Babies require a certain amount of routine, which means our days revolve around it. Meals, naps, baths, and bedtime become set times around which all other activity takes place. We run errands after breakfast, but before naptime, or plan other fun activities for that time. Baby Bounce at the library, playdates with friends, or running around outside our house all take place between breakfast and naptime.
Naps are essential to my sanity. That 90 minutes recharges my batteries and clears my mind. Without naptime, the day stretches so long that it can feel like two days instead of just 12 hours. Toddlers expend and demand so much energy! Lilly still naps twice a day for 2-3 hours, and plays and nurses in the time between naps and bed. Infants are easy compared to toddlers. Although it must be said that Lilly and I were up last night until 3 am together, her playing and thoroughly enjoying herself, me half-dozing. Then we slept until 630, when she woke up again. An anomaly for her, she's been sleeping through the night wonderfully almost since she was born. It happens every once in a while, though the reason remains a mystery. She is happy and content, just not tired.
After naptime, we eat lunch, then have another couple of hours for errands or playing, usually around here. Today we got out the baby pool and splashed around, then helped Daddy clean his car. Lilly woke up and played for awhile with Kate and Daddy, then napped again a couple hours later. We make dinner and eat, then it's play a little more before bathtime. After bath we read a book for Kate, nurse Lilly, and then it's bedtime.
So, the same schedule every day, all day, with few exceptions. On the one hand, it feels monotonous or humdrum. However, when I consider the exceptional fortune I have thanks to Jeremy to stay home every day with the babies, and when I think about the developmental growths I see every day (Lilly is now crawling with purpose), and the surprises every day (Kate saying, "Hi, baby"), it's the antithesis of boring. My day then feels like a rare and precious gift.
Another way to gain appreciation for routine, I think, is to break it! We made reservations this week to go away for three days to Stockton Lake at the beginning of September. We can't wait! Our first family vacation!
Naps are essential to my sanity. That 90 minutes recharges my batteries and clears my mind. Without naptime, the day stretches so long that it can feel like two days instead of just 12 hours. Toddlers expend and demand so much energy! Lilly still naps twice a day for 2-3 hours, and plays and nurses in the time between naps and bed. Infants are easy compared to toddlers. Although it must be said that Lilly and I were up last night until 3 am together, her playing and thoroughly enjoying herself, me half-dozing. Then we slept until 630, when she woke up again. An anomaly for her, she's been sleeping through the night wonderfully almost since she was born. It happens every once in a while, though the reason remains a mystery. She is happy and content, just not tired.
After naptime, we eat lunch, then have another couple of hours for errands or playing, usually around here. Today we got out the baby pool and splashed around, then helped Daddy clean his car. Lilly woke up and played for awhile with Kate and Daddy, then napped again a couple hours later. We make dinner and eat, then it's play a little more before bathtime. After bath we read a book for Kate, nurse Lilly, and then it's bedtime.
So, the same schedule every day, all day, with few exceptions. On the one hand, it feels monotonous or humdrum. However, when I consider the exceptional fortune I have thanks to Jeremy to stay home every day with the babies, and when I think about the developmental growths I see every day (Lilly is now crawling with purpose), and the surprises every day (Kate saying, "Hi, baby"), it's the antithesis of boring. My day then feels like a rare and precious gift.
Another way to gain appreciation for routine, I think, is to break it! We made reservations this week to go away for three days to Stockton Lake at the beginning of September. We can't wait! Our first family vacation!
2 comments:
Great pictures - might be about time to toss Lilly in the pool, too - wasn't Kaitlyn in there about this time last year? See you guys soon.
am i the only person who reads this? - great update and pictures - they're sure growing up quickly - and thanks again for the help with marna / mildred.
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