A Day in the Life with Two Kids!

A friend of mine did a post about this once, just to record what a "normal" day is like.  It is fun to look back and see what life was like at different stages, so I'll try to do it at another stage as well.  This is a typical day when Jeremy is working a 14 hour day.

5:00 am Sabrina wakes up for her first feeding.  She is still nursing, so thankfully I don't have to go grab a bottle.  We stay up for about an hour, then go back to bed until Kayla wakes up.  This is some good alone time with Sabrina and she is usually really talkative and happy!

7:30-8:00 am  Kayla has been getting up a little later than usual, so it has been great to sleep in!
  We all snuggle in bed while Kayla has her juice and Sabrina nurses.

Ah, yes, still the paci...  This was taken on a day that Daddy was already at work, but he snoozes and snuggles too.

8:30 am Breakfast time.  Kayla has been very finicky about whether she is hungry for breakfast or not lately.  She usually has yogurt or cereal with milk.  Her favorites are Mini-Wheats, Cheerios, and anything chocolate.

9:00 am  Mommy's shower time.  Sabrina hangs out in the bouncy chair and plays with toys and Kayla watches Sesame Street or Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures on the computer.  If she's not watching anything, she hands me lotion that she wants me to give her or plays with my mirror.

10:00 am  Sabrina's first bottle of the day.  I am still mixing pumped milk and formula, so I pump before I leave the house.  I like to be going out somewhere by this time, whether it is the grocery store, playgroup, the park, or storytime at the library.  I love doing something where Kayla can interact with kids her own age, but sometimes our outing is just for me to get out of the house (and take my new car for a spin!).

 Story Time at the Igo Library. 
Her favorite part is the parachute at the end when Ms. Nancy sings "Row Your Boat."  She eventually lets the kids go under it, but Kayla is always going in early.  :)




 
Kayla is starting to listen better: here she is sitting down and putting her hand on her head waiting for a sticker.  

Sabrina is usually hanging out in the wrap or having a bottle while we check out books.

We go places with Daddy, too, on his days off during the week.

12:00  Lunch time.   We are usually home by now so that there are as few meltdowns as possible (me included!).  Sabrina naps in the swing while we make and eat lunch.

12:30 or 1:00 pm  Nap time for Kayla.  I give Sabrina a bottle, put her down for a nap, and then pump.

1:00-2:30 pm  The girls are both asleep and I get some time alone to clean, rest (not nap, don't usually get enough time to fall asleep and actually feel rested), and--lately--get on the computer.  It is nice to get a few things done while I have two hands and the ability to focus.

2:30 or 3:00-4:30 pm  Kayla and Mommy time!  I try to do as little housework as possible during this time.  I really want to focus on Kayla and give her my undivided attention.  We read tons of books, color, do playdoh, play outside, and just play with her toys.  If I'm really tired, we'll hang out on the couch and watch something.  Her favorites are Iron Giant, Finding Nemo, Toy Story 3, and Veggie Tales.

"Read my Bible, Momma!"  (Gotta love Buddy Bucks stickers!)

4:30 pm  Sabrina gets up and has a bottle.  I either pump before or after, depending on the day.  This has been a very difficult time for Kayla lately.  She doesn't want me to get Sabrina up or feed her at first.  Eventually, though she'll either help me feed Sabrina or go in her room and close the door for some quiet time (by her own choice!).  She comes back in a better mood and we go on with our day.

5:00 pm  Time to make, eat, and clean up after dinner!  This is usually the hardest part of the day.  It is just so much activity for me where I can't be holding either of the girls.  Sabrina is in the swing or on the playmat and is in the kitchen.  She loves to help me and will hand me whatever I need and help me mix things.  She knows her way around our kitchen already!

Typical dinner scene, although Kayla has been refusing to sit in her high chair lately.  She does pretty well in a regular chair.  Sabrina is usually on my lap.

6:30 pm  Bottle for Sabrina, bath time, and getting ready for bed, and reading books.  Sabrina absolutely loves to be in the tub.  She kicks her legs and likes to hear me splash the water.  I love that they take a bath together!

7:30 pm  After the girls have both been read to, sung to, and prayed with, it is lights out.  We are very fortunate that Sabrina goes to bed so easily at such an early age.  It is such a relief to know that by 7:30 we will get a rest!

If I didn't get a chance during the day (or if Jeremy was working), part of my night looks like this:

Then we're on the couch until bed!
The girls mostly both sleep through the night, with a couple of hiccups every once in a while.  And thus the cycle begins again!