A Day In The Life...(3 Month Addition)

...of Mommy and Cooper Joe!

I realize this will probably not interest most of you, BUT I want to remember these days! Our days are usually very laid back and simple, just like I like it!

I wrote this post when Cooper was a little over a month old. Our days have changed some since then, so I thought I would do a post on what we are up to now.

Usually between 7:30 and 8:00 (most of the time closer to 8:00) Cooper wakes up and starts "telling" me he's ready to eat. I put his morning bottle in the warmer, brush my teeth and change his diaper (and get lots and lots of smiles), lotion him up, comb his fuzz hair and get him dressed for the day. Usually he wears something like this...

 

I feed Cooper and then I put him in his bouncer while I go make my coffee and start the washing machine. We watch a little morning TV (we love Live With Kelly and Michael and Rachael Ray.) and then Cooper takes his morning nap and it usually lasts around 1 - 1 1/2 hours. While he naps, I make the bed, take a quick shower and get myself ready for the day. I usually wear something like this

 

Once Cooper wakes up around 11:00, I feed him again and we push the ottoman out of the way and play with some toys on the floor. We are working on rolling over right now. He's getting closer! Then we usually read a story or two. We are making a dent in all those books Santa brought. Luckily a lot of those were compilations, so we have lots of new stories to choose from every day (I enjoy reading them too. Lots of them were my favorites as a child).

 

Then I'll eat my lunch and I use this time to catch up on blogs and sometimes my shows. Coop usually dozes off again around this time. This nap lasts about an hour usually (sometimes longer). Right now, he's napping in his swing or bouncer, but we are going to be transitioning to naps in his crib in the next couple of weeks.

 

Around 2:00, it's time to feed Cooper again. He eats every 3 hours like clock work.

 

If we are running errands, it will be during this time. I try to plan on us leaving right after this feeding so we have a good 2 hour window to get whatever we need to get done and get back home so I don't have to feed him in the car (I have tinted windows, but still I don't feel 100% comfortable. I will if I have to).

 

If we are staying in, I'll usually use this time for him to sit up in his Bumbo and watch some Baby Einstein videos. He LOVES those. I think it's because of the bright colors against the dark background (does anyone else feel like they could make their own Baby E videos? I mean, it's clearly just a black fabric backdrop and a hand puppet. Ha! Oh well, whatever he likes!). When it gets warmer, I think we'll use this time to get outside and have some fresh air. Sometimes Cooper takes another nap. This one is usually the shortest of the day. Maybe 30 minutes.

 

Depending on what we're having for supper, I'll start around this time. Now, obviously if it's spaghetti or something that takes 30 minutes I wouldn't start yet, but if it's a crock pot meal or something that needs defrosting or slow cooking, I would start.

 

Once Ben gets home around 4:00, he is in full Cooper mode. Ha! He loves this time with his Little Man, which is nice for me because I can cook. I feed Cooper around 5, and then we eat our meal. We eat at the table most every night. It's nice to eat and talk without the TV, etc. We slide Cooper up next to the table in his bouncer while we eat. 

 

I clean up the kitchen while Ben and Coop hang out. Then we bathe Cooper, feed him his bottle around 8 and get him ready for bed. I take a long bath while Ben feeds Cooper his bottle. After Coop is down for the night around 9, Ben and I get to hang out. We usually find a movie to watch or we watch our shows. If I'm going to post something on our blog, I'll usually write it at night and schedule it. Then, I fix Cooper's bottle for the next morning and we head to bed.

 

Then we wake up and start again.

 

All the times are estimated because we don't have a set time schedule. This is a general outline of our day, and the times are pretty close give or take about 30 minutes. Cooper's feedings are the only things that don't change, they are always 3 hours apart. He makes sure of that. Ha! There are days laundry doesn't get finished and there are days Cooper wants me to hold him all day (and I DON'T MIND those days AT ALL ;). There are days we have a million errands to run and there are days we don't leave the house. It's all about being flexible.

 

The things I have learned about staying at home...

 

- (I was told this by one of my girlfriends from church when I first told her I was staying home and I agree 100%.). Make time to shower and get yourself ready for the day. You may laugh, but you SAHM's know what I'm talking about. If you don't set some time aside for yourself in the morning, you'll get busy and look up and it's 2:00 and you haven't gotten out of your PJ's from the night before. Even if you just shower and put lounge pants and a tee shirt, you'll feel like a new person (and I think your Hubby might appreciate it too. Ha!).

 

-Put your face on. Now, I don't do full makeup and hair everyday, but I do put a little concealer, powder, bronzer and lip gloss on. A little color never hurt anyone! Sometimes I'll blow out my hair and some days I'll scrunch it and wear it curly, it just depends on time. Oh and I put my perfume on. Even though it's just me and Coop, I just like having my perfume on. Again, it just makes you feel good.

 

-Get out of the house. At least a few times a week. Even if you just go on a quick drive or go walk around Target, it's refreshing to have a change of scenery.

 

-Light your candles and open those blinds. Nothing makes me happier than some sunlight and having my candles lit in our home during the day. 

 

-Music! I constantly have music playing in our house during the day. I put Pandora on my phone (usually the Adele station)  and carry it room to room with me. It puts me in a great mood and Cooper seems to like it too.

 

-Have a plan for the day. Even if the plan falls apart, it's more about having a general idea of your day that gives you some sense of control. You would have a daily plan at any other job, so staying at home is no different.

 

-Talk to your girlfriends. Even if it's just a quick text conversation, you need some contact with the outside world. (I need to take my own advice these days...I know y'all are reading this and I love you Sisters!).

 

-Have a moment to yourself. Mine is my bath at night. I take my time and shave my legs, put on my lotion and pluck my eyebrows, etc.

 

-Don't be too hard on yourself. With Pinterest (even thought I LOVE it) and blogging, I think a lot of Moms feel pressure to DIY their whole house, take photographer quality pictures of their kids and whip up a gourmet dinner with food they got out of their perfectly organized cabinet all while wearing the cutest outfit they pinned. While there is nothing wrong with any of that, your husband and certainly your baby will love you just the same if your collage wall doesn't hang perfectly straight all the time or the coffee table you built out of popsicle sticks falls down. I try to remind myself of this when I get too caught up. 

 

-My #1 tip is to just slow down and love on your sweet baby. That is your "job" after all, and what better job is there?! They will be in kindergarten soon enough.

 

 Everyone is different, but this is what works for us!