Our routine has changed a lot since Parker was born and has started getting older and actually starting to follow some sort of schedule. I feel like we're starting to settle into a good one.
Ben and I try to wake up at six. It really helps some mornings that we're both getting up, but it can also be bad if we both want to stay in bed. Then we play the "if they get up, I will" game and when neither of us makes the first move, we end up sleeping in. Some mornings are more rough than others, depending how well Parker did (she still isn't sleeping through the night and still has pretty rough nights sometimes).
It's really good for Ben to wake up and work, though, because then he can finish earlier and still get his hours in. I wake up and write, since I'm trying to get a business going that can start bringing income in. It will help us with our house goals, give me something to do that I love, and bring even more stability to our income.
I usually write for about an hour. I have word count goals and chapter goals and things, but it usually takes me about an hour. If Parker actually sleeps until 7:30 (which only occasionally happens, but we're trying to get her to), then I can shower, unload the dishwasher, do stuff with my natural yeast, clean up the house, or keep writing.
At 7:30, I feed Parker while doing a Portuguese and an Esperanto lesson on Duolingo. When she's finished, I write in my journal, get dressed, and make the bed. Then we go get Ashtyn up and get both of them dressed with diaper changes.
Then we head downstairs and make and eat breakfast. By now, Parker starts getting grumpy, so we spend the rest of time until her nap entertaining her. She goes down between 2 1/2 and 3 hours after she woke up.
When she goes down, Ashtyn and I clean up breakfast and do our little devotional. Then we hang out. We have lots of favorites: outside time, running errands, play dough, drawing, reading, etc.
Parker is supposed to wake up around lunchtime (she still often wakes up after only 45 minutes). We get lunch and listen to the Dave Ramsey Show. Ben watches Parker and eats while I put Ashtyn down for her nap. Parker and I hang out until her nap and then they both sleep, for at least a short time, at the same time. Then I can clean, work on Christmas presents, write more, or relax. If schedules work out, I can do some of all!
When they wake up, we hang out and make dinner. When Ben finishes work, we eat. Then we sometimes visit family, take baths, do FHE, go to the library, or watch Avatar or Scooby Doo.
7:45, I feed Parker while we read scriptures and do family prayers. Then we do diapers and pajamas, brush teeth, and do bedtime. Ben takes one girl and I take the other. They both go down really well most of the time.
Then Ben and I do the dishes and get to hang out together until bed. We try to go to sleep around ten.
I love our schedule and our life. We are so blessed.
