Here is my attempt to explain our "routine"...very, very general...so adapt as you see fit! ;)
Between 6:30 and 7:30 Rowan wakes up for the day. I feed her. You can defrost a 5 oz. frozen bag of milk for her. We boil water and swirl the bag until it is melted and warm. And she likes it warmer than you would think is "safe". ;) It has shocked Rick and I. The bottle will be good for 3 hours from the time you defrost (so til about 10 am.) Just reheat in a pot of boiled water when you need it again...she will not drink it if it is not warm.
Liam usually gets up between 7 and 8:30. After I feed Rowan, I bring Liam's milk cup upstairs and get him dressed. Then, I give Rowan a bath and get her dressed while Liam drinks his milk and plays with the toys upstairs. You really do not have to worry too much about the gate up there. He does really good up and down the steps. But, if it makes you more comfortable feel free to lock the gate.
We all go downstairs. Liam watches channel 47--Mickey Mouse til 9 am and then I turn the tv off. When we get downstairs, I give him a bowl (in the cabinet to the right of the sink) of pieces of banana and another bowl of some kind of dry cereal (cheerios or fruit loops). He also gets half a flinstone, a vitamin C, and his singulair tablet. I call them his candy and he gobbles them right up. I also brush his teeth and give one squirt of the nasonex in each nostril. He will finish his milk pretty fast, so I give him a half juice, half water cup.
Rowan will play on the floor, or in the walker during this time and she may drink some more of the bottle.
Around 9, we usually go into the playroom. Rowan will jump in the doorway jumper and Liam plays while I get a bath and get ready. Anywhere between 9:30 and 11 Rowan gets fussy and you can tell she is ready for a nap. You can defrost another 5 oz. bottle, bring her upstairs and feed her, then put her down in her crib for a rest. She will nap for 30-60 minutes. We turn on the humidifier, her music and just have the shade down and blinds closed.
While she rests, I play with Liam in the toyroom or even outback if it is nice while I watch her in the monitor. He will probably want one or two snacks. I usually do goldfish and maybe animal cracker or wheat thins. One snack, unless he really seems to want more.
While she rests, I play with Liam in the toyroom or even outback if it is nice while I watch her in the monitor. He will probably want one or two snacks. I usually do goldfish and maybe animal cracker or wheat thins. One snack, unless he really seems to want more.
**Or, when she gets fussy and you give her some the second bottle is when we will venture out sometimes and she will fall asleep in her carseat. So if you want to get out, this would be a good time. Around 10:15ish.**
**If Rowan gets up extra early like between 6 and 6:30, she will probably have a 3 nap day (which is around 9ish, 11:30ish and 3ish)**
**Both will usually have a poo diaper by around 10ish too.**
When she wakes up, she MAY take some more of the bottle, maybe not. Then she plays on the floor or sits up in the bumbo seat and just watches Liam play. Liam may want to watch Sesame Street on Channel 13 from 11-12.
Between 12 and 12:30 we all have lunch. I make sure the TV is off during this too and we all sit together and eat and chat. ;) You can use the rest of the second bottle for Rowan's cereal. 2-3 tablespoons of cereal and mixed with a half jar of prunes or pear or sweet potatoes. Liam gets another cup of milk and some kind of fruit, peas, and yogurt, or grilled cheese, or a hot dog, or bagel with cream cheese.
After lunch, Rowan will sit upright in the bumbo or in the walker while her food digests ;) and watch Liam play for about 30-60 minutes.
I change both of their diapers (Liam will usually poo) and Liam goes up for a nap between 1 and 2. I read him a story sometimes before nap.
When she starts to seem tired, I would defrost another 5 oz bottle and take her up for a nap. She may only drink an oz or two. She will sleep again for about 30-60 minutes.
When she wakes up I would try to give her the rest of the bottle and change her diaper.
Liam may play the whole time in his room. I will usually get him out of his room between 3:30 and 4 if he has slept or not. He gets a snack and some juice/water. Snacks could be yogurt or fruit or pretzels or cheese. I change his diaper.
We sometimes go out back from 4-5. You can defrost another 5 oz. bottle and she may drink a few oz. before dinner. If not, no biggie. Rowan will just sit in the bumbo on the table and watch Liam play. Liam likes balls and bubbles, his slide, and his ride on and ride in cars. You could grill at this time if you wanted too. Or we just play in the playroom or upstairs in the loft as somewhere different.
At 5:15ish, it is mealtime AGAIN! ;)
Rowan will get 2-3 tablespoons of cereal and one of the fruits or veggies she did not get at lunch. I just alternate them all. Just use the milk from the defrosted bottle. Liam can have some chicken (he likes to dip in ketchup or bbq sce) or taco meat, corn or broccoli or mixed veggies, rice or a crescent roll, and some fruit or yogurt if he does not eat much of the other stuff. Liam gets another cup of milk.
Rowan is usually thirsty after she eats and may need more milk. You can make a 3 oz. formula bottle to give to her if the defrosted bottle is all gone. Some playtime and then bath anytime between 6 and 7.
Rowan gets in her pjs and I change her diaper for the last time around 7. Liam sometimes gets a snack and a cup of water while we watch some TV from 7-7:30. Rowan will let you know she is ready for bed anywhere between 7 and 8. We make a 5 oz. formula bottle at 6:45 just to have it ready for when she blows! ;) Same thing as for nap, music, bottle and rocking. She may be really fussy and seem like she does not want the bottle, but she will usually always take about 3 oz. Liam will go down by 7:30 if he did not nap and by 8:15 if he did nap.
Rowan may wake up in the night. Unless she is crying, I would not go in. If you do have to go in, you can rock her, bounce her, turn the music on, or even try a pacifier--she may just chew on it. If she is still fussy, she may really be hungry so you can make a 3 oz. formula bottle. By 4:00 am if you do hear her before, she will get up between 4 and 5:30 and go back down. I would make 3-5 oz. formula bottle (5 if she has not gotten up, 3 if she got up earlier and ate).
Some notes ;)
If Rowan is really upset, singing to her (This Old Man or Wheels on the Bus) will calm her down. Playing peek a boo or clap-clap or just talking to her. The girl LOVES attention. She loves looking at herself in the mirror. And of course if you carry her around. ;) Favorite places--floor on the mat, doorway jumper, jumperoo upstairs, floor upstairs, floor in the playroom with some dolls, walker in the kitchen and this is random and probably not the cleanest place, but she loves the floor in my closet...loves looking at the shoes. Girl after my own heart! ;)
Liam is VERY sensitive these days. He does NOT like to be told no. I have found explaining to him WHY in a sweet voice, REALLY helps. He even kinda flips out from a firm voice. Timeout on the steps only if nothing else is working. We maybe need it once every 10 days now. I do mention it a lot and he usually straightens up and gets himself together. Positive reinforcement REALLY works! PRAISE when he uses words!!!! He loves it! ;)
I guess this is all. Again, it is OUR day and you put whatever kind of spin on it you would like! I would love to have some new ideas of things that they may like to change up "Groundhog Day" a bit!
Love you and daddy so much and REALLY appreciate that you are doing this for us!!! Cannot wait to see you in one week! xoxoxo
Kel :-)
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