The twins turned 18-months* a couple of weeks ago and here is where we are in terms of a routine (I hate to call it a schedule b/c we certainly don't live by a clock...it's a routine in our house...the times are most certainly approximate):
- 7:00 - 7:30 - wake up - I never bring the kids out of their rooms before 7:00. This isn't to say that they don't wake up...they do. I just either give them a bink and they go back to sleep (not most mornings) or let them talk to each other.
- 8:00 - Breakfast...I will cook breakfast while they beg for water/food, run their lawn mowers or strollers around the house like crazy people, or ignore me and read their books (rare)! After they've finished eating or while they're just picking toward the end of their meal, I put some Sesam.e Street videos on the laptop. During this time, I can empty/fill the dishwasher, wipe down the counters, and get ready for whatever we're doing that day.
- 8:30 - 9:00 - Get dressed, play, vacuum (every single day...damn dog), and pack our bag for the activity of the day.
- 9:15 - 9:30 - Get jackets, shoes, and hats (if necessary) on. Get out of the house! There are a variety of activities that we can do on any given day. Here is what we are currently busying ourselves with: Kindermusik, playing with a friend, gym (kids go to daycare), library (although storytime is on hiatus at the moment), grocery shopping, BJ's, Target, Kohl's, and the mall (rare...only if we need a gift or it's Christmas time). Notice that most of these are places that I could spend money (bad), so I'm hoping to add the park and other outdoor activities in there really soon. I always bring our snack/drink with us so that we don't let tempers get the best of us. I usually forget my snack, so my temper is the pits...watch out for crazy Mama!
- 11:00 - 11:30 - Get home, get out of our jackets, collect sippy/snack cups from whiny babies, play, watch some TV (if whining is really bad), make lunch in sheer desperation to get them quiet.
- 12:00 - 12:30 - Lunch...I eat with the kids. I've started to notice that they have one meal that they eat really well at while the others aren't so good. Lunch is usually not one of our best as they are anxious to get out of those seats and onto something bigger and better. I do not show videos during lunch, but I will sing with them, make them laugh by acting ridiculous, and read books.
- 12:30 - 1:30 - Play, read books, change diapers, run around, get ready for naps.
- 1:30 - 3:30/4:00 - Nap - during this time I do nothing...I'm sure Husband is ready to kill me for this, but it's true. I do nothing. I have recently purchased things for Hailey's scrapbook, but have yet to construct even one page. I have even printed out some pictures from our trip to the beach last September, but nothing is adhered to a piece of paper...yet...I will work on this. I watch Days, catch up on blogging, research anything that I need to (gardening, material for tutoring, flights for upcoming trips). Nap time is sacred to me. Occasionally, I will fold a load of laundry...yuck.
- 4:00 - Kids wake up, we play in their room for a little while, come downstairs.
- 4:30 - Snack...I've started to give their afternoon snacks in little plastic bowls. It's too funny...as soon as I mention snack, they run into the living room, sit in front of the couch (because we don't eat on the couch...I'd have a freaking nervous breakdown), and wait for me to bring it in. I usually let them watch something on TV during this time too as they are being so good and it keeps them from feeding the damn dog. I have actually brainwashed them into thinking that it's a good idea to put their empty bowl in the sink when they're finished...I'll take it while I can!
- 5:30 - Dinner
- 6:00 - Finish dinner and run around like escaped convicts. Seriously, I'm pretty convinced that this is when they expend and majority of their energy...they run and run and run around the house. It's hysterical. It's become my favorite part of the day.
- 6:30 - Head upstairs for baths. Husband usually handles the baths. It's not my area of expertise. He's so much better at it and I just completely lose control and end up yelling...not the Mom I want to be. So, I avoid it like the plague. I usually end up putting laundry away or changing the crib sheets (yes, I'd rather change the crib sheets than give my kids a bath...I'm that bad at it)!
- 7:00 - Baths are finished and kids are put in PJ's, read to, chased around, groomed, and cuddled.
- 7:30 - Time for bed! The kids are still using binks (tsk, tsk) and they cannot get enough of their lovies. After we shut their door, we may have to go back in once if they throw Lala or Louie (their lovies) out of the cribs in sheer desperation to get our attention, but it's really not too bad.
That's all...that's all she wrote...that is our day in a nutshell. Have a great day!
* When can I stop counting their age in months??? It's getting on my nerves!
10 comments:
Busy! I'm exhausted from reading!
Wow! Busy days! Good for you for enjoying nap time. And my husband does bath more often than me too. I too would rather change the crib sheets (which is really annoying). Happy Tuesday! Oh, and I stopped counting months when Henry turned 2!
I like seeing other families' schedules...it gives me an idea of what might be coming up for us, and makes me feel like I'm doing it "right". As for me, I plan on counting months until at least two-if I start counting in years, it means they're not babies anymore!
I think either now or once they hit 2 years old you can stop counting in months.
Also, wow what a busy day you have each day. But that's great that the kids are on a daily schedule and you guys pretty much stick to it.
Two things
1) you're a rock star for doing activities EVERY DAY :)
2) I can't believe how tiny they were in your slideshow - I think you need to update (maybe while watching Days LOL)
Anyone who thinks kids aren't a full time job are out of their minds!!!!!
Rebecca, we are so alike it's scary...I can't handle bathtime either. I lose my patience very easily, esp when they start tossing water outside of the tub. Thank goodness my hubby is cool with doing baths while I clean up from dinner!
Your schedule looks very similar to mine when my babies were 18 months, except for some reason my big twins took 2 naps a day STILL at that point, which bugged me for some reason. What I wouldn't give for them to take just ONE nap now!!
You are completely entitled to taking a break and doing nothing when the little ones nap! Once I explained to my husband, "Uh, how many times a day do you just hang out at work having random conversations with others, nothing having to do with work? And how long of a lunch break do you take...usually OUT of the office?" He never ever asked me again "So what did you do today while the kids napped?"
i wish i was brave enough to tackle your daily activities! i cannot wait for spring to get here simply for the change of pace (ie. the backyard!).
my kiddies still use their nuks too. i have a love/hate with those things.
ps. i'm completely exhausted from reading about your day. whew!
i stopped counting at 24 months.
and what is with 6:00 and running around like lunatics? because mine do it too. in fact, we put on music so they can dance. it is one of the funniest things i have ever seen. they are now conditioned to get out of their high chairs and stand in front of the iPod speaker waiting for me to turn it on. it buys me 15 minutes while i can clean up after dinner. not that i can clean up in 15 minutes, but that is what they give me.
my schedule is SO boring compared to yours
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