Baby Monkey is 2 months old now and I am busier than
ever!!! I am not sure what he weighs now, but it's over 12 lbs. His daily
schedule is still all over the place, but there are some consistencies. It also
looks like he is following in his older brother's footsteps and has developed
baby reflux. It surely throws a twist into the mix. This has increased the
amount of laundry that I do and number of times that I have to change Baby M
and myself (and sometimes Daddy has to change too!). Since life is so busy, I
thought that it would be fun to write about my typical day of being a mom.
Let's try a minute by minute account of one day:
7:05 am
Baby M is starting to stir next to me. I
am so very tired. It was close to 3 am when I finally got a chance to sleep and
4 hours is just not enough. Maybe if I nurse him lying next to him he will fall
back to sleep and we can get some more rest. I start to nurse him...
7:09 am
He was starting to close his eyes and fall
back asleep but then he started choking on milk and then gagging. I pick him up and
burp him to release some of the air he swallowed up when he was chocking on
milk. Ahhh, the beauty of making more milk than is needed.
7:12 am
Since he is up I might as well change him.
I normally don't bother changing a wet diaper in the middle of the night if
Baby M is sleeping, unless he poops into it or is bothered by it even after I feed
him. His diaper is very wet. I put on a new fitted diaper and snap on the wool
cover. Looks like I am running low on clean diapers but I decide to wait a bit
before I put the laundry on.
7:15 am
Now that Baby M is clean and comfortable I
think that I am going to try to feed him to sleep again. I lay him on my bed
and plop myself next to him. Since he is contently drinking his milk I close my
eyes....
7:22 am
Nope! He is not going back to sleep. Oh
well, I guess that I will not get any more rest today. I sit up and try to burp
him again. He swallows a lot of air eating and if I don't burp him he is very
uncomfortable.
7:24 am
Baby M burps and with it spits up! Well, I
was already thinking of getting dressed for the day, and that forced me to do
it right this very minute. I get his clothes ready and change him. While I am
changing his sleeper and putting on his day clothes I decide to check his
diaper. What do you know....? Baby M is wet again. So I change his diaper while
he manages to spit up on his fresh, new clothes... and all over me!
7:40 am
Baby M is finally changed and dressed in
new clothes. It's my turn to change. I put baby M in his bouncy seat and make
my bed. He starts crying ... I better check his diaper again!
7:45 am
He is not wet, but smacking his lips to
signal that he is hungry. I feed him...
8:00 am
I am still sitting in my spit-up pj's!
Baby M is fed so I decide to check his diaper since he is starting to whine.
Yup, he is wet again!!!
8:07 am
After changing Baby M, I put him back into
his bouncy seat. I change with the speed of someone who thinks that the world
will come to an end in 2 minutes. I have to admit that I am a little scared of
Baby M fussing before I am done changing, washing my face, and putting some
quick make-up on. These are the only things that keep me from looking like a
total slob! Fancy that, me being afraid of my own baby!!!
8:30 am
I finally look presentable, which took a
lot of energy since I had to make faces and rock Baby M with my foot. He
started to fuss about 2 minutes prior so I better check if he is wet.
8:35 am
Baby M is not wet! But he is hungry again.
If he ate for a bit longer he would not get hungry so much, but that's not his
ways. I nurse him again.
8:45 am
He has fallen asleep! I carry him downstairs
and put him in his swing. If I am lucky I will get few minutes to get some stuff
done before the other kids wake up. I call Daddy to find out how his day is
going and I began going through my pictures on the computer since I only have
750 MB left out of 350 GB that the computer came with. I need to make some
space.
9:12 am
Funky Monkey comes downstairs. I greet him
and ask him to get his morning chores done (get dressed, make bed, unload the
dishwasher). I continue going through pictures and answering emails.
9:48 am
Little Monkey comes downstairs and I help
him to go to the washroom. I then ask Funky Monkey to watch Baby M while I go
upstairs with Little Monkey and make sure he gets dressed. He is really good at
dressing himself except that he takes a really..... REALLY long time when he is
not watched. I tell Funky Monkey to put the kettle on so we can have our
morning tea and wake up Girly Monkey. After reminding her to do her morning
chores (get dressed, make bed, change laundry over to the dryer), I go
downstairs and find Funky Monkey working on his math.
10:23 am
"Mommy, I just have one question
about this math problem" says Funky Monkey. So I stop to help him....
10:48 am
I think it's time for breakfast now. I
better start making the tea and cutting up some fruits....
10:49 am
I just realized that Girly Monkey is not
up yet. I go to wake her up ... AGAIN!
10:51 am
Funky Monkey yells that Baby M is up and
fussing. I go downstairs and get him out of his swing. I then go upstairs to
change and feed him. On my way I tell Funky Monkey to get the bowls, spoons and
cereal ready.
11:05 am
They have to be hungry so I yell down to the kids to start eating
without me and I will get the tea and fruits when I get downstairs.
11:15 am
I come down the stairs and find Little
Monkey sitting on the stairs playing with his Leap Pad. He is still not
finished eating so I try to get him to sit at the table (it's something that we
are working on right now)
11:20 am
Little Monkey is finally sitting at the
table after a little "fit". Time to move Baby M to the swing so I can
get the morning tea and fruit ready for breakfast.
11:25 am
Now that Baby M is in his swing I start on
the tea and cutting up some Mango for us. It takes Baby M only about 5 minutes
to start fussing. It pains me but he has to stay in there until I finish
getting the rest of breakfast ready.
11:40 am
The kids are having tea and eating fruits
while I go to pick up Baby M who is really crying now. Yup, he is wet.... Back
upstairs I go.
11:45 am
Baby M is in the process of being changed
while he pees on himself. Ahhhh, the beauty if having little boys. Only little
boy is able to pee on his own face! I have to change his clothes again and put
new diaper on him (and wash his face!)
12:00 pm
Baby M is fed and changed and I put on a
load of diapers on the way down.
12:02 pm
I find the kids are all done their breakfast,
so I put Baby M is the swing (hoping he goes to sleep again) and go to eat
breakfast.
12:08 pm
I get to eat now. While I eat I turn on
Eragon audio book (book we are listening to now) so that we can get some school
work done. I check on Baby M and he fell asleep. I don't have much time to eat
so I eat fast.
12:30 pm
I hear Baby M moving in his swing. I
finish few drops of tea remaining and ask Funky Monkey to clean the table. Time
to get Baby M changed and fed. Off I go again!
12:48 pm
Now that Baby M is happy I get to the next
thing. I tell the two older kiddos to brush their teeth while I try to get
Little Monkey to come and brush his. It's a chore in itself just to get him to
come and sit still.
12:55 pm
Finally, Little Monkey is sitting still
enough so that I can brush his teeth. I ask him to sit on my bed since I have
Baby M in my arms. I plop Baby M on the bed beside me and brush Little Monkey's
teeth and wash his face with wash cloth. Then I brush my own teeth. As I do I
fondly remember being able to brush my teeth before noon!
1:12 pm
I put Baby M in my Ergo carrier (thank God
he is big enough to go into it because it's so much faster to put on then Moby
Wrap) and go downstairs to get a snack ready for the kids. As I do I ask Funky
and Girly Monkeys to continue with their school work. It's best if they do
their copywork right now since they need me more for math and right now I have
to get the snack ready for them.
1:15 pm
Little Monkey bumped his head on a chair
so I run into the living room to give him a hug and see if he is really
hurt.
!:24 pm
Little Monkey is OK, just a lot of crying
and being upset. Back to cutting up some celery for snack. I like celery and
peanut butter for snack since it's easy. I am glad that today is not Little
Monkey's dance class as it would have started in 6 minutes and we would never
be able to get out of the house on time.
1:35 pm
Celery is on the table and kids start
eating it. I grab couple on my way upstairs to change Baby M. He is wet again.
1:45 pm
Baby M is changed. He had a sip of breastmilk
and that's it. He is yawning though so might be a bit sleepy. I grab celery
as I walk by to put Baby M in the swing again.
1:50 pm
Baby M is in the swing and falling asleep.
Funky Monkey and Girly Monkey run into the room to show me their copywork. I
check it over and tell them to get themselves stickers for it. I grab one more
celery stick.
2:00 pm
I start loading the dishwasher.
2:02 pm
Upstairs, the washing machine is beeping
letting me know that it's done. I let Girly Monkey know that she can change it
to the dryer now and put in my earphones and listen to Dracula while I load the
dishwasher. Little Monkey is busy drawing letters on his LeapPad.
2:10 pm
Dishwasher loaded and turned on. I try to
go upstairs to put another load of laundry on when I am stopped by Girly Monkey
ready for me to explain her math to her and show her how to do the math exercises.
2:18 pm
Funky Monkey needs help with his math now.
2:22 pm
Girly Monkey is ready for the next page. I
explain it to her,
2:28 pm
Little Monkey comes in upset and says that
his LeapPad is not working. I fiddle with it for a while and discover that it's
the fault of the rechargeable batteries that were not connecting properly.
2:50 pm
Stupid LeapPad. That took too much of my
time, but Little Monkey is happily tracing letter B on his Leap Pad now. Baby
Monkey is starting to cry ...
3:15. pm
I fed and changed Baby M. What was I going
to do now? Oh yeah .... laundry and ....Oh No!!!! Funky Monkey's dance class starts at
4:30 and we haven't even had lunch yet. I put on a load of laundry quickly and
go downstairs to get lunch ready.
3:32 pm
Baby M is in my carrier while I make quick
tuna sandwiches and cucumber salad for lunch. Funky Monkey comes in with one
more math problem, but I ask him to put it away for now and get ready for
dance.
3:48 pm
The kids are eating lunch. I grab a
sandwich and eat half of it with Baby M still in my carrier. He starts fussing
so I stand up and rock while I eat my sandwich. Salad is a little harder to do
but I manage.
4:00 pm
I run upstairs to change Baby M, since he
is wet again. I ask Little Monkey to go use the washroom before we leave. Then
I ask Funky Monkey to go and get everyone’s socks and shoes out.
4:03 pm
Little Monkey runs upstairs wearing only
his shirt. "I peed my pants" he says. I ask him to go and get new
ones on. I feed Baby M while packing everything I need in the diaper bag.
4:10 pm
Funky Monkey is complaining that Little
Monkey won't put on his socks ....
4:12 pm
I come down the stairs with spare clothes
and diapers for the diaper bag and catch Little Monkey running up the stairs. I
tell him to go and get his socks on quickly.
4:14 pm
I put Baby M in his car seat and catch
Little Monkey who is still refusing to put on his socks and shoes.
4:19 pm
We finally leave the house. How am I going
to make this 12 minute drive in less then 10? I guess Funky Monkey will be late
again ....
4:21 pm
Little Monkey is throwing a fit over being
last in the car. I really don't have the time for that. Now Baby M is starting
to cry too being startled by Little Monkey's cries ..... I don't have time for
this. I strap Little Monkey into his car seat, ask everyone if they all have
seat belts on and drive.
4:34 pm
We arrive at dance class and let Funky
Monkey out. Since Baby M is still crying I decide to park and bring him into
the front to change him.
4:45 pm
You really get very good at changing your baby
on your lap, in the driver seat of your car, blasting heat since it's so cold
outside. I am looking forward to summer ....
4:48 pm
Baby M is strapped back in his car seat so
I call Daddy. He is on his way home and will be able to pick up Funky Monkey
from Dance. My saviour, My knight in shining armour!!!!! I can go home with the
little ones and he can go by himself to pick up Funky Monkey.
5:04 pm
I arrive at home and get all 3 kids inside
the house. Daddy is already there. Baby M fell asleep in his car seat so I dare
not take him out of it. I put down the car seat in the kitchen and prepare the
snack. I think cookies and milk would be great before Funky Monkey and Daddy
leave for soccer practice. Little Monkey plays with Girly Monkey in the living
room.
5:05 pm
Daddy comes downstairs from having a
shower and gives me a kiss. We talk a bit about our day wile I mix cookie dough
and keep my eye on Baby M sleeping soundly.
5:15 pm
Daddy leaves to get Funky Monkey. I put my
first batch of cookies in the oven. All of a sudden, Girly Monkey starts
screaming and Baby M opens his eyes. She if fighting with Little Monkey over a
toy. I am so upset at her now.
5:16 pm
Baby M closed his eyes again so I go and
have a talk with Girly Monkey about using inside voice in the house, and then
talk to both her and Little Monkey about sharing.
5:37 pm
Oven is beeping! Cookies are done, at
least the first batch! I take them out onto a cooling rack. Girly Monkey is
pouting on the stairs. She really didn't like the whole sharing speech of mine.
Sometimes I envy people that go to work with other adults that at least
understand what it is they talk about. I get to work with kids that sometimes
don't want to listen or understand me ....
5:39 pm
Second batch of cookies is in the oven. I
turn on my Dracula book while I tidy up the kitchen.
5:48 pm
Daddy and Funky Monkey get home. I have a
little chat with Funky Monkey about his dance. We talk about the upcoming
festival and his RAD examinations. He tells me what his teacher said he should
work on. While we are talking I look at Little Monkey and he is wiggling on the
couch, a sure sign that he has to use the washroom. So I ask him to use it.
6:05 pm
Second batch of cookies is out of the oven
and I get the plates and pour milk into glasses. I call everyone to come and
eat. Since Baby M is still sleeping I sit down with them. We chat a bit about
things and listen to some more Eragon book. I then ask Funky Monkey and Girly
Monkey to finish their math work. Funky Monkey has only one more problem left
that he needed help with and Girly Monkey has a page. I help both of them.
6:28 pm
Daddy calls from upstairs for Funky Monkey
to change into his soccer clothes. Thankfully he is all done with his math so
he doesn't have to finish it after soccer. Girly Monkey is still working on the
last few problems.
6:38 pm
Daddy and Funky Monkey leave for soccer. I
remind Daddy to keep awake. I know that he is super tired, and I worry about
him falling asleep at the wheel. Between his work, coaching both kids soccer
teams, new baby and house he is getting little sleep.
6:45 pm
Girly Monkey is done her math for the day.
Since I promised it early to Little Monkey, I turn on a show on Netflix for the
kids while I unload and reload the dishwasher. I also put on rice on the stove
for dinner.
7:10 pm
I look at Baby M and he is smiling in his
car seat. Yup, he is up. I pick him up and tell Girly Monkey to sit nicely and
watch Little Monkey and tell them both to watch the show while I go upstairs
and change and feed Baby M.
7:25 pm
I am in the middle of nursing Baby M when
Girly Monkey comes in and says that Little Monkey is climbing on the furniture
again to get to the TV remote. I tell her to tell him to get down and that I
will chat with him when I finish feeding Baby M.
7:29 pm.
I come downstairs and find Little Monkey
climbing on the hutch to get to the TV!. I have a talk with him and tell him
that there is no climbing (I have only reminded him a million times) and that
if it happens again the TV will be turned off. As I say this Baby M spits up
all over himself and me. Ugh! I guess that I have to pay for not taking the
time to burp him!
7:40 pm
I changed myself and Baby M into new
clothes. I also notice that laundry is done and tell Girly Monkey to come
upstairs to change the wet clothes to the dryer. I then go downstairs and find
Little Monkey climbing on the same hutch!!! True to my word, I turn off the TV
and explain to him why the TV is off.
7:43 pm
All Hell breaks loose! Little Monkey is
not very happy about the consequence. He yells, screams, throw his toys (which
get taken away for the rest of the day, as per our house rule). This is all
followed by "I HATE you!" and "You are the WORST!!!" Oh,
when is Daddy coming back?
7:50 pm
Baby M is starting to cry. I bounce him in
my arms. Little Monkey is still upset.
7:54 pm
Baby M has calmed down but Little Monkey
is still throwing a fit. I ignore his antics and continue rocking Baby M.
8:00 pm
Little Monkey comes into the kitchen and
says "Sorry Mommy, I don't hate you, I love you!" I get down to his
level and tell him that I love him too and that it hurts my feelings when he
says things like this. Ohhhhh, is this day never going to end.
8:10 pm
I have to make stir-fry but with Baby M
fussing in my arms I can't get started on it right now. The rice is all done on
the stove though. I check Baby M and find out that he is wet! I go upstairs to
change him but this time take the other 2 monkeys upstairs with me.
8:25 pm
As I come downstairs I find that Daddy is
just pulling up! Yey!!!
8:28 pm
Daddy and Funky Monkey come into the house
and Funky Monkey tells me all about his soccer practice. Daddy asks if I want
him to hold Baby M since I haven't finished dinner yet. I agree, but first I
have to feed him.
8:39 pm
After feeding Baby M I pass him to Daddy
who rocks him Before I go downstairs I sort laundry and turn on a load in the
washing machine. I grab my iPhone and put on my ear phones to listen to
Dracula. I don't mind making dinner since it's a time to myself. Daddy is on
kids duty.
8:55 pm
Funky Monkey comes into the kitchen to
announce that Baby M fell asleep and they are all watching Monster's Inc
upstairs. I thank him for the info and continue chopping veggies.
9:05 pm
Little Monkey comes to the kitchen to tell
me that he is watching a show and "I love you Mommy!" I reply that I
love him too and he runs off.
9:20 pm
The stir-fry is on and I make the sauce
for it. Funky Monkey arrives in the kitchen asking what's for dinner, He is
really just checking if it's anything with mushrooms. He hates mushrooms! I
tell him that it's not mushrooms and he smiles. I then ask him to go have a
shower and tell Girly Monkey and Little Monkey to wash up and change into pj's
since it's not their day to bathe.
9:28 pm
I hear Baby M crying upstairs. I cover the
stir-fry to keep it warm and go upstairs. Baby M is smacking his lips so I have
to feed him.
9:42 pm
Baby M spit up all over himself, so I will
just give him a bath instead of changing him. It's his day for a bath anyways.
I inform Daddy that I will wash him and then dish out dinner.
9:50 pm
Baby M is in the bath! He is all smiles!
Girly Monkey comes in and asks if she can help. I love when they come and help.
10:00 pm
Baby M is washed and I give him a baby
massage. He cries on his back, but then I put him on his belly and he makes
sweet noises. After changing him into his sleeper I go downstairs and pass him
to Daddy.
10:21 pm
food is dished out and everyone sits down
to eat. No matter what I will never compromise on having dinner together! I
grab Baby M and sit him on my knee. You get used to eating while holding a
baby.
10:52 pm
We are done eating and Girly Monkey cleans
the table. I take Little Monkey upstairs and brush his teeth and floss while
Daddy holds Baby M. I then go back downstairs and wash kids’ water bottles for
the night.
11:20 pm
I call the kids to fill their water
bottles for the night. Girly Monkey was just about to brush her teeth but she
comes anyways.
When I get upstairs I notice that Baby M
fell asleep in Daddy's arms again. If I am lucky enough we will just put him on
the bed and he will sleep, if not he will wake up and want to play.
11:37 pm
I tell the kids that they have to go to
bed now, so after hugs and kisses I tuck them in. I'd like to have a shower
tonight, but we'll see what time it is.
11:44 pm
Little Monkey comes in. "I have to ho
pee-pee." It's his usual excuse. I take him anyway and tuck him back in.
11:50 pm
I go and load up dishwasher again and put
on another load of laundry. Daddy is half asleep holding Baby M on the
bed.
12:05 am
Little Monkey is up again. I take
him to the washroom again and tuck him in.
12:08 am
Daddy tells me to go have a quick shower
and he'll hold Baby M.
12:20 am
I'm out of the shower now. Guess who walks
to my bedroom...... yup, it's Little Monkey. I take him to the washroom and
tuck him in. I then take Baby M from Daddy and put him on the bed. He stays
sleeping so I can go and brush my teeth.
12:30 am
Little Monkey walks in AGAIN!!! I tell him
to go to bed and he says that he needs to be tucked in. This game is not fun
anymore!!!! I tuck him in.
12:40 am
Daddy comes in with tea he made for me and
puts it down and then goes and changes into his pj's. I sit on the edge of the
bed and sip some tea while daddy settles under the covers. I give him a kiss
goodnight and he falls asleep.
12:48 am
Little Monkey is finally asleep. I go and
turn off the lights in the boys’ room. I am so very tired. At least Baby M
stayed sleeping and it gives me a chance to go to sleep before 3 am. He starts
moving around so I turn off the light and climb into bed next to him. I nurse
him and we both drift off to sleep. Tomorrow is another busy day!!!!!
** As you can see I did not put down when
I use the toilet as nobody wants to know that. Just know that it's not often,
sometimes it’s with a baby in the room, and most of the time It's only because
I have to and not because I have time for it.
*** I also didn't put down when I play
with Baby M or talk with older kids. This happens through out my day and very
often. Any opportunity I get to make connection with my kids I grab a chance to
be there for them.
**** My days are hard, mundane, and
repetitive. Some days it's easier than this on some days it's much harder. Do I
ever regret my life? Do I ever wish I had more time to accomplish
"things"? Nope!!!!! I wouldn't change it for the world!
No comments:
Post a Comment