Starting at night, please note that this routine is not quite set in stone yet. We try our hardest to make sure all this happens, and that it happens about the same time, but with a young baby usually nothing goes quite as planned.
Tyler gives Tug a bath between 8:30 and 9:00. During this special daddy-tug time, I get my work clothes set out, Tug's clothes set out, make sure the diaper bag is packed with the needed medications, extra outfits, blankets, burp clothes, bibs, diapers, wipes, books, toys, etc.
Then Tyler gets Tug into pajamas and feeds him (pumped breast milk) while I shower (if I'm not already struggling from sheer exhaustion) and straighten my hair or put in curlers or let my natural frizz take over. Bedtime consists of a story (if tug will pay attention to the book. Sometimes he just wants to cuddle on my chest while I read the current novel I'm on out loud to him.) Then it's scripture reading (Tug loves the sound of the soft, thin pages turning) and prayers. Then we set Tug down in his crib, turn on his froggy night light and he goes to sleep perfectly for the next 8 hours. JUST KIDDING! I wish.
We set him down and put the doe-doe in his mouth (doe-doe is the Irish nickname for a pacifier) and I gently stroke his face and sing "Billy Boy" (my favorite old English folk song from the movie "Sarah, Plain and Tall") as his eyes get droopy.
"Oh where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Oh where have you been, charming Billy? I have been to see my wife. She's the joy of my life. She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother."
His eyes close, and I carefully step away from the crib and proceed to go to bed. 20 minutes later, Tug begins to fuss. I go back in and sing another verse.
"Did she bid you to come in, Billy Boy, Billy Boy? Did she bid you to come in, charming Billy? Yes, she bid me to come in, there's a dimple in her chin. she's a young thing and cannot leave her mother."
And the process beings again. Eventually Billy's young wife sets a chair for him and bakes a pie in the verses to come. Sometimes Tyler does the soothing. He will sit by Tug's crib and wait for him to fuss. Then he gets up, places the doe-doe in Tug's mouth and let's him hold a finger while he sings a beach boys song or whatever tune is stuck in his head. I love it when Tyler sings.
Sometimes between these fusses, Tyler will brush my hair and we talk about our day, our plans for the week or attempt to quietly watch a movie. Sometimes we are trying to clean up the messes we ignored during the daylight hours. After a lot of fussing, a feeding and some cry it out time, by about 11:30 at least, Tug is fast asleep and we can finally go to bed.
On a good night he wakes up around two to eat and get a diaper changing and then goes right back to sleep. On a GREAT night he will sometimes sleep 6 hours straight. And bad nights he wakes up every hour or so just wanting to play or not feeling so good. Those long nights he is sick I will either give him a bath (my mom's cure-all treatment that soothes any sick person. I know I love a good warm bath or shower when I'm sick. I feel so much better after) or I steam up the bathroom just enough to warm him up and help clear his nose. Tug loves the bathroom. He likes to smile at "Andy" (our name for his reflection in the mirror) and to stare at our very colorful Toy Story themed shower curtain.
On days Tyler works at 4am I really have to be ready. I don't have anyone to watch Tug in case he wakes up or fusses while I'm pumping, showering, getting dressed etc. but on the days he leaves at 7am I have it a little easier. Some days Tug wakes up at 5:30 and wants to play. Sometimes he just wants someone to hold him. Sometimes he wakes up all smiles and sometimes he frowns, glares and even cries while I change and dress him. Some mornings are so crazy I just pack up my work clothes and go to my moms so she can entertain him while I shower and dress for work. That's nice because at 7:15 (or as close to that time as possible) I leave for my mom's house anyway. She's an angel for watching him. My heart breaks a little as I kiss him goodbye. He smiles at me or slobbers on me or doesn't even notice because my brother's brightly colored t-shirt is more interesting. Every day as I drive to work a few tears fall. And so my day begins. But like I said, I will have to tell of my crazy, wonderful days in another post.
We are in for a fun weekend so watch for our post about our exciting adventure to the aquarium! Have a great weekend!
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