As many of my friends are beginning to think about (or have already started 'working') on baby number two I thought I would give a little glimpse into the chaos that I call my daily life. It's also a little peek for those who wondered, what do stay at home moms do all day...here goes!
I usually wake up and feed and change Chase around 1am and again around 4am. Between 4 and 6 we will lay in bed but he never sleeps soundly after 4 (what a bummer!). Around 6:30 I will get up and pump. Here is Chase while I was pumping this morning, he was in such a great mood! Do you like his gown? I like to think it's a manly gown since it has baseballs on it!
I will than feed Chase (again! It's an endless process. I usually feed him before so he won't start screaming while I'm still in the shower) and than spend a few blessed minutes in the shower. Around 7 Colby starts to wake up (a slow process). Once I've showered I quickly throw on some clothes and put Chase in the Baby Bjorn (carrier) and we go to get Colby around 7:15, this is how I find him...
Next we'll go downstairs and Colby will play while I feed Chase (again) and get his breakfast ready. He loves this little truck! Thanks Pa John and Barbara! Than it's breakfast time for Colby (Chase is usually in the sling, as long as he's being held he's content).
Than the boys play for about an hour, Chase will lay on this little play mat for limited periods of time. As soon as I bust it out Colby thinks it's a toy for him. Colby loves to be close to his brother.
After playtime I put Colby down for a nap (I'm usually rocking Colby while he drinks his milk upstairs while Chase wails in his swing downstairs, not a very relaxing routine but fortunately Colby is very easy going and it doesn't seem to bother him). While Colby is sleeping I am usually nursing Chase and cleaning up from breakfast. I also use these precious quiet moments to drink a cup of coffee and watch the morning news.
Around 11:00 Colby is up and ready to get on with his day. I can almost always count on having to change poopy diapers from both Colby and Chase during this time which is why it is now labeled the 'poopy hour'.
Next it's time to play, this is when we start exploring all of the kitchen toys. It's about this time of day that I officially give up trying to keep the house clean. I sit on the floor in the kitchen with Colby and nurse Chase while Colby bangs away on pots and pans, reorganizes my plastic bags and pop cans and plays with as many non-sharp kitchen utensils as he can find.
Than it's time to eat lunch (this doesn't last long, Colby never has much of an appetite at lunch time). After lunch we always sweep the kitchen floor! Colby LOVES that job!
After some more play time it's afternoon nap time. This usually goes about the same way as morning nap, Chase crying downstairs while I try to rock Colby upstairs. After I get Colby down I try to nurse Chase and put him down but it doesn't always work. Here is how quality Chase time usually transpires...
Colby wakes up from his nap around 4:00 this is when it gets a little crazy in our house. I try to get something organized for dinner but am not always successful and usually end up back on the kitchen floor with Chase in my lap and Colby crawling around me. This is my attempt at getting Colby's kisses on video...
As you can see...not too successful. I look like such a dork in this video but had to post it because it is so typical...staying at home with two little boys can make you feel like you're losing your mind but it is always an adventure!!!
And these are the reasons I cherish every moment with my boys...
Around 5 or 5:30 something very exciting happens...Daddy comes home!! This is something all three of us get very excited about. Than it's time for some dinner. And what would dinner be without dinner time conversation...
Than it's time for baths (usually 6:30). Jason gives Colby a bath in the tub while I give Chase one in the kitchen sink. We meet in our bedroom where we each have a little boy to lotion up, diaper and put jamies on. Than Jason swaddles Chase while I brush Colby's teeth and get his milk ready. Than we both head upstairs. I will rock Colby (if Chase isn't crying) and sing to him. We say night time prayers as a family and than all tuck Colby in (we aim for 7-7:30). I usually have to rush out early though because Chase is crying. Than I go downstairs and nurse Chase while Jason cleans up from dinner (I definately have the better job). If I'm really lucky Chase will lay down in his crib (around 8) and stay asleep...at least until 10:00 or so (than up again around midnight, 2am, ect...). By this time I have changed approximately 10 diapers, made three bottles, pumped at least once, nursed 8,000 times, prepared 3 meals, and done at least 1 load of laundry. Which is all completely worth it because I am blessed to be able to hang out with my two favorite people in the world. I get to watch them learn about the world around them. I get to kiss them whenever I want and usually get a few slobbery kisses in return. It is a busy and non-glamourous life but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Sorry for this long winded post. I am doing this largely for myself, so someday when I ask myself 'how did I do it?' I will read this and remember! :D
Chase found Sandi fascinating!
Here are a few of his expressions as Sandi was entertaining him...
PS: Thanks for the awesome Bronco outfit Garrett family!
Colby was fascinated by the bricks, must be all of that mason blood in him! :D
Here we are with the bear in the middle of downtown New Bern
And it wouldn't be a trip to New Bern without going to the Pepsi store!
He was so excited to see Uncle D waiting right outside of his bedroom!
This is how Chase enjoys the park...
Colby and daddy were spinning, they both love to be dizzy!
This is to illustrate how one carries two babies at the same time...
As you can see he helped himself to more than just one!
I will than feed Chase (again! It's an endless process. I usually feed him before so he won't start screaming while I'm still in the shower) and than spend a few blessed minutes in the shower. Around 7 Colby starts to wake up (a slow process). Once I've showered I quickly throw on some clothes and put Chase in the Baby Bjorn (carrier) and we go to get Colby around 7:15, this is how I find him...
Than the boys play for about an hour, Chase will lay on this little play mat for limited periods of time. As soon as I bust it out Colby thinks it's a toy for him. Colby loves to be close to his brother.
After playtime I put Colby down for a nap (I'm usually rocking Colby while he drinks his milk upstairs while Chase wails in his swing downstairs, not a very relaxing routine but fortunately Colby is very easy going and it doesn't seem to bother him). While Colby is sleeping I am usually nursing Chase and cleaning up from breakfast. I also use these precious quiet moments to drink a cup of coffee and watch the morning news.
After some more play time it's afternoon nap time. This usually goes about the same way as morning nap, Chase crying downstairs while I try to rock Colby upstairs. After I get Colby down I try to nurse Chase and put him down but it doesn't always work. Here is how quality Chase time usually transpires...
Don't let this sleeping lobster fool you! This is the calm before the storm...
I'll still keep him though, he sure is cute!
Check out those eye balls!
Our little monster playing percussion
Yup...that's a smiling lobster!
Yup...he's loving Halloween too!
Our happy little monster
Colby is digging Chase's eyeballs!
You can see by my smile I'm almost having more fun than Colby! I had to throw him in the air to get him to smile for this picture, he hated wearing that costume!
I even managed to capture an intentional smile! Of course his eyes were closed but you can get the point!
