Now that Oliver is over a month old, we are starting to come out of full on survival mode. We're not back to normal yet (that will take awhile!) but we're getting there. It also helps that Oliver actually goes to sleep at night and is now only waking up once or twice a night! But he's still waking up (sometimes early) and he's still a baby that needs a lot of time and attention, so we're not back to full-on normal yet.
We usually have pretty slow-going mornings. Oliver wakes up around 6:30 or 7:00 for his first feed. I bring him out and turn on the lights, trying to wake him up enough to stay awake while he's eating. He loves to snooze while he nurses. After he finishes nursing, I take him in the kitchen and make hot chocolate for everyone (we put collagen in it) and clear out the dishwasher.
The girls come down, dressed, around 7:30. They always have to come see Oliver before they eat (they are his biggest fans). I get them breakfast and then it's usually time for Oliver to go down for his first nap.
If I'm feeling ambitious, then I get some stuff done while he's napping, but usually I have breakfast and sit and read while the girls watch a show or play. I usually still feel like I'm trying to wake up at this point and it's hard to feel motivated.
Then it starts a cycle of Oliver waking up, nursing, being awake for a short time, and then going back down for a nap. During his wake time, we give him tummy time, read to him, talk to him, and sing to him. While he's sleeping, we try to do everything else.
After we turn the TV off, the kids usually play (with something like blocks) or we get out their school stuff or an activity to do at the table. I also try to read aloud with them, but that doesn't always happen. I try to spend some time with the kids, get myself and them ready for the day, and pick up the house.
We have some anchors to our day. Wake up and eating breakfast is our first. Our second is lunch and then Rylee's nap. Our third is dinner, around 5:00, and then bedtime (8:30 for the girls, 9:00 for Oliver). In the afternoons, the older girls play outside, go to the neighbors, or play on their handhelds. I try to do a pick up with them around lunch time and dinner time. After dinner, we spend time as a family. Sometimes, we simply watch a show, but sometimes we visit family or go on a walk.
As Oliver gets older, I know we'll be able to get back to more of our normal routine and habits. For now, we're enjoying the slower pace and having a baby.
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