Cade got into the Christmas presents while I was giving Hunt a bath... luckily they were only teachers' gifts.
I get a lot of questions about what it's like to have three children four and under. I try to keep the chaos to a minimum, by keeping a lot of structure and routine. However, I do not let structure and routine get in the way of having fun. I think it's important to be flexible, and I try my best to enjoy every age, stage, and moment.
Here's an example of a "typical" day in our home. Because Ady goes to school three days a week, our days obviously deviate from this structure on those days (they begin an hour earlier and include 2 trips to Metro). Some weeks the "non-typical" days outnumber the typical ones, but this is for the most part how our day goes:
I have always aspired to be the mom that wakes up before the kids, spending time in quiet reflection; reading the bible; and eating breakfast. That happens about twice a year (maybe that's because I work nights and don't get to bed until about midnight). Most mornings, Cade Ryan comes into my bed at 7:30 AM on the dot. He's a snuggler, and he usually goes back to sleep with me until Ady and Hunt wake up around 8. At 8, I hit the ground running with a cup of coffee in hand.
The morning time is my favorite. I always make breakfast to order. Sometimes that means five different meals (I'm talking Eggos and Instant Oatmeal -- not Eggs Benedict). I like to start the day on a happy note, without arguing and crying over what foods they don't like (I save that for lunch and dinner). Breakfast is loud, messy, and fun. We plan our day and talk about what happened when I was gone the night before.
After breakfast is cleaned up, the kids go upstairs for play time and the baby goes down for a nap. I take some time to do chores, blog, check email, and various other secretarial duties. I try to plan out everything on the days I have to work. This is the time when I start planning dinner, preparing things for Ady's class, and scheduling bath times. I try to make Dave's job as easy as possible when I'm away in the evenings.
The big kids come downstairs when they start getting hungry again, and the baby wakes up around the same time. Lunch is my least favorite meal. Sometimes I feel like I just cleaned up breakfast. They do not have any say over this meal. Dave comes home for lunch, so this is my opportunity to get in a quick workout. I usually sneak in a bath or two after lunch -- I think it helps the boys take better naps. Ady has reading time while the boys nap, and I take the opportunity to take a shower and finish any remaining chores.
Once they are all up from naps, I try to savor every moment before I leave for work. We read, do school worksheets and play together. As soon as Dave gets home from work, we have a quick dinner together (time permitting) and I head out. While I'm at work, Dave is Super Dad! He cleans up, puts the kids to bed, and numerous other things that have to be done before I get home around 11. I couldn't do this without all his help. When I get home from work, I make Ad's lunch, set out school stuff, and prepare for the next day.
Our life is not glamorous, but it is rewarding. My day is long, usually 17-18 hours. There are days when I don't get a shower. There are days when I don't get anything productive accomplished. There are downfalls of having two stinky boys in diapers. I make an effort everyday to not take this life for granted. I try my best to not get caught up in the mundane, because I know that one of these days I will miss having three babies at home to clean up after and chase. My husband reminds me often that no job is more important than mine, and although I sometimes feel under-paid, under-appreciated, and over-worked, I'd have to agree.
