Family Routine – 3 months

5:30 am:  I hear P on the baby monitor and wake up.  I watch him for a bit trying to determine if his fussing is real or not.  I go to the bathroom and by the time I come back to bed he’s back asleep.  So I go back to sleep too.

7:00 am: The fussing is back and this time I know he’s waking up for real.  Since Kyle’s already headed into the shop, showering is now or never, so I get up and the day begins.

7:03 am: Shower is done.  I throw my hair up in a bun, get dressed, start boiling water for my decaf French Press, make the bed, bring my computer and water bottle to the living room and grab the laundry from the dryer (that I started the previous night).  I leave the laundry on the bed to fold later and pour the water in the French Press to steep.

pac 

7:15 am: I greet my smiling baby boy in his crib.  He is all giggly and happy so I play with him for a bit before changing his diaper and nursing him.

8:00 am: After he’s done eating, I hold him until he burps (and inevitably spits up).  For the next hour or so we play around with rings, mobiles, and other toys.  I chug down watery decaf coffee like it’s my job. 

IMG_1414 

9:30 am: He starts to get fussy so I assume this means his diaper is ready to be changed.  I’m almost always right!  I change him out of his PJs and into “day wear” with this diaper change.  I also scrub his head with a soft brush and re-apply calendula cream (the cradle cap is basically gone, but his skin is still really dry). 

9:45 am: He starts to give signs of being ready to nap, so I hold him and give him the pacifier until he gets drowsy in my arms and then transfer him to the pack n play.

10:00 am: Make breakfast for myself!  Food!  Yum!

IMG_1432 

Udi’s GF blueberry muffin with a fried egg.  Decaf java with almond milk and water on the side.

10:20 am:  While he’s asleep, I clip his nails (a semi-pointless venture since he still manages to scratch up his face no matter how short his nails are), and try to do other (semi-quiet) tasks around the house (fold the laundry, organize the house, clean dishes, etc.). 

10:30 am: He wakes up and I nurse him. 

11:00 am: We play some more – practice big boy activities like tummy time on the boppy, “sitting” up in the bumbo, and rolling over on the bed.  I carry him around the house chatting to him as I do random tasks.  I put him in the swing if I want to do stuff on the computer.  It’s a mix of me trying to entertain him and stimulate him as much as possible while still being moderately productive.  I do watch more netflix crap than I should, but it’s my guilty pleasure.  I always face him towards me so he’s away from the TV and we can make faces at each other…I don’t know how screen time affects babies’ brain development, but I don’t imagine it’s a great thing for them.

12:00 pm: P falls asleep so I make myself lunch.  Every so often Kyle comes home for lunch, if not to eat, then just to say hi to us.

IMG_1455 

Spring greens and carrots topped with a crock-pot creation (potatoes, Field Roast smoked tomato quarter loaf & peas).

12:45 pm: He wakes back up and I change his diaper and I nurse him. 

1:30 pm: I’m less able to get things done in the afternoon because for some reason he gets WAY more upset if I’m not within eyesight.  Or interacting with him exclusively.  It’s like a switch goes off at noon, on the dot.  So I have to get creative in multi-tasking.  Some times it happens, some times it doesn’t.  Most times it doesn’t and then you all get to hear my whine about how I ate pounds of nuts for lunch.  Fun stuff. 

IMG_9494 

3:00 pm: I’m ready for an afternoon snack.  And so is he!

IMG_1437 IMG_1438

3:30 pm: Whenever we’re done with his afternoon breast feeding, I quickly run around the house to get things ready to go out for a walk.  I get his stroller set up, grab the diaper bag, my purse and water bottle and then change into workout attire (my fitness is such a joke right now).  Then I put him in his car seat, put a bib on him (for on the go spit-up wiping) and clip his pacifier to him (just in case he doesn’t fall asleep right away).  I often start a load of laundry or the dishwasher before we head out too so that things will be on the road to cleaner once we return.

3:45 pm: And then we’re off!  Walks are anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much energy I have, how quickly we made it out of the house after he nursed, and what errands I have to do that day.  I’ve gone to the grocery store and Target a few times (it’s a blessing and a curse to go on these trips while I don’t have a car because I end up buying less, but I also can’t accomplish quite as much).  Sometimes I don’t do errands, I just walk and talk to P.  99% of the time he falls asleep after 20 minutes of walking, so then it’s just me and my thoughts. 

image_5 

4:30 pm: We get home and patty-cakes is still asleep so I quickly hop in the shower (after unloading whatever I may have gotten while we were out). 

4:40 pm: I am clean, re-dressed, and he’s still asleep so I get to work on dinner prep or blogging or something else on my to-do list. 

5 pm: He wakes up and is ready to eat.  The boy’s schedule is like clockwork (he’s obviously my kid).  I change him first and then he breast feeds while I play on my iPhone. 

IMG_9513 

5:30 pm: I hold him until he stops acting like a psycho (which is anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour at this time of day). 

6:00 pm: Throw some kind of dinner together for myself.  I attempt to eat while he’s in the pack n play, but since that’s not right next to the dinner table, he’s often displeased at the distance between us, so I have to move him to the swing (which is set up next to the table for now).  Sometimes that works and he will watch me eat, but often I am interrupted frequently between bites to shove the pacifier back in his mouth, or squeeze his hand, or make faces at him, or something. 

IMG_1541 

Vegetable fried wild rice.

6:45 pm: Kyle gets home around this time, give or take (often earlier since he works literally down the street).  He’s usually texted me beforehand to give me a ballpark estimate of when I can expect him and so I try to get some kind of dinner ready for him. 

7:15 pm: Kyle says hi to P and me, showers (if he’s been hands-on in the shop), and eats.  In the meantime, I do another diaper change and nursing session.

IMG_1519 

7:30 pm: Kyle holds P and gets in some father-son time while I get a little break to dork around on the internet or finish off whatever tasks I was trying to do that day.

8:00 pm: Family fun time.  While it’s the 3 of us, we basically just veg out and play.  This kid is vocal and ready to crawl! 

8:30 pm: Bath time  :)   Kyle gets P ready while I get the other stuff set up – wash cloths, soapy water, lotion, soft brush for head scrubbing, etc.  We have a solid routine established.  I wash, head to toe.  Kyle dries and puts his diaper back on while I clean up.  Then I lube my baby up with lotion, Kyle puts him in PJs and we head to our bed.

IMG_1493 

8:45 pm: One of us picks out a book and we read a bed time story.  This is probably my favorite time of the day.  We both shower our little guy with kisses and tell him how much we love him (not that I don’t do this all day…).

9:00 pm: I take P into his room and nurse him with the lights out.  More often than not he will get drowsy towards the end of the session and I only hold him for a few minutes before putting him into his crib.  Sometimes he takes longer to settle down, but he eventually does get sleepy and once his eyes have closed and he seems relatively out, I make the transfer.  He almost always wakes up, but he’s usually tired enough that he will just wiggle a bit before falling asleep for good.  I leave the door open a crack and tip toe out. 

9:30 pm: I finish dishes, laundry, and clean up the house.  Then I wash my face, brush my teeth, change into PJs, and watch the video monitor for a bit.  My little wiggle worm is typically out by this time, but sometimes he’s still sucking on his hand or doing his Michael Phelps impressions.  He is content though, so I never go back in the room.

9:45 pm: Kyle and I chat and hang out.  It’s only just the two of us for this brief period (aside from weekends, when we spend more time together).  As much as I want to stay up and enjoy this time, I’m often zonked.

10:00 pm: Kyle stays up working, but I pass out the second my head hits the pillow.  Zzzzz.

5:45 am: I hear PAC man on the monitor and check to see if it’s a real wake up, or a fake out like last night.  I go to the bathroom and when I get back he’s really awake and squawking like he needs something. 

5:47 am: I go in a hold him for a few seconds, smelling his head and cheeks before I change his diaper. 

5:50 am: I nurse him and afterwards he eventually falls back asleep in my arms.  He’s so precious I have a hard time parting with him, but I put him back in the crib and we both go back to sleep.

8:00 am: He’s up again and I gotta get my shower on asap…and the cycle continues…

photo 2 

Here’s the 1 month version.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Comments (36)

  1. claire @ live and love to eat

    He’s so handsome – a perfectly round little baby! It sounds like you have a nice (although busy) routine established!

  2. Lori

    Did you see his tiny, precious little feet and toes all curled up in the photo of you holding him standing up in a pink t shirt ?! Oh too cute……. 🙂 Such a lovely lovely time. P – you are too cute! 🙂

    Makes my heart happy to see it! Happy days.

    Cheers
    Lori

  3. Ammie

    He’s such a cutie! Those cheeks are too delicious for words!! 🙂

  4. Katie @ Peace Love & Oats

    HE IS SO CUTE! Seriously. Your day sounds pretty nice to me.

  5. maddie

    elisa, you’re son is too precious! what a beautiful boy!

  6. maddie

    *your

  7. Jamie

    He has your eyes! Absolutely adorable

  8. Sami

    Omgoodness. Looking back on month 1, it’s amazing how much P has grown (not that I need to tell you that)! You guys are like the perfect little family. <3

  9. Elise (Post author)

    yes yes yes. i love it. i love him.

  10. Lara

    Aren’t we lucky to get to spend the day with such adorable boys?!
    It will be so interesting to see how your days change as P grows. I wish I had something like this. I don’t remember much about G’s first three months because they were such a blur. I don’t think I blogged or anything. I remember he was on 3-4 naps a day, all in the ergo carrier, because that was the only place he would sleep until he was 4 months old.
    I love that you are loading up on decaf too 🙂 Sometimes I ask myself, “what’s the point of this?” but then I realize how much I love the ritual and taste of coffee, even if it doesn’t help me get through the day 😉
    When P starts solids, it will be really fun to have family dinners. That is hands-down my favorite part of the day.
    I hope we can meet up this summer so I can hold this little hunk of love. He is a mini-you!

  11. Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl

    You are one busy mama, but I am sure that the adorable baby makes it allll worth it!! Your veggie fried rice looks awesome, too, by the way!

  12. Elise (Post author)

    its all about the ritual of having a nice warm cup (or 5) of brown something.
    and we are definitely meeting up in sac so we can ooo and ahh over each others boys 🙂

  13. Carolyn

    Oh the memories! thanks!

  14. Angie

    What a tiring day! I’m so excited for school to end and spend all summer with my guy. It’s survival mode at first but once you get into a routine it’s wonderful.

  15. Emily

    What a photogenic little boy! Oh my goodness. So cute. (:
    Parenting comes so naturally to you and Kyle, which we all knew it would. I can’t wait to see how your routine continues to change and evolve!

  16. Laura

    LOVE this post. Now my question…why dont you have a car??

  17. Elise (Post author)

    i do. 🙂
    its a hard one man operation though.

  18. Elise (Post author)

    this is such a nice comment emily!! you are so sweet 🙂

  19. Katie

    This is totally off topic, but I wanted to make sure you knew about Whole Earth Festival at UCD this weekend. It’s super hippy, but there is usually yummy food and lots and lots of crafts and music. I grew up going every year and it’s a really fun family tradition!

  20. Katie

    It sounds like I think hippy is bad in that last post–not so!

  21. Sally

    He’s looking cuter than ever, 3 months is such a gorgeous stage. But busy. You’re doing a fab job 🙂

  22. Beth

    I have to ask, what is the hot water bottle for?

  23. Noelle

    Aww he is so precious! Love those cheeks! You are lucky he seems to be sleeping through the nights- I guess I always imagined babyhood parenting as waking up every 3 hours in the night to breast feed- which literally sounds like hell..

  24. Brigid

    He is just too cute! I’m excited for days like yours (though I will be going back to work at three months, and then my husband gets all the fun for a while).

  25. Elise (Post author)

    what hot water bottle?

  26. Elise (Post author)

    i am BEYOND lucky. most moms i know have the 3 hour routine. ours seems just naturally changed. i still nurse ~ every 2-3 hours in the day but at night hes a DREAM! fingers crossed.

  27. Beth

    sorry….it said water bottle, not hot water bottle! I was just curious if you needed to put heat on your abdomen for pain as I do! I need glasses!

  28. Elise (Post author)

    The pink one? It’s just water. For drinking.

  29. Courtney

    P is precious! Your mama and son routine sounds like it is keeping you both on busy 🙂

    Courtney

  30. Amanda

    I’ve been following your blog since I was pregnant with my first baby (she’s only a couple weeks older than yours) and its been fun to kind of go through see someone else go through what I’ve been experiencing! Except you seem to have a great sleeper… 🙂

  31. Elise (Post author)

    awww…congrats and happy mothers day to you!
    and yes, i am SOOOO lucky w P’s sleeping!!!

  32. Tracy

    I’m curious…what kind of “shop” does Kyle work in?

  33. sally

    Whats the recipe for the green smoothie snack in the picture?

  34. Elise (Post author)

    greenbotics.com

  35. Elise (Post author)

    approx:
    1/2 cup vanilla unsweetened almond milk
    3 small ice cubes
    1 large hand full of spinach
    2 tbsp peanut butter
    1 frozen banana (super ripe)

    adjust almond milk amount til its the right consistency.
    add sweetener as desired (depends on banana ripeness and kind of PB you use)

  36. colleen

    he is so precious. you are such a great mom. udi’s gf bluebery muffins are the best. good choice. thanks for the smoothie recipe. always need more of those. i have been doing celery, cucumber, spinich, banana, lemon/lime, and maybe another fruit. love your blog

Comments are closed.