Routine

I feel like our lives are in a constant state of change... you're probably thinking, 'well duh you have 3 small children, of course it is!' but I mean our lives are pretty much in semesters.  Because Gaetan's classes always change our routine does but not drastically, but sometimes just the little changes here and there can mess with you.

Obviously this last change was a big one... something about adding another member to our family and then all the things that go along with having a small baby again.  But... ::knock on wood::  I feel like we are finally starting to get in a groove.  That also may be because Norah is starting to get into a routine, but its finally getting easier.  The hardest part about having a newborn (for me anyway) is things aren't ever the same day to day... heck, they're not the same hour to hour.  It is hard to plan things when you don't know when she's gonna want to nap or eat... but I think that I have finally figured out a general routine :)

4 am snuggles

She does like to get up around 4 am every morning and hang out for 1.5 hour or 2, which is great.  I'm not being sarcastic... I really like it.  It's our one on one quiet girl time.  No other distractions.  Just us.  We play.  We coo.  She eats (a lot) and gets a diaper change.  OH.  That is another thing that is finally starting to get into a routine... diaper changes and how much she wets at certain times of the day.  I digress... Then, after she goes back down she usually sleeps another 2-3 hours and then its time to eat again.  By that time the crazies are up (or have been up) so then I get up for the day too.  Norah is up for a little while (not as long as the previous) and then has her morning nap.  It's really helpful because then I can get breakfast going for us and cleaned up and any other things I want to do with the kids before she gets up again.  She will usually sleep til their downtime, and sometimes she sleeps through theirs as well (that's a special treat!)  After that it's still up in the air on how she does... if she's real tired she'll go back to sleep fairly quickly after eating and other times she wants to stay up and play with the kids.  I am lucky enough that she usually takes a cat nap so that I can make dinner.  She doesn't usually sleep through dinner, but as parents, you aren't used to eating together or having hot food, so no biggie.

We are starting to be able to get the crazies on a schedule too.  I know that they do so much better with structure.  I'm really trying to get them into one, even though it's summer.  So, we will see how I can get that implemented... :)  Life is starting to finally return back to normal and I'm LOVING it.  Now... just to lose a few pounds and fit into the rest of my clothes!  haha

JVG