Life is busy and full. And we're so grateful. I thought it would be fun to do a typical day for us with 6.5 month old twins. I am already amazed at how far we have come in just 1/2 a year! It will be interesting to see what our days look like as Eli and Maddie get older. Just a different kind of crazy, I'm sure :)
And yes. Our days are fairly scheduled. Have been since we brought them home from the hospital.
- I am type A, so of course we have a schedule. No surprise there.
- We have twins y'all. In order to keep them fed, clean, and safe, there has to be a schedule. Or this twin mama wouldn't survive.
And yes. I am a Nap Nazi mom. My babies are going to get their naps, and everything else will be put on hold for it. They might grab a nap on the go in the middle of the day, but otherwise, we are home, and they are napping in their cribs. Because that's how they sleep best. Trust me, everyone is much happier {babies and adults} when babies get good naps :)
So here we go. A day in the life of a mama with 6.5 month old twins...
seven.
I am up and getting "set up" for the day. This includes preparing bottles, getting solid foods ready, pulling out laundry from the night before, and mentally preparing a game plan for our day {what needs to be prepped if we are going out? what do I need to get done while babies are awake vs. during nap time?} I will usually grab a breakfast bar or an apple to eat before the twins wake up.
seven-thirty.
Babies are up! I change them out of their sleeping attire, change their diapers, and then we head to the kitchen for their breakfast bottle. We usually listen to the audio Bible while we have breakfast :)
eight.
We do solids after their bottle. Eli and Maddie have done really well with Baby Led Weaning, and I love watching them enjoy new foods. It's messy for sure {lots of extra clean up for this mama}, but babies seem to love it!
eight-thirty.
Most days we head to the nursery to read some books to wind down for nap. Some days, babies will play in the nursery while I put their laundry away {since I can't do that while they're sleeping}. If it's a cleaning day, babies play in the play room while I vacuum the house. A lot of times I will have one {usually Maddie} on my hip while I'm vacuuming.
nine.
Babies are down for their first nap. For every nap, I turn on the sound machine, we sing Jesus Loves Me while I put them into their footed pajamas, and then they both get kisses and are put in their cribs. I turn off the lamp and close the door, and they both go to sleep. Usually :) I take this time to clean up from breakfast, pick up the house, fold laundry {every day because y'all...it's NEVER. ending}, grab a shower. If it's a cleaning day, I sweep and dust. And if there's time...grab a cup of coffee. {Side Note: I can't have caffeine because of Crohn's, so don't be fooled. It's decaf coffee. Which is very sad, but such is life}.
ten-thirty.
Babies are up from their nap, so they get a diaper change and another bottle. I sit on the floor and have babies in their bouncy seats while I feed them both at the same time. I have to stop and burp one at a time, and sometimes that's easier than others to wait on each other, depending on how hungry babies are. Today was not so bad :) {Side Note: Some people say you don't need 2 of everything with twins. I have yet to figure out how said people function. Because we definitely have 2 car seats, 2 cribs, 2 high chairs, 2 bouncy seats, 2 exersaucers, 2 bottle drying racks, 2 baby carriers. I guess we only used 1 swing and 1 Rock 'n Play...??}
eleven.
If we're going to make it out of the house to meet someone for lunch or run errands, this is the best time for us to go. So that means, changing clothes {unless it's Walmart, because then we wear pajamas haha}, packing the diaper bag, and loading the babies in the car. We're getting better, but it's no simple task to get out the door with two babies in tow, especially when they want to "help" me get each other ready haha. If we are staying home, then we use this time to play, do tummy time, read books, sing songs, etc. {Side Note: Babies are rolling now and grabbing for everything, so this makes every task 10x more difficult. When I'm changing Baby 1's diaper, Baby 2 is rolling away. When I retrieve Baby 2, Baby 1 is rolling away in the opposite direction. And both are reaching for diapers, wipes, the dog, each other. Hence the reason we have to start the process to leave the house WAY in advance}.
eleven-fifteen.
Today, one baby decided to poop before we left, so that means another diaper change {but at least it was only one this time!} So NOW we're ready to load up the car and head out :) {Side Note: having 2 babies increases the chances of diaper blowouts, spit ups, wardrobe changes, etc. So with twins, it's almost guaranteed that one- or all- of those things will happen at inopportune times}.
twelve.
Running errands! Since babies are still not sitting up super well on their own, I usually clip one into the stroller, and I wear the other. That way I can fit more under the stroller and use that as my shopping cart. Today I decided to ditch the stroller and tried putting one in the shopping cart...it lasted about 5 minutes after this photo...so then I was carrying both babies through the store. And yes, people stare haha. {Side Note: I cannot go out in public without someone stopping us, making a comment, asking a question, oohing and ahhing, staring with incredulity. I'm still getting used to that, as I tend to want to get in, get out, and go unnoticed. But I am learning that this is just part of life with twins}. {Second Side Note: Yes, they are twins. No, they are not identical (Boy/Girl, people...can't be identical). No, twins do not run in our family. No, they were not a surprise}.
one.
Back home to change back into our pajamas, change diapers, and have another bottle.
one-thirty to two.
Babies are down for their second nap. I usually use this time to do my work for the bank, put away laundry, check email, blog, etc.
four.
Babies are up from their nap, so they get a diaper change and another bottle. {Side Note: We go through A LOT of diapers, y'all. A LOT. Also, my children are drool machines, so they live in bibs}.
four-thirty.
Play time! We sing songs, do tummy time, etc. If the weather is nice and not too hot {which is becoming less frequent}, we will go for a walk around the neighborhood.
five-thirty.
Babies still take a short nap before dinner and bath time. I use this time to clean up a bit from the day, get prepped for bedtime, and get any last minute things ready for dinner. {Side Note: We survived on people bringing us meals and takeout the first 2 months, and then all of our freezer meals and takeout for the next 3 months. I am just now starting to cook again, within the last month. And I'm still trying to figure that out because timing is weird. I try to prep stuff while babies are sleeping, but am still figuring out cook times. Thankful for a patient hubby and my crock pot!}
six-fifteen.
Babies are up from their catnap and get a bottle for dinner. On Mike's long days, I start feeding them, and then he usually makes it home in time to help finish up bottles. We are ALL happy to see Daddy when he walks through the door. #becausereinforcements
six-forty-five.
Bath and bed time routine! Babies get a bath every night, though we only use soap every few days. We have done this pretty much since they were born, and it helps relax them both. They both LOVE bath time! Our Routine {Mike and I switch off}: Baby 1 gets a bath with Parent 1, while Baby 2 gets one-on-one time with Parent 2 as Parent 2 gets night cap bottles ready. Then it's time for Baby 2 to get a bath with Parent 1, while Parent 2 gets Baby 1 dried off, changed into pajamas, and started on their night cap bottle. Baby 2 follows with Parent 2. And then it's off to bed! We do the same routine for bed time as we do for naps {singing, kisses, and in crib}, except we have Daddy there to help put them to bed.
seven-fifteen to seven-thirty.
After babies are in bed, we clean up from bath time and start a load of laundry {because, like I said, it's NEVER ENDING}. Then Mike and I get to have our time together.. We are actually able to sit down and eat dinner, talk about the day, watch a show, eat cookies, etc. I am really glad that we get this time together! {Side Note: Sleep training our twins was THE BEST thing we could have done}.
eight-thirty to nine.
This twin mama is TIRED and usually in bed. No joke haha. I used to go to bed early before babies, so is anyone surprised that I go to bed early now with babies? Mike puts babies to bed, me to bed, and then goes off to hang out with friends and grab some exercise. But I gotta sleep. Because we wake up and do it ALL over again tomorrow :) {Side Note: My alarm is set for 7am so I can be sure to be up before babies are awake. That's so I'm not waking up to babies crying and rushing to get their bottles ready. I don't always get 10 hours of sleep, but sometimes I do. Because I need sleep in order to stay healthy. And I am convinced my body is still trying to recover from not sleeping for 3 months. #becausetwins #dontjudge}.
I love Day in the Life posts!
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