So here's what Rachel and I (Meggan) are up to these days while Jason is at work so much. I'm relieved to be able to report a bit of a schedule/routine, even if I wish it included more sleep for Rachel. Also, Rachel still nurses 5 times during the day and once in the night, which is a lot but fine for us for now.
5:30am - wake up, Jason gets ready for work and leaves - Rachel and I do breakfast, diaper change, get dressed, clean up kitchen. Rachel likes to help with kitchen activities like unloading the dishwasher or emptying the bottom drawers. One of Rachel's favorite things to do these days is hold out an object to give it to you, hand it over, and then ask for it back. This game can go on and on and on.
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| Unloading dishwasher |
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| Handing over a spoon, and asking for it back |
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| Emptying out the bottom drawer |
9:30am - leave for morning activity. On Monday, Tuesday, and Friday this is a walk or a hike. On Wed we go to the library and on Thurs we go to African music.
11:30/12 - home for lunch
12:30pm - Rachel goes down for a nap, which usually is an hour but we're always hoping for more.
2pm - snack and then afternoon activity. On Mondays this is a structured playgroup at the church downtown. Other days it's grocery shopping/errands/play in the park.
4pm - Rachel is tired and wants to nap again so if we're out driving or walking, she'll fall asleep. If we're home we keep her awake by playing in the house. Favorite play times in the house include:
- opening and closing any doors or cupboards
- if Rachel can find her way into the bathroom, emptying the toilet paper roll or splashing toilet water
- standing up and pushing the stroller around the living room
- reading stories
- emptying out the clothes drawers or taking laundry off the drying rack or out of the laundry basket
(in this video we are playing catch and clapping and laughing, but then Rachel sees the camera)
- standing on own
- trying to clap and singing songs about clapping
- crawling around outside and crawling up the steps that lead into the house
5pm - Rachel has her dinner, usually this is also when I cook dinner for us
6:30pm - Jason arrives home if it's a regular night and he's not late from parent night or softball game. Jason and Rachel play, Meggan and Jason eat, and every other night Rachel has a bath
7pm - start bedtime routine and Rachel goes to sleep
9pm - Meggan and Jason fall asleep and hope that Rachel will continue to sleep as well. We have very squeaky floor boards in this house so anything near our room means being very quiet and tiptoeing around
11:30pm - Rachel wakes up. One of us goes in and tells her to go back to sleep. Often she settles well.
3:30pm - Rachel wakes up screaming and convinced that she is starving and needs her mommy. Her first tooth is also poking out barely, and slowly slowly creeping its way into the world. We try to go through our sleep training process but often I give in after a while and nurse Rachel back to sleep. This is a work in progress, and I've got to stop this soon so we can all sleep more.
5:30am - repeat as above.
It's interesting to see the trends of what other caregivers in Boulder do and don't do with their kids. Examples:
- Everyone thinks I'm crazy for planning on nursing Rachel beyond 12 months
- Generally the recommendation on solid food here is a bit different than it was in Penticton. Babies here tend to be encouraged to have purees for longer than we were used to. Some parents are shocked to see what Rachel can take down with no teeth and not choke.
- Ergo-style front and back carriers are prominent here and kids are carried in these devices all over town. Strollers are found in the small umbrella style on the bus or the bigger jogging kind for running or exercising. I get weird looks when I take the bigger stroller on the bus. This whole trend has inspired me to continue using the BabyBjorn carrier with Rachel more than I did at home, despite the fact that it's hard on my body after a while because Rachel is getting a bit big for it.
- Many moms work part time and have an at-home nanny for their little one when they work. Dads seems to work full time (I haven't met any Stay At Home Dads).
- Some people use cloth diapers but most use bleach-free/chlorine free disposables.
- Everything is organic here. This includes most food, baby food, baby clothes, etc. I'm not sold on this added expense in life, and actually find it annoying to pay more for food because it's organic.
- Parents tend to split the weekends. For example, moms get Sat off to go do their own thing while Dad stays with baby for the day. Sunday the Dad gets the day off while Mom has baby. Jason and I tend to do everything together as a family on weekends except when he is planning/working/coaching/marking for school.
Finding some BALANCE.
Being a SAHM (stay at home mom) has its beautiful perks and its hardships. I really miss work, but it sounds like it will be many, many months before a Green card comes through. It's nice to meet other moms and go to playgroups and walks and explore. i am happy to be meeting more moms and hope that I can develop these into good friendships over time. I miss my old friends. I miss their support. It's fun to giggle with Rachel. If I could, I would choose to work part time and be with Rachel part time. But we're making the best of it.
Jason also hasn't found much time for himself. He's working and coaching and trying to stay ahead of his classes but constantly feels like he's getting behind.
Last night we each took a turn going for a short run, since over the last month we have hardly exercised at all. We need to find time to take better care of ourselves and get time on our own.
This weekend we have to finish the shed and get some things out of the rain, but we also hope to go CAMPING!!! YAY!!!
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