6:30 - 7 a.m. Gizmo wakes up, usually cooing and talking to herself. There might be some high-pitch squeals that only dogs can hear. I let her do this for awhile until she starts fussing. The husband gets up, changes her diaper and brings her to our bed so I can nurse her. The husband jumps in the shower.
7 - 7:30 a.m. Peanut wakes up and crawls into bed with us. She wants to snuggle while Gizmo crawls all over me and threatens to take a header off of our bed. I finally give in and get up, telling Peanut she can come downstairs when she is ready for breakfast. We used to let her eat in our bed but I put the kibosh on that awhile ago because I was tired of crumbs in the bed.
7:30 a.m. - 9ish Peanut, Gizmo and I hang out downstairs and the husband takes off for work. Peanut must wave furiously to her father as he backs out of the driveway or we have serious drama. Peanut eats cereal, an English muffin and occasionally crackers. Gizmo eats pears (she had two and half bowls this morning). My children can eat. Thankfully they have good metabolisms.
I ask Peanut a million times if she needs to use the potty. She tells me no every time. (She's been a super star by the way with the potty training. Super. Star. Hardly any accidents but she never, never, ever, uses the potty while we are at home in the morning.)
During this time, I also try to keep Gizmo from finding every little stray bit and putting it in her mouth and/or keep her away from the cat food, which attracts her like a moth to a flame. Peanut and I read, practice letters and/or play finding games on the iPad. Sometimes she decides to watch Super Why! on the iPad at which point she tells me it is OK for me to listen to my music (Pandora through the television). While we are doing this, Gizmo stalks the cat through the kitchen and living room grabbing the evil being when she gets the chance. The cat, who does not have front claws, bats back at Gizmo, which doesn't bother Gizmo but sends Peanut into fits. She is very protective of her little sister.
This is what it usually looks like:
9 a.m. Gizmo goes down for her morning nap. She must have this nap. No one will survive the morning if she does not have this nap that can last anywhere between 30 minutes to almost 2 hours. I pack my lunch and dinner and occasional cook something for dinner for the rest of the family to heat up in my absence. Bottles and diaper bags are also packed for the day. I sometimes slip in some laundry or Peanut and I go outside so she can swing.
9:30 a.m. I hop in the shower and get ready, praying the entire time that Gizmo will sleep until I am done doing my hair and makeup. Peanut wanders between upstairs and downstairs. She climbs into Gizmo's crib if she wakes up before I am ready and entertains her little sister. I get both girls dressed, hair done and teeth brushed.
10:15 a.m. I pack up the car with the diaper bag, laptop bag that includes my workout clothes, my pump and my lunch/dinner bag. I'm like a pack mule.
10:20 a.m. I grab Gizmo and try to nurse her one more time. Peanut gets her shoes on and turns the tv off for me.
10:45 a.m. We are out the door. I drop off the girls at the babysitter's and spend about 10-15 minutes chatting with B while Gizmo tries to crawl out the door and Peanut repeatedly tells me she wants to wave to me when I leave. Again, she must wave to me as I back out the driveway or DRAMA.
11:10 - 11:50 a.m. I drive to work, alternating between Beyonce, Glee, Sugarland and a mix CD I made. Sometimes I call my dad and/or mom and give them the latest rundown.
12 p.m. Work. I try to be in my seat at noon since my desk is in the background of the live shot for the noon news (our newspaper and local television station work out of the same newsroom. I am a star, or maybe just the little head in the background trying to look diligent.) Everyone else has been there for hours and I have to do a quick catch up of what has happened in the morning. I make my list of stories I am in charge of for the day and check in with my editors and my reporters.
1 p.m. Eat lunch at my desk.
1:30 - 5 p.m. My afternoons are filled with various planning meetings depending on the day. I also handle any breaking news and coordinate who is doing what with other editors. I try to get a pumping session in around 3 p.m.
5 - 9 p.m. (sometimes beyond) The husband and I exchange car keys at 5 p.m. when he leaves for the day (we only have one set of carseats because I am too cheap to buy another set). I edit stories, continue to handle breaking news, put out fires, etc. I eat dinner at my desk and try not to be caught on air during the evening news shoving food in my mouth. I call home around 7 p.m. to see how everyone is doing. I get a second pumping session in around 8 p.m. Leave around 9 p.m. if nothing is going on, which happens about half of the time. During this time at home, the husband is picking up the girls, getting them dinner, occasionally braving the store with both of them, getting them both bathed (every other night) and then into bed no later than 8 for Gizmo and 9 for Peanut.
9-9:45 p.m. Work out if I feel up to it. Sometimes I go to the grocery store instead.
9:45-10:15 p.m. Drive home. My call list includes the husband, my sister and Hillary.
10:15 p.m. Home where I chat with the husband and get the rundown of how the girls did for the day. I also read, get whatever I can ready for the next day, do laundry, etc. Lately we've been watching episodes of Hardcore Pawn. Those people are cuhrazay.
Midnight crash in bed
3 a.m. Gizmo wakes up to nurse.
6:30 a.m. start it all over again.
What is your day like?
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5 comments:
Sleep from midnight to 6:30 with a 3AM wake up? You definitely do not get enough sleep! Makes me tired just thinking about it.
I work a schedule similar to yours on Friday nights (1pm-9pm) and miss being home for bedtimes something fierce. How do you like the adjusted schedule?
Glad to hear you have made it this long with one set of car seats; we are planning on doing the same.
Wow...now that's a day! I don't think I would be sane if I followed a schedule like that. I wish I knew what news you worked for so I could look for your little head in the background! I always thought the was cool. Ever get the desire to wave or flip the bird?
Michelle -- it's interesting to read your day since you don't work a normal 8-5 schedule. It makes me think about what I would be doing if I still was a copy editor. I'd probably be dying to quit. But you get time with the girls and that's what matters.
You and Hillary have days that are quite similar to mine own, except I'm up at 5 a.m. and shower at night, because Evan is scared of the hair dryer, so getting ready in the morning just isn't possible.
You also give me hope for managing everything with two kids!
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