Tuesday, January 29, 2013

A Day in the Life


I did a "Day in the Life" post with Ethan when he was around 6 months old. I've been meaning to do another one ever since. It's completely time consuming to do, but so fun to look back on. I have to say the first one I did was much more fun as it was all pictures. This one is more wordy, less picture-y just due to lack of time and energy. I hope you enjoy this stream-of-consciousness version.


A Day in the Life

January 28, 2013

Ethan - 2yrs 3mo.
Jackson - 1.5mo.

  • 12:00 AM - It's the official start to this day, but also the ending of yesterday. I just finished getting ready for bed and retrieved Jackson from the swing for a quick feeding before bed.

  • 12:20 AM - With fingers crossed I slide Jackson into the Rock-n-Play and crawl into bed.

  • 3:00 AM - I hear the little one stirring so I put him in bed with me for a feeding. Both of us fall asleep. Hello, co-sleeping. Now I get what everyone is talking about. Ethan would have had none of this in his day.

  • 6:11 AM - Both kids wake up at the exact same time. Ethan has miraculously slept an hour later than normal. This, of course, puts a change to our normal flow of things. Thankfully Michael hasn't jumped in the shower yet so I send him to get E while I get Jackson changed. 

  • 6:22 AM - Both boys are now in bed with me enjoying their milk and hubs heads into the bathroom to get ready for work. 

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  • 6:31 AM - Hot spit up is running right down the middle of my chest. I do a quick clean up and then it's back to feeding. The toddler knows I'm trapped and I verbally talk him out of dropping multiple items (mostly my jewelry) down the vent. This is his new favorite button to push. We have come to the conclusion that the only way to make him stop is to try the scare tactic. Yes, he now believes in monsters. We are amazing parents. Please award us our gold star.

  • 6:43 AM - The baby is finally done and the toddler is on the loose (aka wrecking havoc around the house). Time for me to get ready for the day. This means I change out of spit up clothes, put in my contacts and brush my teeth. I even throw on some mascara and eyeliner just to make sure I don't look like death. I wouldn't want to scare the children now would I? The hubs is off to work and Ethan is running around with our toothbrushes. This is also a new favorite obsession. Toddlers are weird. He should have the cleanest teeth on the toddler block. 

  • 6:55 AM - Ethan amazingly comes up with a great idea. Coloring! This means I can trap him in the high chair. Fantastic! Some days I really miss him being content with being in the pack-n-play although these toddler antics do help me keep in shape and practice that thing called patience that I never quite mastered.

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  • 7:04 AM - I'm ready, baby is finally back to sleep and Ethan has decided he's ready for breakfast.

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  • 7:14 AM - I've decided that today is the day I begin Operation Get Fit since I'll officially be 6 weeks post partum on Friday. While the toddler is entertained with breakfast and the baby is in the swing, I decide to seize the moment and pop in the 30 Day Shred DVD that hasn't seen the light of day since 2011. 
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I move the construction fleet that has overtaken our living room rug and the massive ottoman of toys so I can have a little space. I'm ready. Wait. I need a remote to move that toggle thing down to select my workout. Shit. No batteries. Rob random toy of batteries. There. All set. Wait. These gals have weights. I have those...somewhere. I quickly make a mad dash upstairs to dig said weights out of the closet. 

All this commotion has of course grabbed the toddlers attention and he now declares he wants to "hop with mama". His declarations get louder and more insistent so I run over to let him out of his chair (missing a few push ups won't hurt). Toddler begins to take off his shirt. What is this? Now he says "pants off!". What type of work out do you think this is son? He wants me to take my pants off. This is getting weird mama will be keeping her pants on thank you. Now the diaper is getting undone and this is where I draw the line. No son...we leave the diaper on. Toddlers are definitely weird.


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  • 7:46 AM - Toddler proclaims that we are "all done" and with 5 minutes left of the workout he pushes the eject button and proceeds to put in his Cat in the Hat DVD. I don't fight it. My legs feel like jello.

  • 7:55 AM - It's time for me to eat and have a little computer time.

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  • 8:15 AM - I figure it's time to clothe E. This leads to a wrestling match that is finished off with numerous bear hugs. Nothing is quick and easy these days. He is certainly head strong...just like his mama.
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  • 8:21 AM - I put away yesterday's laundry that's covering our couch. I wish there was someone I could hire for that task alone. I can wash and dry all day, but when it comes to putting it away. No thank you. It's also time to control the chaos in Ethan's room. It goes a little something like this...I put something away and then hear it being dumped out. I finally get it to a suitable level of destruction and call it a day.

  • 9:16 AM - Lola reminds me that I forgot to take her out by leaving poo in the hallway. I'd scold her, but technically this one is my fault. Note to newlyweds: wait to get the dog after kids. Seriously.

  • 9:20 AM - Ethan decides it's time for a snack. All I can think about is how much I really want some cheese. Even the fish make me drool.

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  • 9:22 AM - While Ethan is snacking and watching Curious George, I decide to tackle the kitchen. I hear a scratching sound at the door. Oh yeah, the dog. Maybe this means she didn't pee in our closet (her favorite spot).
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  • 9:27 AM - Back in. It's much warmer than expected. Maybe I'll be brave enough to take both boys to the park for the first time today!

  • 9:30 AM - I see fish strown all over the floor, but it looks like the doggie van has it under control. Dog are useful after all. Newlyweds...forget that little suggestion earlier. Back to the kitchen and this time I have a little helper that wants to wash dishes. This will most likely get messy.
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  • 9:48 AM - Me and Ethan play a quick game of chase so I can change his diaper. See...nothing is easy these days.

  • 9:58 AM - Jackson wakes up and is ready for a change and a snack. Scratch that...it's a blowout. It's straight to the bathtub for him!

  • 10:12 AM - Ethan has seized this opportunity to take off with the crayons. This terrifies me and my walls. I finally convince him to hand them over with the promise that he can help give Jackson a bath.

  • 10:17 AM - Everyone is ready to give Jackson a sink bath when I realize I forgot the soap upstairs. All three of us truck up the stairs to retrieve it.
  • 10:20 AM - While upstairs, Ethan decided it wasn't cool to share soap and towels with Jackson. I finally convince him otherwise and we head back down.
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  • 10:25 AM - Ethan has sweetly helped me give Jackson a bath and we managed to only have a couple life threatening scares. The kitchen is now completely wet and the toddler has managed to cover himself in lotion from head to toe.

  • 10:30 AM - Now that all that is done, it's time to feed Jack. I placate E with Bubble Guppies. 

  • 10:53 AM - What time is it? It's time for lunch! What time is it? It's time for lunch!
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  • 11:05 AM - Jackson vomits and it's time for outfit change #3 of the day. And I wonder why I have so much laundry?
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  • 11:10 AM - Now begins the dance of juggling baby while scrounging up E's requests for seconds on cucumbers, olives and fruit. These would be his current favorite foods.

  • 11:15 AM - I sneak away and try to rock the baby to sleep.

  • 11:25 AM - Baby is refusing to close those pretty baby blues and Ethan is ready to play the game called "procrastinate nap time". Let the games begin!

"Milk mama!"

"No pee-pee potty!"

"Need paypa tow" (aka toliet paper...all of which he threw away yesterday)

"Poo-poo potty!"

"No, diaper!"

"Pick book"
"One mo!"
"Pillow tight!" (this means it's uncomfortable and he wants to switch it for another one.)
"Sing song!"
"One mo!"

  • 11:40 AM - Finally done with the games and thankfully baby J has fallen asleep on his own.

  • 11:42 AM - I hear the door open upstairs. Seriously?
"Poo-poo potty?"
"Need paypa tow"

...more procrastination...

Finally he poops when I begin to count to 10.
Hugs, high fives and kisses.

"Pick book" 
No, I'm not playing any more toddler games!
"Hug!"

Commense toddler bear hugging session. My heart is melting.

"Sing song"
Okay, okay.
More Hugs.
"One mo?"
Sure.
"Bless you, love you mama"

Heart is officially in puddle.


  • 11:54 AM - He's down for real and it's time to hit the shower!

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  • 12:44 PM - I'm showered, put on make up and am ready for lunch. I've rocked the baby approximately 3 times during all of this.

  • 12:50 PM - I walk into the kitchen where my ears instantaneously begin bleeding at the sound of Barney. Must change channel now! Annnnd the baby cries. 
  • 12:54 PM - A diaper change and channel change later, lunch has turned into a nursing session. It's time to catch up on Downton Abbey and eat my delicious salad. I drop salad on baby approximately 10 times. 
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  • 1:15 PM - I managed to stay clean for 30 minutes before I was spit up on again. Apparently spit up is my new scent. Time for another diaper and outfit change. Oh, and the toddler is up...ALREADY! Downton will have to wait.
  • 1:32 PM - Everyone is in my bedroom. Ethan is set with his juice box and treat (aka fruit snacks). Time to blow dry my hair.
  • 1:45 PM - No one is cooperating and I'm determined to get to the park so the baby goes to the swing and Ethan goes to his room for a little playtime alone which actually turns into toddler tantrum time. I rush to get ready as fast as possible.
  • 2:00 PM - Done! Time to get the kids ready.
  • 2:27 PM - 50 curse words later and we are in the car. Crap! I forgot to get a water for myself. Oh well. 
  • 2:40 PM - Me and Ethan busy ourselves by pointing out work trucks and airplanes. Jack throws a hellacious unstoppable fit. For the love....please stop the crying!
  • 2:52 PM - Thank God we made it! Now time to feed J and then it's time to play.
  • 3:02 PM - Ethan has patiently waited for Jackson to eat and now I'm just praying I won't have a toddler escapee once I let him free in the park. I throw Jackson into the K'tan and we bravely head out for our first park adventure with just the three of us. 
  • 3:57 PM - We are back in the car. E was perfect. We had the park to ourselves. Jackson slept the whole time. I declare the first park trip a success. 
  • 4:15 PM - I decide it's reward time for mommy and E and head to Mickey D's. I know...what about Operation Get Fit? Old habits die hard folks. Mommy needs her sweet tea and E needs apple slices. Oh wait...what's that...yeah. They forgot the apple slices. Thankfully I happened to order a small side of fries that E was more than thrilled with. There was no way I was dragging two kids into the restaurant to claim my $0.50 bag of apple slices.
  • 4:45 PM - We are back. I somehow managed to forget my house key before leaving but managed to get in an alternate way. Ethan refuses yet another diaper change. The baby gets a fresh diaper and more spit up is cleaned up. It's time to feed J again.
  • 5:06 PM - Baby is fed. Still can't convince the toddler to have a diaper change despite the fact he says he's wet.
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  • 5:15 PM - I count to three and get Ethan changed. It's time to start dinner, but of course, I forgot an ingredient and had to call the hubs on his way home. Basically at this point I run arround like a chicken with its head cut off attempting to make something edible all while making sure the toddler doesn't injure himself or the baby.
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(Yes, he has derived a way to drag the baby around the house. Fun times folks, fun times.)


  • 5:45 PM - Devilishly handsome husband arrives home...all is right in the world! 
  • 6:15 PM - Soup is simmering, E is being entertained by daddy and the baby is chilling in his rock-n-play. Time to start cleaning the kitchen again.
  • 6:45 PM - Two diaper changes, spit up and a time out later we are ready to eat....much later than normal. Daddy and E eat while I feed J.
  • 7:20 PM - It's truck bath time for Ethan. Jack is full and asleep. I get to eat dinner in peace with a little Downton Abbey. Scratch that. Baby officially hates Downton. Now to master the trick of baby bouncing while eating soup. This might get messy.
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  • 8:00 PM - E's down for the night. J gets another diaper chance and fussy time begins...er...continues. Daddy becomes baby whisperer while I tackle the floors. Daddy discovers a new kind of poo...green. Great. More breastfeeding issues.
  • 8:32 PM - Floors are vacuumed. They could really use mopping, but there is always tomorrow. I think it's time for a little me time. Nail painting time while watching TV with the hubs...amidst baby fussiness. 
  • 10:15 PM - Time for another feeding for baby J and the hubs is off to bed. More green poo discovered.
  • 10:44 PM - Another spit up, but thankfully no outfit changes required. Swing time for baby and computer time for mom.
  • 11:50 PM - Put together the toddler lunch for school tomorrow and then one last feeding before heading to bed. 


It's ends like it began and it begins again. My day might be hectic and frustrating, but the toddler hugs, smiles and laughter make it every bit worth it. Oh and the baby snuggles...are worth more than gold. One day, when my house is very quiet, I'm sure I'll look back on this and miss having this exact day.

7 comments :

  1. In full disclosure, I didn't read every detail--but the gist of it? Haha. I could just laugh. I use scare tactics and bribes with Eme more than I ever imagined. Whatever. You do what you gotta do sometimes.

    Having two kids is way different, yea? hahaha. I guess we can just laugh about the chaos? yea. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Did you like the salad?

    Green poop is often a sign of the milk protein intolerance. It took at least 3 weeks (maybe 4?) for that color to go away (though with Peter, he tends to have greener stools in general). You're doing amazing- it is TOUGH some days!!

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  3. You are giving me insight into my life in 2 months. And I am off to enjoy a nap while I still can ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! Quite a day!! My baby had green poo occasionally and I think it was because she wasn't getting enough hind milk. Just something to look into if you have an oversupply. You're doing awesome! I don't know how I would wrangle two kids to the park! :)

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  5. This is the greatest post ever! I'm right there with ya...right there! I'm laughing out loud...like belly laughing right now. My husband thinks I'm crazy, which is partially true. Thank you for the laugh and your last statement...true that!

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  6. This is my life...glad I'm not alone! :)

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  7. Oh my gosh I almost died of exhaustion at the 8:12am entry. 6:15 is AN HOUR LATER THAN HE NORMALLY WAKES UP?

    ReplyDelete

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