-I Heart Mornings-
Eli gets up somewhere between 7:30-8:30AM, Mark is usually always gone by the time we roll out of bed. Eli is so wonderful in the morning, such a smiley happy baby. We stay in our jammies, he has his bottle, I watch The Today Show, then we play on the floor. It's seriously some of the best moments of my day. (Notice how Eli is really far away from his toys in this picture, that's because he only knows how to scoot himself backwards right now, not forwards, so he's always moving away from what he wants. It's hard seeing him struggle with it and his frustrations are growing by the day, but I'm sure he'll get it soon enough.)
-The Mad Dash-
Normally he goes down for a nap around 10, and will sleep until about 11:45 or so. I honestly feel like a MAD WOMAN trying to get things done during this time. I try to make bottles and baby food mixed with cereal for the day, pick up the bedroom, get some laundry started, unload the dishwasher and get myself showered and ready before he gets up. I fail on getting everything done during this precious time almost everyday, but honestly I don't care that I didn't get it done when I see his adorable face in that crib, it really doesn't really matter what's left on the to do list. (Notice he's trying to crawl even while in bed. He's persistent!)
-We just need to get out of the house!-
We take little trips almost every day around 1:00 after Eli is dressed and fed. I just can't stay in the house all day, it makes me batty, especially since Eli is getting so frustrated with the crawling thing. He's getting so frustrated with it that it's making it hard for him to play without getting super fussy after just about 5 minutes. So, after he gets up we'll go for a walk, or head to our neighborhood pool or the store, it doesn't matter, I just know that Eli and I are both in better spirits if we get out of the house.
-CRASH-
Eli can only take a couple of hours of our errands before he crashes. He's itching for a nap around 2:30-3. I've figured out though that if I need more time, I find a bathroom where I can change his diaper and make him a bottle and I've got a sleeping baby in the car seat or stroller in about 10 minutes. That allows me to get a few more things done before heading home. (This did happen today when we were at Meijer, but I forgot to take a picture of it... sorry!)
-The Homestretch to having a helper!-
Like I said, Eli's afternoon nap is sometimes done on the road, but I do try to get him back in time for him to catch a few Z's in his crib before Mark gets home. He needs to be well rested because when Mark gets home that's Eli's favorite time of day. He absolutely adores his Dad, it's so cute to watch them together.
-Busy Bees-
Nights are busy, Eli is eating baby food 3 times a day now so evenings are the last "round" of solids. Mark and I usually make dinner while Eli is eating, and then we eat dinner together. After that Mark and Eli play for awhile and then it's onto getting him ready for bed which includes a bath, lotion, new daiper for the 10th time today, jammies, and a bottle. Don't get me wrong, I love being a mom, but I am SO READY for 7:30 when it arrives. One of us gives him the bottle then rock him to sleep and he's out by 8:00. He AlWAYS falls asleep in my arms, it's one of those times during the day that as a Mom I really can now see what everyone has been telling me about for the last couple of years, it's hard to explain, but it's just a very special time. I will really miss it when he doesn't let me rock him at night anymore.
-Me Time!-
After I put him down I usually water my flowers, go for a run and finish the day with a glass of wine and some TV with Mark. I heart this time.
So that's my life as a mom! I head back to work on Tues/Wed/Thursday's starting next week. Honestly, I am looking forward to it. We found a great daycare at a church close to our house and I do miss my coworkers and the adult conversations during the day. However, I am also very very thrilled to have Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon at home with my precious Eli.
