Over the last year our weeks have changed quite a bit. The most significant change is that we are no longer as consistent as we used to be, no one day is like another. So, what better day to use in this post than today, it is as typical as any other day at home. On Tuesday and Thursday John is in school, so those days are a bit different than today, but tomorrow's post is all about school, so we will capture it then.
6:30 - I get up and showered, I really like to be up and have already had my coffee and wake time before John gets up. I am just calmer throughout the day.
7:00 - Daddy is up and working out upstairs. So proud of him for doing this again, he is really sticking to it and it is so much motivation for me once I am cleared to exercise again.
7:30 - I go upstairs to wake up John because we have a busy morning. Normally he is up between 7:15 and 7:45. He lays in bed and wakes up awhile and then he says "Mama, I am ready to get up". I have told him daily that if the sun is up that he can get out of bed on his own, but he replies with "no, I will just wait for you". We cuddle for about 10 minutes or so because he DOES NOT LIKE to be woken up and rushed around.
7:45 - I give him two waffles and some milk while he watched the Disney Junior pirate show. Typically I try not to turn on the TV in the morning, but we were in a hurry and he was still not fully awake, so I was doing what I could to avoid a fit. I even did his hair on the couch so he would not have to be interrupted.
8:15 - out the door to take the dogs to get baths. They are so old these days and they just stink, despite any effort we put in. But with the baby coming, I wanted them to go through a good bath and the deshedding deal that takes 2 hours.
John is pretty indifferent about the car these days, no love or hate. Long trips do require a movie though.
8:40 - check in at the OBGYN ("Matthew's doctor" to John). John goes with me to every appointment and he is pretty used to the routine. Not that it is an easy routine, but overall, not bad. Although, one time he did poop in his pants, so I had to clean him up with no wipes and throw his underwear away in their bathroom. As long as I have the ipad with me, he is generally okay. Today was a bit out the ordinary. As soon as Dr. Robert came in, he proceeded to throw a fit about something and kicked me right in the shin. Would have been embarrassing, but she has a daughter a few weeks older and she totally understands. This was just the beginning of a long day of attitude, see below.
9:15 - head to Target for a few household items. On trips that do not involve a lot of groceries he gets to sit in the big part of the basket, so he was perfectly content with no fits. I have found a trick to the long trips to the store though.... I pick up a bag of trail mix (right there at each of the checkout counters) at the beginning of the trip and it keeps him busy (and messy) the entire time.
10:15 - yes, the Target trip took about an hour, I move really slow these days. We head to the park because the cleaners were still at the house. It was a gorgeous day and it was just the two of us. He does not really care about what I am doing when he is at the park, especially if his friends are there. He is pretty well independent. I will follow him around the big tall toy thing, but other than that, he would rather be left alone (or with friends if they are there). He is pretty cautious at the park and will not really try to climb up anything too difficult or tall. He likes to play pretend (including dinosaurs and dragons)and the collect sticks and rocks and find ants. Pretty typical boy stuff. I LOVE having a park 5 houses down from us and so many friends in the neighborhood, a real blessing.
11:15 - back home for a little play time. We continued to play on the front driveway for a bit longer. Daddy was working from home today, so I was able to entice John to come inside pretty easily. He played with his dragons a bit and I made lunch, which consisted of spaghettio's, blueberries and turkey, and milk. We all three sat down to eat.
12:15 - went back out front to play because it really as a gorgeous day. Daddy left to run an errand. I gave John his typical 10 minute warning about going inside, then 5 minutes, then 2, and so on. When it was time, he asked me if he could take this little black sprinkler out of one of the floor pots, I told him no. He looked at me and then reached for it. I told him no again and that if he did it he would have to go straight to nap. He looked right at me, turned around and yanked it out. I picked him up and marched him inside immediately. I made him walk up the stairs, pee and get into bed. He was crying the whole way. I lost it, I started crying pretty hard and John looked at me like I was crazy. I told him that it made me sad when he was not a good listener and that I did not like to punish him. He then proceeded to ask to say prayers (which we typically only do at night) and if I would lay with him for 2 minutes (EVERYTHING is 2 minutes with him right now, it is like a negotiating tool). So I said a prayer and cried even harder. He rubbed my cheek and gave me a kiss.
I am sure it is a combination of me being 9 months pregnant and him being 3, but my patience with him is thin and he hurts my feelings a lot. I also think he might be acting out a bit in preparation of Matthew. Things have been a little crazy busy around here lately and he probably feels that. I remind myself constantly throughout the day to take a deep breath, this is just a phase....
1:00 - I think he had fallen asleep at this point. I did some laundry, dishes and straightened up then decided that I needed a time out, so I just laid on the couch and watched TV for a bit and then fell asleep.
2:45 - "Mama, I am ready to wake up". I was awakened by a sweet little voice. After about 10 minutes of waking up and playing in his bed, he went to the potty and then of downstairs to help me make rice krispy treats for his school friends tomorrow to help celebrate John's birthday. This, and a few ritz bit PB crackers and milk was his snack for the day.
3:15 - Mainly play for the next chunk of time. Playing these days mainly consists of pretend play (which is not my niche) with dragons and dinosaurs. He also loves to paint, color, "work on" his letters and numbers in his workbooks, do "projects" whether that be making a card for someones birthday, helping me cook/bake something, his science kit, etc., move and play with his 1001 animals (still obsessed as he was at age 1 with animals). He is also still into his Toy Story friends, Lego duplos (although for only short bits of time), and puzzles. The latest thing is exercising. He will go up with Daddy and stay up there for the full hour trying to do the same stuff they are doing on TV. I am sure it is a distraction for Carl, John loves it.
4:00 - We go out back to play and pick up poop. He played with this new bubble gun he got for his birthday which was shaky at best, but he liked it. When it was time to go in, he started throw another fit. I convinced him to come inside so we could go pick up the dogs. The whole while telling him how God wants us to be good listeners and be kind to one another. I am hoping that it is getting through his head, although, he is 3.
4:30 - pick up the dogs and head back home. no drama.
5:00 - upstairs to play and draw a bit. Then he wanted me to me the Mommy Monster and chase him. He said "you can not run because of your big belly, but you can walk and chase me".
5:30 - he continued to play upstairs for a bit and I made dinner.
6:00 - Dinner was healthy tacos and then John also had carrots, whole wheat crackers and grapes. Daddy came down (he has been working and working in the play room all day trying to get it finished for John's birthday on Thursday) and we all ate together like we do every night. John will almost always ask to be excused from the table, which I love! We do have to say no every now and again until he has a few more bites, but typically we are done way before he asks.
6:30 - we all head upstairs. Daddy starts in the playroom again and John and I color and draw and play with his baby dragons.
7:00 - bath time. this time used to be such a beating to me. For the longest time for some reason I just did not like this task. These days, it is pretty easy with no drama (once you get him in the bath). John was being super sweet and a real good listener, as I had told him after dinner when he asked for "Jessie the cowgirl" back (I had taken her earlier in the day for hitting) that is he could be a good listener all the way through bath that he could have her back during quiet time.
7:30 - immediately after bath, he went and knocked on the playroom door (he knows he can not go in until Thursday) and told Daddy we were going downstairs for quiet time. We all went down and John got Jessie back, some Zyertec and a gogurt. We all relaxed a bit on the couch and then it was off to bed.
8:00 - tonight bed time was not too bad. It is about 70% good and 30% bad out of any given week. Which has gotten so much better with his move to his new room. Bed time is pretty much the same as it has always been.... potty, brush teeth, diaper and PJ's, books, put 3 animals in bed with him (he picks different ones every night), lights out, prayers, 3 songs (Old McDonald, You are my sunshine and God our Father) and then he asks you to lay with him for 2 minutes. We just lay there and he plays with your ear or rubs your cheek, special times.
8:15 - Daddy off to work in the playroom again, I help as much as I can and then I head downstairs to write this blog.... here is hoping for a 10:00 bedtime. Carl was up until 3:00am last night working on the room and up at 7:00 this morning to work and work out.... we both need some sleep.
As much as these days wear me out physically and emotionally, I do love and cherish them as our lives will never be the same in a short couple of weeks.
