I’m just go ahead and say it. This post is entirely too long, contains way too many pictures and probably more minute detail than anyone cares to know, but here it is in all it’s wonderful, mundane glory…
Prelude: I’m considering anything after midnight the start of the day, so around 3:30 I hear Kaitlyn fussing. David hands her to me for a quick feeding, then right back down. It takes me a little bit to fall back asleep, then I’m up again around 6:15. Kaitlyn is up but isn’t really hungry, so I let her wiggle beside me in the bed while I feed Koda and grab my computer. I make faces and tickle her until 7:15 when she dozes back off. This gives me 45 minutes to blog before it’s game on.
It’s 8:00 and Hailey is waiting for me to come get her. I go give her a big hug, laugh at whatever funny thing she has to say and we’re downstairs. The chaos begins around 8:15 when Kaitlyn wakes up and breakfast is in full swing.
Smoothies and waffles while Kaitlyn wiggles and Hailey circles the kitchen between bites. I eat, clean up, pack a cooler and get clothes out for all of us, knowing that we need to be ready to leave the house by 9:00 when Kaitlyn will be tired again.
Oops, I was running a bit behind. Still, we are all in the car and off by 9:05. We arrive at Fresh Market to grab a few things we need while Hailey is in a good mood and Kaitlyn is snoozing.
Success!
We are back in the car and arrive at play group on time at 10:00.
I get my need dose of mom chat as I nurse Kaitlyn. The kids run like crazy and we moms discuss potty training, tantrums and how easy babies are in comparison to lively toddlers!
We leave a little while later, Hailey in only her pull-up and me in just an undershirt after discovering I somehow have Kaitlyn’s diaper contents on it. Why I ever even try to wear white is beyond me.
We are home by 12:00 and I put on a Dora the Explorer for Hailey while she eats lunch. Kaitlyn didn’t follow the plan (what nerve!) and woke up, so I eat lunch while tickling baby feet.
Five minutes left in Dora, score! I throw on a load of laundry (soiled shirt included) and clean up from lunch.
After filling up Hailey’s water cup (with ice, mom!), we all head upstairs for books before nap.
I nurse Kaitlyn which makes for a calm pre-nap experience. Once Hailey is tucked in, I’m back downstairs and attempting to get Kaitlyn to nap, too. No dice. Not on her own, anyway. Instead I tackle my inbox while trying to type over a snuggly baby.
Over the next two hours, Kaitlyn stirs, nurses and passes back out a couple of times. Finally it’s 3:30 and Hailey is up and waiting for me again.
Hailey eats her snack while I fix a mocktail (and an unpictured bowl of soup) and turn on the World Cup. Bonus, David breaks from work to watch the game, too!
With the game in the background, I tackle the laundry and the broth I made overnight with my little helper.
Kaitlyn falls asleep around 5:15 and I go ahead and make Hailey’s dinner, knowing it’s my only chance.
I also peel shrimp for our dinner and then remember I need to be more consistent about giving Kaitlyn a bottle, so I pump while Hailey eats. At 6:00 Kaitlyn wakes up and WE give her a bottle. She downs 3.5 ounces like it’s nobody’s business.
Everyone plays while I continue dinner prep.
At 6:30 Kaitlyn is happily wiggling, so I go take a shower with Hailey. Baths are so 2013.
Since David is home, I hug and kiss Hailey before they head up to read. At 7:15 Kaitlyn decides she is hungry again so I’m back to nursing. Dinner can wait.
Finally after nursing, swaddling and walking laps around the house, Kaitlyn is asleep at 8:00. I finish up dinner and snap a picture before devouring it. (This way I can link up with WIAW).
David helps me clean up the kitchen and then I pick up the house, which sometimes means simply throwing all the toys into the corner bins. After all, they’ll be pulled out again first thing in the morning.
We are both on the couch by 8:40 and turn on the TV. I think we put on a Mindy, but I’m also playing on my phone and chatting with David. I wake up at 9:40, realizing I passed out on the couch. We move to the bed and I’m back asleep by 10:00.
And repeat.
Every day is different, but on the whole, I love it!
***Munchkin Meals link up is tomorrow if you want to play along!***
What is one thing you must do before bed every night?
For me, it’s clean up the kitchen. Starting the day with a messy kitchen gives me anxiety!
Parita @ myinnershakti says
Love all the pics!! It looks like H and K have a beautiful relationship so far. Of course, like all siblings, it will probably be full of fights and other craziness later on, but so far so good! I love how you balance your time with them and involve H in things.
All dishes MUST BE washed/in the dishwasher before bed…otherwise, I can’t sleep!
Kelli says
Love all the pics too !how is Koda doing with the seizures and the added sister?
Brittany Dixon says
She’s been perfectly normal since the seizure, thank goodness!! I’m praying it was a fluke. She’s also been great with Kaitlyn. Same gentle curiosity she had with H 🙂
Christina says
Do I spy two empty wine glasses sitting on top of H’s play kitchen? If so, I like your style! 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
Ha! You know that’s my style 😉 but those are actually plastic ones that H plays with in her kitchen. #momoftheyear
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
Since I’m childless I find these types of posts super interesting! Forgive me if these questions are ignorant, but do you feel like every day just goes by in a blur? It seems like non-stop (and from when I used to baby sit I remember how EXHAUSTED I was with multiple kids after just a few hours.) And how do you find time to reconnect with the husband?
Brittany Dixon says
Yes, many days are a blur, thus my passing out at 9pm 😉
Actually with K going down between 7-8, David and I have the evening time back to ourselves which is awesome. Sometimes we sip on wine (or beer) and chat for an hour or two and sometimes we zone out with the TV. Staying connected is super important to me which is one reason why I’m so excited to being closer to being able to do a date night. I think we will be there in a couple weeks and I’m really looking forward to it!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
Thanks for the insight! If I ever have kids I’d want to make sure to keep my marriage strong & happy, and I know that would take a LOT of work/planning to make sure it happens.
Marjorie says
I love the DITL-style post! The pictures are so sweet too. You do have your hands full, but I just know your heart is overflowing too. 🙂 Such a sweet family! And virtual high five on the healthy eats.
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
I love posts like this!!! The more details the better 🙂 I think it’s so cool to see someone’s day to day! The girls are SO cute!!! I’m sure it’s exhausting at times, but you’ve got a lovely family!
John J. says
Thanks for sharing so well your wholesome and loving day in the life of… ! Love the pics.
Laura @ FitMamaLove says
I love reading your posts because it reminds me EXACTLY how are days were back when my 2nd was a newborn! The timing around naps and everything. I smiled about getting out of the house and timing your shopping for while Kaitlyn was napping. The only difference is that we managed to all eat dinner together still.
Your shrimp salad dinner looks yummy! How did you season the shrimp?
Lauren B. says
Wow- that seems exhausting, but a day full of fun! Thanks for sharing! Every time you do, I am more and more impressed with you and your mad mama skills. 🙂
Jaclyn @ BumpSweat says
This post is super-interesting to me, since my day-to-day life’s about to change 🙂 I appreciate seeing what it’s really like with little ones. Before going to bed, I have to read, at least for a little while, to wind down. What I should be doing is cleaning dishes and the kitchen, like you.It is so much better to wake up and not have to face a sink-full first thing in the morning.
Maria says
Holy cow, this makes me tired just reading it. Brings me back to my nanny days, which is probably the hardest job I’ve ever had…except I got to go home at 6pm 🙂 Props to you for doing it all and keeping a smile on your face.
Yes! My kitchen must be spotless and all the pillows and blankets from watching TV on the living room floor (its how we roll) must be put away.
Tina Muir says
Who cares if it is too long, who cares if there are too many pictures? It is adorable, and you are cherishing your time with your gorgeous little one, and that is all that matters. You will be able to look back on this for many years and be glad you did it! One thing I have to do before bed? Take my enduropacks recovery tablets to make sure I am recovered for the next day 🙂
Emily B says
i love your day in the life posts! you seem like such a great mom!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
You are one amazing mama! Being a mom to a newborn and a toddler is no easy cake walk I’m sure!
I’m with you on cleaning up the kitchen before bed! I hate dirty dishes in the sink and stuff all over the counters when I wake up.
Emily says
Keep these post coming ( in all your spare time I’m sure) 😉 I’m expecting in oct and my daughter will be 20 months so I love seeing a glimpse into other mamas worlds. I’m with you on the kitchen I could never go to bed with it a mess, waking up to that is not worth it. It’s become so nice with having such a predictable schedule with my daughter, I’m nervous about being easy going and flexible again with the newborn unpredictably…love reading your posts for what that looks like! Beautiful girls, thanks for sharing!!
Kathryn says
I love these posts 🙂 The more pics of your beautiful girls, the better 🙂 I always enjoy your positive (but realistic!) outlook!
megan says
Oh man, my days are so so similar with my two yr old and seven week old. How do you get your older daughter helping you in the kitchen? Any tips on how you make it something she can do?
Sherry says
Love seeing all the pictures & hearing the details. I’m exhausted just reading it. Think I’ll have a glass of wine and sit on the couch.
Danielle says
I love this post! Couple of questions, any suggestions on bottles? My 5 week old daughter isn’t loving bottles (I typically breastfeed, but she will go to daycare once I go back to work). We’ve tried several different types of bottles (Playtex, BornFree, Dr. Browns and Tommee Tippee). She has successfully taken some milk from the Tommee Tippee once, but no luck since. 🙁
Also, what’s the brand of H’s play kitchen? My oldest daughter turns 2 at the end of July and we want to get her a kitchen!
Bonnie says
Maybe try Aveent? It worked well when my daughter used it (for my granddaughter) when she went back to work. Her first girl liked dr brown. Seems they all have their own preferences!! Good luck!!
Alex @ Get Big, Go To Work says
I also have to wash the dishes right after dinner! It makes it nice in the morning when you don’t walk into a kitchen of dirty dishes-plus I totally need them to make breakfast!!
I also have to make my lunch for work the next day before going to bed. It’s so much easier getting out of the door in the morning AND I have no excuse for not packing a healthy lunch.
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers says
This post was so much fun to read! You are one busy lil’ mama! Can’t wait to see you and the fam tomorrow!!!
char eats greens says
That salad looks amazing that you had for dinner!!! I need to implement more salads. I don’t know why I don’t (probably because I don’t have a salad spinner — oh ya, it’s the #1 reason haha). Sounds like a busy, but awesome day. I actually am interested to see what your day looks like once Kaitlyn is moving all around…but in given time. Would never want to rush that sort of thing on any mom 😉
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