I remember saying that I would write about our daily life once I figured out what our daily life was going to consist of. The truth is, every day is different and I am still trying to figure out where to put in time for myself, time for cleaning, time for play into our days.
The week days all begin with me trying to get in a shower before Andy leaves for work. If this doesn't happen, I have to try and fit it in after Oliver's nap (because the shower wakes him from his nap) which is so close to lunch time that it really stresses me out. So I race through a shower and then get breakfast ready for me and Oliver. Andy eats breakfast at school because it just is more convenient for him to do so time-wise. Breakfast is a popular time to Skype with people in the States because it is evening there, so often we spend our time conversing with friends and family over coffee and eggs (for me!).
Breakfast takes so long that we usually get about 20-30 minutes of play time in before Oliver is ready to nap. Once he goes down I try to fit in a little exercise (this piece most often gets skipped, it's just wishful thinking most days!), mostly yoga, and then I clean or make food for Oliver. We fired our maid, so all cleaning and laundry now falls to me. The laundry machine is non-stop especially now that we are using washable diapers, so I try to fit a load of laundry in there somewhere too. I make all of Oliver's food. He no longer wants to eat anything pureed (he is a big boy after all!) and he has not a single tooth yet so I am making lots of super-soft and super-small cooked foods for him. He favorites right now are beets and pumpkin.
Oliver wakes up 1.5-2 hours later and depending on what time it is we either have ourselves a dance party, or go for a walk, or play in the field by our house. We head down the mountain to school for lunch at 12:30. Lunch is my favorite time of day. We get to see Andy, I get some MUCH needed adult interaction and Oliver gets to play with his buddy Ennis on the playground. It always flies by, but that hour to hour and a half is always a relief for me. Once I week I usually walk into the bazaar with my friend Fabi for some "girl time". Oliver either naps in his carrier or takes a later nap once we get home.
Once he is down for nap number 2 I finish any cleaning tasks I didn't get to before (I just wiped down the bathroom and I am looking at a counter full of dishes), any cooking/baking I didn't get to finish and then I really really try to read and just sit still for a moment.
Oliver usually takes a shorter nap, 1-1.5 hours and then we are off to play again! He is obsessed with holding onto furniture and taking steps right now, so we could do that for a very very very long time. Around 4:30 or so we either go for a walk or go meet Andy at school or go into the bazaar, it changes all the time. We were eating dinner at school with our friends (it was so easy for me, no cooking or clean up!) but I am missing cooking dinner and frankly, we need to better eating more balanced meals. The meals at school are all starch: rice, dal, chickpeas, potatoes...I need more veggies in my life! So we quit the meal plan for November and we will see how that goes for us.
We often take Oliver to staff gym nights on Mondays and Wednesdays and let him climb around on the mats in the gymnastics room. Other nights we just play on the floor at home the three of us, until it is time to wind down for bed. Then Andy and I get two hours together before we are completely exhausted and turn in ourselves. Then it all starts again the next day!
Weekends are the best. Andy is home and we get to explore or eat out or just do whatever excites us that day. The past few weekends we have spent one day just walking for HOURS. I love it. We leave after Oliver's morning nap, get lunch out, and just walk until it is dinner time. Oliver naps in his carrier and Andy and I get to spend some time out of the house (a must for me!). Sometimes we go into the city and get lunch an shop, other times we hike up a nearby mountain and other days we just walk through the bazaar. It is just great to have Andy around.
Gotta get to those dishes! xo
The week days all begin with me trying to get in a shower before Andy leaves for work. If this doesn't happen, I have to try and fit it in after Oliver's nap (because the shower wakes him from his nap) which is so close to lunch time that it really stresses me out. So I race through a shower and then get breakfast ready for me and Oliver. Andy eats breakfast at school because it just is more convenient for him to do so time-wise. Breakfast is a popular time to Skype with people in the States because it is evening there, so often we spend our time conversing with friends and family over coffee and eggs (for me!).
Breakfast takes so long that we usually get about 20-30 minutes of play time in before Oliver is ready to nap. Once he goes down I try to fit in a little exercise (this piece most often gets skipped, it's just wishful thinking most days!), mostly yoga, and then I clean or make food for Oliver. We fired our maid, so all cleaning and laundry now falls to me. The laundry machine is non-stop especially now that we are using washable diapers, so I try to fit a load of laundry in there somewhere too. I make all of Oliver's food. He no longer wants to eat anything pureed (he is a big boy after all!) and he has not a single tooth yet so I am making lots of super-soft and super-small cooked foods for him. He favorites right now are beets and pumpkin.
Oliver wakes up 1.5-2 hours later and depending on what time it is we either have ourselves a dance party, or go for a walk, or play in the field by our house. We head down the mountain to school for lunch at 12:30. Lunch is my favorite time of day. We get to see Andy, I get some MUCH needed adult interaction and Oliver gets to play with his buddy Ennis on the playground. It always flies by, but that hour to hour and a half is always a relief for me. Once I week I usually walk into the bazaar with my friend Fabi for some "girl time". Oliver either naps in his carrier or takes a later nap once we get home.
Once he is down for nap number 2 I finish any cleaning tasks I didn't get to before (I just wiped down the bathroom and I am looking at a counter full of dishes), any cooking/baking I didn't get to finish and then I really really try to read and just sit still for a moment.
Oliver usually takes a shorter nap, 1-1.5 hours and then we are off to play again! He is obsessed with holding onto furniture and taking steps right now, so we could do that for a very very very long time. Around 4:30 or so we either go for a walk or go meet Andy at school or go into the bazaar, it changes all the time. We were eating dinner at school with our friends (it was so easy for me, no cooking or clean up!) but I am missing cooking dinner and frankly, we need to better eating more balanced meals. The meals at school are all starch: rice, dal, chickpeas, potatoes...I need more veggies in my life! So we quit the meal plan for November and we will see how that goes for us.
We often take Oliver to staff gym nights on Mondays and Wednesdays and let him climb around on the mats in the gymnastics room. Other nights we just play on the floor at home the three of us, until it is time to wind down for bed. Then Andy and I get two hours together before we are completely exhausted and turn in ourselves. Then it all starts again the next day!
Weekends are the best. Andy is home and we get to explore or eat out or just do whatever excites us that day. The past few weekends we have spent one day just walking for HOURS. I love it. We leave after Oliver's morning nap, get lunch out, and just walk until it is dinner time. Oliver naps in his carrier and Andy and I get to spend some time out of the house (a must for me!). Sometimes we go into the city and get lunch an shop, other times we hike up a nearby mountain and other days we just walk through the bazaar. It is just great to have Andy around.
Gotta get to those dishes! xo
I definitely remember trying to just sit still for a moment. You're doing a great job, Lindsey. I especially appreciate seeing you and Oliver because it reminds me that I should always appreciate the stage Ennis and I are at now--how much freedom I have compared to less than a year ago. I think it keeps me being a nicer mom instead of feeling sorry for myself.
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