Awhile back, I was going to make a post about a "typical day with 2 under 2". But I couldn't find the time... imagine that. So my son turned 2 and now my post will need to be a typical day with a 2 year old and a 2 month old. Life is much more under control now than it was even a month ago. But I still have moments when they both need me at the same time that I feel like I'm going insane.
So here's a sample day:
4:30 a.m. - Sophie wakes to eat
5:00 a.m. - I go back upstairs to catch another hour and a half of sleep before Will wakes up
6:30 a.m. - Will's up and playing with his train table; change his diaper and get him dressed
7:00 a.m. - get Will's breakfast on the table (cereal, fruit and yogurt) and get him seated as Sophie's waking up again; get her and the Boppy pillow and feed her at the dining room table with Will while I eat MY bowl of cereal over her
7:20 a.m. - Will finishes and I'm still burping Sophie so I grab a washcloth and clean his hands and face with one hand; then diaper change and dress Sophie
7:45 a.m. - Will's either playing with toys or watching Kung Fu Panda, Sophie's under the play gym and I'm pumping more breastmilk for the freezer for when I go back to work (I do this every morning)
8:00 a.m. - I take Sophie upstairs with me while I get dressed and brush my teeth/ wash my face/ take a vitamin... and a birth control pill!!! (don't need anymore surprises in my already crazy life!)
8:20 a.m. - Sophie lays down again (she's on an approximately 2-3 hour cycle where she eats, plays, sleeps and repeats) and I take Will outside for some running around time (slide, bike, running in the driveway, bubbles, take bills out to the mailbox, etc.) with the baby monitor up as high as it goes in an open window
9:30 a.m. - back inside and get Will settled with some books or puzzles before Sophie wakes and I have to feed her again
9:35 a.m. - Will's bored of his puzzles and walks into Sophie's room asking "Mommy, hold you?" (NEVER fails as soon as I'm tending to her)
This sort of cycle repeats through the day.
Around 11 or so, Will starts to get crabby (read: tired) and no longer wants to entertain himself with any toy he owns so I entertain him with some fun "house games" like Swiffering the floors or helping dust or change the laundry
11:30 lunch time (hopefully Sophie is sleeping while he eats this time) and MAYBE I get to eat too - otherwise I eat later after Will's in bed
12:45 Will lays down for a nap - it's a 50/50 crap shoot whether or not he'll stay in bed and go right to sleep or get up 30 times and need to be put back in bed, which inevitably happens when I need to feed Sophie or she's fussing and he just KNOWS I am going to be inadequate at staying on top of getting him back to bed
The time Will wakes up completely varies because it all depends on when he actually FALLS ASLEEP. Could be 2:45... could be nearing 5 p.m. At some point, however, I have approximately one glorious hour where they are both asleep. And I have to make the huge choice of what to do. Do I get dinner prepped? Do I take a nap? (almost never) Do I get some cleaning done? OR Do I sit on my butt and do whatever I please? Tough call - I will probably regret whatever choice I make later that day when I feel like I didn't have a minute to myself or I'm in a mad rush to get dinner ready or I have to stay up later to get clean sheets on the bed. Ah well... what mother before me hasn't gone through the same thing, right?
Usually after nap, (or sometimes before lunch) we go for a walk. I love walking with the kids. It's both exercise and quiet time for me - both of which I desperately need. Other days, we go to the park or I take Will to story hour at the library or some sort of outing.
5:30 - Craig gets home
6:30 - dinner
7:00 - baths
8-ish - Will goes to bed
9:30 - feed Sophie, swaddle her and put her to bed for the night
10-ish - Will falls asleep (GRR!!! Damn these longer daylight hours! - just kidding); I go to bed while Craig stays up watching TV till he falls asleep
The evenings completely vary too when Craig goes somewhere or mows the lawn or I need to get to the store or whatever and everything shifts. Whatever - we make do.
One day. One day life will calm down and I will have more freedom... and wish they were little again.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Cora & Will
I'm putting these all in an entirely separate post because there are so many. I couldn't help myself. It was just so funny and I kept shooting. Cora is so photogenic and cute as a bug with her smiles and dimples. And Will looks entirely pissed off about the whole thing. At first it was because he had to share his pinwheel. But then having to be kissed by a girl while everyone laughs??!! Blech! :)
But truly, these two are good buddies. Molly and I try to get together as often as we can and now that they're a little older, it's cool to see Will and Cora play together too.
She looks like she's telling him a secret.
And this one should be on the front of a funny greeting card. It's hysterical! Poor Will - this is NOT the most flattering picture of him. :)
But truly, these two are good buddies. Molly and I try to get together as often as we can and now that they're a little older, it's cool to see Will and Cora play together too.
She looks like she's telling him a secret.
And this one should be on the front of a funny greeting card. It's hysterical! Poor Will - this is NOT the most flattering picture of him. :)
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Happy 4th of July!
We celebrated the 4th with my dad's side of the family, which always guarantees LOTS of GOOD FOOD! It was also the first family get together since Sophie, Mya and Stella were born. So it was cool have lots of kids around. I only wish Grandma and Grandpa could have been there. They would have been proud. July 4th was my grandpa's birthday too.
First, here are my kiddos on the morning of the 4th.
This one cracks me up.
And here's Will in his new life vest. He really had no interest in swimming - just had fun throwing pool toys into the pool. But he also has no concept of the pool being dangerous, so I'm watching him like a hawk.
"Happy Birthday, America!" A flag balloon from Nana.
Double-fisted now with a patriotic pinwheel.
Cornhole... of course!
Zach and Aaron are too cool for school.
Secret handshake to get warmed up for another round of "bags".
Mom and the party hostess, Aunt Lori.
The Rethman family looking very patriotic.
Is this really the only picture I have of Casey with her daughters? Shame on me... again.
The Three Stooges.
And a fun new photo op with all 5 great grandkids. My God-daughter Cora is on the far left.
Bethany is thrilled to have so many baby GIRL cousins around now.
Grillin' and chillin'
Our little "Sophinator"
Cora loves swinging!
My appologies to the later arrivals to the party. I got snap happy at the beginning and then got side-tracked and stopped taking pictures. Who me? Yep, sorry.
Happy 4th everyone!
First, here are my kiddos on the morning of the 4th.
This one cracks me up.
And here's Will in his new life vest. He really had no interest in swimming - just had fun throwing pool toys into the pool. But he also has no concept of the pool being dangerous, so I'm watching him like a hawk.
"Happy Birthday, America!" A flag balloon from Nana.
Double-fisted now with a patriotic pinwheel.
Cornhole... of course!
Zach and Aaron are too cool for school.
Secret handshake to get warmed up for another round of "bags".
Mom and the party hostess, Aunt Lori.
The Rethman family looking very patriotic.
Is this really the only picture I have of Casey with her daughters? Shame on me... again.
The Three Stooges.
And a fun new photo op with all 5 great grandkids. My God-daughter Cora is on the far left.
Bethany is thrilled to have so many baby GIRL cousins around now.
Grillin' and chillin'
Our little "Sophinator"
Cora loves swinging!
My appologies to the later arrivals to the party. I got snap happy at the beginning and then got side-tracked and stopped taking pictures. Who me? Yep, sorry.
Happy 4th everyone!
Sweet Little Sophia
If you haven't seen Sophie in a few weeks, you're missing out! She has really blossomed and matured in a short time. At just 2 months old (June 23rd to be exact) she has rolled over from her belly to her back more than 10 times. She can be held like an older baby where she's much more upright instead of laying on your shoulder and really likes to face out and see the world. Our strong little girl likes to sit up (with us holding her hands) and even stand in our laps.
Sophie has gradually fallen into a nice little routine throughout the day where she eats, "plays", and then naps (repeat). It has helped so much in understanding what she needs and wants and I finally feel like I really "get" her. She's been sleeping in her crib overnight (not in our room) since she was just 3 weeks old and naps very well now too.
Her smiles are absolutely contagious. She smiles with her whole body, scrunching up her legs and arms and squinting her eyes as though she's laughing at something very funny. And I swear her eyelashes doubled in length overnight a couple weeks ago! :)
Will and Sophia went to their 2 year and 2 month appointments respectively on June 26th. Our "little" Miss Sophia weighed in at 13# even! That puts her at the 95th percentile and over a pound bigger than Will was at that age. Will has now reached 27#5oz. Both received very good comments from the pediatrician and both were very brave for their shots. Will doesn't go back to the doctor now until age 3 and Sophie will return at 4 months.
Of course, just as I'm starting to feel much more comfortable with two kids, it's time to return to work next week (July 13th). Both of the kids will go to the same sitter. Lisa lives right down the street from us and she's amazing with the kids. We feel so grateful to have her watch them. It's like their home away from home and Lisa's whole family welcomes them and plays with them.
Despite a rougher start with Sophie (compared to Will), I'm enjoying each new, little, baby phase with her. She's a special little girl. Maybe a little more high maintenance then my first, but WELL worth the effort. I am a lucky mom.
Looking up at her mobile.
Sophie has gradually fallen into a nice little routine throughout the day where she eats, "plays", and then naps (repeat). It has helped so much in understanding what she needs and wants and I finally feel like I really "get" her. She's been sleeping in her crib overnight (not in our room) since she was just 3 weeks old and naps very well now too.
Her smiles are absolutely contagious. She smiles with her whole body, scrunching up her legs and arms and squinting her eyes as though she's laughing at something very funny. And I swear her eyelashes doubled in length overnight a couple weeks ago! :)
Will and Sophia went to their 2 year and 2 month appointments respectively on June 26th. Our "little" Miss Sophia weighed in at 13# even! That puts her at the 95th percentile and over a pound bigger than Will was at that age. Will has now reached 27#5oz. Both received very good comments from the pediatrician and both were very brave for their shots. Will doesn't go back to the doctor now until age 3 and Sophie will return at 4 months.
Of course, just as I'm starting to feel much more comfortable with two kids, it's time to return to work next week (July 13th). Both of the kids will go to the same sitter. Lisa lives right down the street from us and she's amazing with the kids. We feel so grateful to have her watch them. It's like their home away from home and Lisa's whole family welcomes them and plays with them.
Despite a rougher start with Sophie (compared to Will), I'm enjoying each new, little, baby phase with her. She's a special little girl. Maybe a little more high maintenance then my first, but WELL worth the effort. I am a lucky mom.
Looking up at her mobile.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Happy Father's Day Craig
Because you love to get down on the floor and play with the kids...
Because you've mastered the art of distraction with a toddler and can use it to stop a tantrum dead in its tracks...
Because you airplaned bites of food into his mouth and opened yours at the same time...
Because you can sing along to all the music in Will's beloved "horse movie" and know all the words to Goodnight Moon...
Because you give bubble baths and make a big deal out of what pajamas he gets to wear...
Because you take the time to teach him things...
Because you can swaddle her as good as any hospital nurse...
Because you laugh with me at the funny things he says and does...
Because you spend your lunch hour shopping for matchbox cars just to see his face light up...
Because their health and happiness mean the world to you and you have an immeasurable amount of love for them...
You are a FATHER... and you are a good one.
Enjoy this time. They grow up so fast and "It won't be like this for long."
I love you, Craig, and I'm so proud of you.
Because you've mastered the art of distraction with a toddler and can use it to stop a tantrum dead in its tracks...
Because you airplaned bites of food into his mouth and opened yours at the same time...
Because you can sing along to all the music in Will's beloved "horse movie" and know all the words to Goodnight Moon...
Because you give bubble baths and make a big deal out of what pajamas he gets to wear...
Because you take the time to teach him things...
Because you can swaddle her as good as any hospital nurse...
Because you laugh with me at the funny things he says and does...
Because you spend your lunch hour shopping for matchbox cars just to see his face light up...
Because their health and happiness mean the world to you and you have an immeasurable amount of love for them...
You are a FATHER... and you are a good one.
Enjoy this time. They grow up so fast and "It won't be like this for long."
I love you, Craig, and I'm so proud of you.
Sophia is 2 Months Old!
Sophia turned 2 months old today! She's really growing and changing quickly. Her smiles are so cute and so much more frequent now. She's back to sleeping 7-8 hours again at night after a few week regression to 3-5 hours. We were also pretty sure she had a moderate case of colic there for a few weeks where her belly always seemed to be bothering her and she fussed for no apparent reason. It really started to be noticeable shortly before she turned one month, but we've seen a huge improvement in the last week and she's doing much better again. She's pleasantly content on her own for longer periods of time and not needing to be held constantly. And naps have improved this week where she's able to get herself peaceful enough to stay asleep like she needs to. So a little maturity has really done her well over the last month. We go to the doctor next Friday for a well check so I'll have another update then.
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