs. and was 28 1/4" tall {90% for both}.

It blows my mind that a half of a year has passed since I first laid my eyes on my precious angel child.

But it was just yesterday wasn't it?

He's quite the mover now!  He has been low crawling and back crawling for a few months now, but the pivoting started in the last 6 weeks or so.  He used to do them all independently of one another, but in the last couple of weeks he has learned to combine all his maneuvers to go places! 

Baxter is still his best friend...and mine too considering he is the ultimate distraction when a case of the fussies attacks. 

He isn't a fan of pureed anything.  He will tolerate slightly mashed bananas.  We have always suspected he is 6 months going on 16 {or even 60}.  All he really wants is a cup of coffee and a sandwich {preferably ours}.

He is super healthy, extremely strong, and full of smiles...and smiles with his two {lower} front teeth!  We are blessed.  Even though I know he is doing very well, and his doctor was super happy with how he is developing, he still hasn't rolled from his back to his tummy.  He torques his body around contortionist-style and comes so close to rolling onto his tummy.  But then he stops and hangs out like that or rolls back to his back.  Our pediatrician mentioned that he has very broad shoulders, that they are likely getting in the way of him rolling over, and that he will do it in his own time. 

Even though I know all these things are true, it still bothered me to read in my weekly Baby Center email how my child should already be doing this.  Mama guilt over something I absolutely cannot control.  No matter how much I work with him, how many toys I dangle to get him to roll, I know that he is absolutely not going to do this until he is ready.  And that is as it should be.

He is Mama's little helper, and even though it is so much easier to shop without him I really do miss his smiling face when I go shopping alone!

A half a year later and I cannot imagine my life and our family without this little guy.  :)

My Top 10 Mommy/Baby Products

If I were to go back to November 2010 and give myself a pep-talk the first thing I would say is:

"Less is more."

{pants optional}

In my pre-baby days I was overloaded with baby everything and had a list of "needs" that would make Santa's naughty and nice list look like a post-it note.  Now I know better.  That is why my "Top 10" list is really only my "Top 5".

1. California Baby Diaper Wash - From the lovely black poos we encountered at the hospital to our newest version of sweet potato, squash, and pear poo, I do not change a poopy diaper without this.  I can change a poopy diaper without it, but everything is sooo much nicer if I don't.  This is a must have...looks pricey, but 6 months later we are still on bottle #1.  Saves me from scrubbing too hard with wipes and it smells CLEAN.  Nuf said.

2. Haba Pacifier Holder - We purchased this shortly after our little one was born and gone are the days of chasing pacifiers from rolling across the floor.  Although, now his favorite thing to do is take it off and sling it around like a lasso.  I'm thinking this was a must have for the first 6 months and now it's time to wean the paci.

3. An extra onesie - If it can happen, it will happen.  Beware of leaving the house without an extra change of clothes.  That blowout will happen at the Chick-Fil-A that is a half a mile from your house...and it will be the end-all-be-all of blowouts.  And it will happen the minute you run into friends you haven't seen in months who are dying to meet your little one but can't because he is covered in poo.  {Speaking from experience?  Who me??  Nah.}  Repeat after me: "I will not leave the house unprepared."

4. Deo for your BO/Mascara - *Ahem* In case no one ever told you, sometimes mommies don't get to take regular showers.  Don't let yourself run out of either...deo for the smell factor and mascara to help keep you pretified.  Looking reasonably pretty and smelling reasonably pretty will go a loooooong way to helping you keep your sanity {within reason, of course}.

5. Coffee - You can function admirably on 2 hours of sleep or less.  I promise.  And unfortunately, even when your little one is sleeping through the night, there will be random "pop quizes" where they wake every 2 hours just to make sure you're staying on top of your game.  Keep your coffee stockpile high and wide and you will do just fine.

Of course, diapers are a must have too.  And wipes.  And a place to sleep.  But less is more, and baby calls, so my list ends here. :)

Hope you're enjoying a gorgeous summer evening!