A Day in the Life of Mama

I thought I'd give some insight as to what a typical day at the K household looks like, now that we've fallen into some sort of routine.

7am- Wake to crying. Feed S 2 oz, burp, repeat as necessary until she's sedated.
8 or 8:30am- Put S in bouncer, pound a protein shake, shower and get dressed.
9am- We all go into K's room for diaper changes, S has some tummy time while K and I clean her room up.
9:20am- K goes in the high chair with some raisins while I make the rest of her breakfast and S's next bottle. K eats her breakfast while S eats her bottle.
9:40am- Let K out of high chair, wipe hands and face, and clean up breakfast mess. K begins free play until S goes to sleep. I finish feeding S and put her in the swing.
10 or 10:30am- K and I read some books, have a tickle fight, throw around the balls from the ball pit. I clean as we go, K destroys as we go.
11:30am- Lunch Time. K goes in the high chair with some wheat crackers while I get lunch for everyone ready. K eats while I feed S and eat too.
Noon- Nap time! K gets her hands and face wiped off, and tucked in for a nap. S goes down for a bit too in the swing or her crib. I'll typically check my mail, facebook and blogs. I restrain from cleaning up the toy war zone that is my living room, because I'll only have to do it again later. Might try to nap, but every time I've tried one of them has woken up.
2pm- K wakes up, S usually has or is about to as well. K gets in the high chair for a snack while S gets fed.
2:30pm- We usually spend this time running errands or at appointments or play dates. Typically we're back home by...
4 or 4:30pm- At which point K has some quiet independent play in her room, and I start on dinner and do dishes.
5pm- Dinner time, K goes in the high chair while I feed S, and myself.
5:30pm- Time for a walk, possibly go over to a friends house for some coffee and chit chat, or just come home and play some more.
7pm- Start the bedtime routines. Brush our teeth, Bath time for K, tuck her in with a bed time story and a kiss. Then make S a bottle to have ready for after her bath. Once S is calmed I usually let her lay on her play mat while I change out of my (by now) soaked clothing and do my own bedtime routine.
9pm- Last feeding for S before lights out! Good night!

Like I said, this is just our rough schedule and every day S spends more and more time awake and less time asleep so it's probably going to be evolving soon. "Evolving" isn't that a fun term for it? Such a creative way of saying my shits gonna be all f*cked up again.

Any other 2under2 mamas? How are you ladies handling the days?

2'fer Tuesday

2'fer Tuesday Survey


1. Ages? 
K: 18 Months, 4 Weeks
S: 2 Weeks

2. What's went on this last week?
  For starters we had several appointments including one that required me to be away from both the girls for the first time since... well, since I became pregnant! Scariest two hours of my life. I had a chiropractor appointment, then was able to wander on my own for an hour.  I thought about enjoying myself, then felt so guilty I ended up spending money I really couldn't afford to spend on buying the girls gifts. Don't worry, I already put them aside for Christmas.
  We also had our first double play date, which was actually an excuse to round up all the kids and dump them on my friend's teenage cousin and sister while my girlfriend colored and cut my hair.
  Then there was 4th of July, we went to a friend's bbq/birthday party and I was going to just be done there- but I didn't want to deprive K of an experience just because of S being so little. So we went and saw the fireworks anyways. I kept S in the sling, well insulated with my hands over her ears for the whole 30 minute show. She was startled at first, but didn't mind much after the first minute or two. K was enthralled for about the same amount of time, then wanted to run out on the field with her light up wand that her uncle had bought her. We managed to keep her seated and entertained through the rest of the show though- then booked it home!
  Finally this week was the first week that farmers market transitioned into "Olde Town Market," where regular vendors and bands all join in the fun to sell their goods as well. I took the girls for a quick stroll through, K had her first corn dog, S had a good nap, and I swallowed a hot dog whole while maneuvering a sit'n'stand one handed through a pack crowd. All in all a very successful trip!


3. What are the challenges we dealt with (or continue to deal with)?
  S began to refuse the boob Tuesday afternoon. We're officially a formula family, and I'm honestly somewhat relieved. Emotionally I couldn't afford the struggle of latching, or rather being rejected, and time-wise our little family just can't afford for me to pump, plus my supply started to drop despite the fenugreek. I'm a little disappointed, but I keep reminding myself formula is not child abuse, she will be just fine, and I did what was best for the whole family.
  Good news about the formula is it's helping S pack on weight and shake the jaundice a bit quicker. She had blood work done last that was a bit concerning, but when we went in Thursday her color was fantastic and she had gained a bit (although not a good amount, it was still in the comfortable range). As long as this keeps up she may be able to avoid admission to the hospital for free tanning :)
  Overall I'm doing a lot better too. I'm getting a little more sleep, and getting a little more done through out the day. I feel like even though the plane may still be spiraling out of control,  I'm able to keep everyone calm. I have made a couple of important appointments though, one concerning postpartum depression- something I've suffered through in the past, and one for addressing my back pain which has actually gotten worse since delivery. Hopefully both can quickly and easily be addressed. The PPD is a temporary thing in my experience, and only lasts about 4 months for me, but if it isn't addressed it can get pretty serious, something I'm not willing to risk. The back issue however, is concerning. At times it's hard for me to even lift S, and the chiropractor so far has served as only an extremely temporary relief.

4. Any milestones reached this last week?
K: New word is purple. And I've noticed she wears a lot of it! "Held" sissy for the first time this week too. Didn't get any good pictures of that though :(
S: Super alert at times, waking up more often, almost jaundice free. We also had our first scream free diaper change! And we're starting to fit comfortably (as opposed to swimming) in 0-3 month sizes.

5. How are you feeling about having 2 at this point?
  Blessed. I'm supposed to feel blessed right? Kidding, I really am grateful, my life feels almost complete. I feel like this was the next right thing, and I'm positively soaring with joy at how fantastic (although intimidating and overwhelming) life is. S is getting into a rough schedule, which means I'm getting more quality time with K as well.

6. Any Mommy Epiphanies?
   Caffeine good.

Travel Toy Bags

Excuse my "I have children, why do I need a new carpet?" carpet.

Any mother knows the value of having something interesting in her purse. And I'm pretty sure I've spoken to how important I feel it will be to keep K busy when S is here.

In the past I've just used my phone as the go to emergency distraction, but it's lead to countless hours of searching through and under random furniture, more replacements than I could count on one hand, and several hundred "I'm sorry. New phone, again. Who is this?" text messages.

At least it was a clean toilet....

Sunglasses are a similar story. Keys are just to valuable to risk, and often hard to retrieve as you can see to the right (this is also just one example of why I carry Lysol Wipes in my diaper bag). So obviously the best choice would be something child friendly, and still somehow entertaining, like oh, say, TOYS! Go figure, right?

The thing is, especially with little ones, they really don't stay interested in things for long. So you either need to have something really wicked cool like a phone for them to play with, or you need to have a good rotating inventory.

Luckily, I lie to K. She doesn't know that toys come in kids meals, and the majority of her friends either believe the same, or easily accept that every time we go out to eat the restaurant is unfortunately out "girl toys" or "baby toys," which ever applies. So now I have a stock pile of fast food toys, and I've used them in her Christmas stocking, her Easter basket, and even as emergency birthday gifts. No actually, I don't have any shame.

Baggies, toys and books- Oh My!

Point being I have quite a few random little toys. And recently a dear friend gave us over 20 small board books, among other toys that her children have outgrown. K loves books. I've personally witnessed one single cardboard page keep her entertained for up to 20 minutes. The things are full of black magic, obviously. Which of course is why we have so many.


Between the kids meal toys and recent literary donation, I was able to sit down with a box of diaper bag worthy toys the other night, as well as four Ziploc bags. I sorted the books and the toys into groups. Books were shapes, colors, and two piles of random books. Toys were plastic figurines, large entertainment, little entertainments. I also sorted out all the "baby toys" into a separate box. Then I separated the "big girl" stuff into piles of four and started stuffing bags. I ended up with four bags, with four books and three toys in each.

Yes, there is a dead phone in there too. I have a collection of those as well.

The reason I made four bags is for rotation purposes, three will sit on my Diaper Bag Packing Station (which I will be showing you very soon) and one will be in the diaper bag, Every week or so when I find myself having to reload the bag on more than just diapers, I'll switch out the toy bag. The toy bags are also in the same basket as all a few baby toys, so I can grab one or two of those to switch out at the same time for S.

This is the first week I've started implementing this plan, and hopefully it'll work out well. I plan on updating in a month on what is working about the bags and what isn't. Hopefully this will make it easier to stay organized, easier to get up and go, and easier to keep K's travel toys clean as well as obviously keep K as entertained and delighted as she deserves to be!

All finished, ready for the diaper bag packing station!

Quick and Current...

Currently I'm cleaning out my diaper bag. A friend gave K's a ton of board books that her children had outgrown, and a lot of them are tiny. It inspired me to work on the toy bags I had been planning, which I'll try to post about tomorrow. Anyways, that meant I had to gather all of K's "on the go" toys up, perfect time to clean out my diaper bag. And by that I of course mean the only way I could find them all was by cleaning out my diaper bag.

In My Diaper Bag (before cleaning):

• 4 lip balms (3 Burts Bees, 1 that doesn't work)
• 4 random key tags
• 4 binkies
• 4 AA batteries
• 2 balls (yellow one that rattles, blue one that doesn't)
• 2 packets of important paperwork
• 2 pens
• 2 containers of hand sanitizer
• 2 handfuls of trash
• 1 random rattle 
• 1 car 
• 1 Dora Figurine
• 1 Cat Figurine
• 1 toy screwdriver
• 1 pair of K's sunglasses
• My old sunglasses
• My new sunglasses case, sans sunglasses
• 1 Brita water bottle
• 1 wipe case full of Lysol wipes
• 1 empty wipe case 
• 1 diaper
• Wallet
• Spare change, bobby pins and a spare key. 
• My camera
• Mini first aid kit (with alcohol wipes, band-aids, thermometer, pen and paper, back up Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen, and antibiotic gel stuffs)
• Make up bag (with main bottle of Tylenol, and other medication)
• Coupon book
• Phone list
• Disposable changing pad
• Tissue pack
• Stroller straps and Shoulder strap for purse. 
• Altoids
• 1/2 a Twix

In My Diaper Bag (after cleaning):

• 3 lip balms
• 4 binkies
• 4 AA batteries
• 1 packet of important paperwork
• 2 pens
• 2 containers of hand sanitizer
• 1 pair of K's sunglasses
• My new sunglasses case, sans sunglasses
• 1 Brita water bottle
• 1 wipe case full of Lysol wipes
• 1 wipe case of regular wipes
• 1 diaper
• Wallet
• Spare change, bobby pins and a spare key. 
• My camera
• Mini first aid kit (with alcohol wipes, band-aids, thermometer, pen and paper, back up Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen, and antibiotic gel stuffs)
• Make up bag (with main bottle of Tylenol, and other medication)
• Coupon book
• Phone list
• Disposable changing pad
• Tissue pack
• Stroller straps and Shoulder strap for purse. 
• Toy bag (Ziploc containing 4 books, 3 random toys)
• 2 mini cliff bars

Significant downsizing right? I know what you're thinking, "That's downsized?" Yes, if you have a vagina there is a good chance you'll understand why I still need to carry 3 separate lip balms (color, texture, and back up). 4 binkies are a little excessive I agree, but I rather be safe than sorry. And finally 2 containers of hand sanitizer is simple: I keep the good stuff for myself, and make the randoms use the stinky rubbing alcohol kind.

Of course this isn't including the snacks or drinks for K I usually carry. Or the 3 extra diapers I always stuff in before we run out the door.

And very soon there will be a little bag of back up clothes, another 6 or so diapers, possibly a bottle and formula container, and a infant toy or two. So yeah, this is downsized!

What's in a Day?

Since in a few short weeks K2 will be disrupting our routine, I figured I ought to write down what exactly K1 and I do currently to keep content and happy.

7:30 AM: Mommy wakes up, pours K1's sippy cup of milk and sets it by the medicine cabinet, makes a bowl of cereal, sits down and logs on to check her mail, and social networks. Sometimes K1 is already awake at this point, but she continues to play quietly in her room for a bit longer.
8:00 AM: I go to wake up K1, who sweetly waves, hands over her binky and drunkenly rushes out of her room toward the sippy cup waiting on the counter. I administer vitamins and hand over the cup. We sit down for another bowl of cereal, and some play time until
9:00 AM: Shower time! K1 and I head to the bathroom, brush our teeth, and hop in the shower (the current apartment doesn't have a tub). K1 sits on the shower floor splashing until I'm done with my routine, then K1 starts her routine (Splashing while Mommy soaps her up). Play time for a few more minutes, then the water is shut off. K1 splashes some more while I gets dried off and dressed, then K1 gets dried off then whisked off to her room for a lotion massage, hair combing (and detangling), nail clipping, ear cleaning, clean clothes and a fresh diaper. The binky is returned to her and she quietly plays by herself for the next 30 minutes to an hour while I clean up the bathroom.
10:30 AM to 11:00 AM: Then it's nap time! K1 hasn't quite figured out if she wants 1 nap a day right now or 2. This week we have some serious teething going on so it's been 2. If she falls asleep at 10:30 she'll sleep until 11:30 or Noon. But this week she's been falling asleep at 11 and sleeping until 1 or 2, which is fine by this ridiculously pregnant Mommy!
Noon: If K1 is awake at this point we'll usually eat lunch, and do some chores (by that I mean she continues to eat, or make messes while I do chores). Then play until around 1:30-2.
1:30-2:00 PM: Lately this has been the time we start getting ready to head out the door for one appointment or another. Mommy has the doctor, WIC, therapies, and the chiropractor. Kelly has doctors and dentists appointments. If we have no appointments, or grocery shopping to do we'll go for a quick walk usually to the nearby farmers market, or local art gallery. Usually we can only do that once or twice a week with all those appointments, we're typically done and home between 3:30-4.
3:30-4:00 PM: This is the time K1 goes down for her second nap. While she sleeps I relax for a little then get dinner started. By the time she's up we're ready to eat.
5:00-5:30 PM: Some days (Mondays and Thursdays) K1 goes to her grandparent's house for dinner. I typically have her dinner boxed up and ready to go with her. Other days we'll eat together then go for another walk to a friends house for some play time until about 7, 7:30.
7:30-8:30 PM: Is the bedtime range for K1. We brush our teeth then get K1 dressed for bed and tucked in. There's a quick bed time story and prayer, then lights out! Except for the nightlight/sound machine of course. Sometimes K1 doesn't want to crash right away, but she's usually good about staying in her bed and chattering to herself until she falls asleep. If silence has reached the room by 8:00 I usually have to go in and reemphasize the fact that it's bed time. I use the down time to relax, clean up a bit and check the email and social networks again, or sometimes blog!
9:00 PM: By this point I'll have checked the local weather forecast for the next day, and will now sneak in to K1's room to set out her clothes for the next day. Then I'll set out my outfit in the bathroom, and prep our afternoon smoothie and dinner stuffs for the next day. I'll do any last tidying around the house, whatever nesting "needs" to be done, and then get ready for bed after checking on K1 (and the door locks) one last time. I try to be in bed by 10. It's been more like 11 lately between last minute snacks, pee trips and "Oh this can be cleaned up real quick" pantry reorganizing sessions. I mentioned I'm in nesting mode right?

Fridays-Sundays are the exceptions. Fridays the afternoon has a lot more solo play time for K1 as it's usually the day where we don't have any appointments, giving me a chance to do a thorough cleaning. Saturdays we do laundry and spend time with the grandparents. Sundays we have church in the AM so naps are postponed until late afternoon.

Honestly it doesn't feel like we do much, and I'm often feeling like K1 isn't being stimulated or challenged, as if she spends to much time playing alone or napping and I'm just being lazy. But I have to remember the entire reason we started the quite solo play time thing was so she could learn some independence before K2 came. When K2 gets here it'll be a whole different ballpark, and I'm sure I'll be longing for the days where it felt like I spent a little to much time sitting around.