SAHM Check-In (October)

[tkford216]

I always forget about this each month. Whoops.

Here we go. Feel free to jump in whether you're home full-time, part-time, whatever.

----

How is it going overall?

What's your typical day like?

What kind of activities are you and the baby doing these days?

Anything new and exciting happening?

Recent struggles?

How are you getting your "me time"?

Miscellaneous word vomit, questions, whatever: 

[morwen]

How is it going overall? I love staying home with DS, it's awesome

What's your typical day like? We wake up between 8 and 9:30, breakfast playtime, maybe read a few stories, nap/try to get stuff done around the house, maybe go outside for a bit in the afternon.

What kind of activities are you and the baby doing these days? DS likes to crawl around and explore, take stuff out of his diaper basket (diapers, bum cream etc), likes standing at the window, chewing on his shoes, clapping games, story time and playing outside

Anything new and exciting happening? Still working on house projects since we moved in recently

Recent struggles? Trying to get stuff done around the house with bebe is hard

How are you getting your "me time"?after DS goes to bed I can veg a bit and I send h out with DS some weekends

Miscellaneous word vomit, questions, whatever: I feel like I should do more re/be more structured with DS but his favourite is exploring not playing with actual toys/me. He's happy just mom guilt lol
[/quote]

[rivers and roads]

How is it going overall? I'm loving how fun and interactive he is, so I'm especially glad to be home now! (This "fun and interactive" also turns into high need some days when I wish I could go to work, haha)

What's your typical day like? We hang home until the first nap is over. I try to run errands after that because the stores are empty. We've been going on walks and to the library in the afternoon now since it's not so hot.

What kind of activities are you and the baby doing these days? He just wants to crawl around and explore and make me nervous. Occasionally, he'll let me read a few books to him. We go on walks and I'm trying to get us involved in the library story time and a play group.

Anything new and exciting happening? Not really! Crawling means my "free time" while he plays in one spot is so done.

Recent struggles? I keep going back and forth between getting a part time job or continuing what we're doing. The money would be nice, and I want him to have more exposure with other kids, but part time job pay =/= part time day care around here.

How are you getting your "me time"? I tutor 3x a week and can listen to whatever I want on the drive H takes X out for a few hours on the weekend if it's been a long week.

Miscellaneous word vomit, questions, whatever:

[kellybenelly83]

How is it going overall? Going ok, we have to manage because I'm home until February still.

What's your typical day like? Up by 7 then some days daycare from 830-10, naps and playtime. Walk the dogs, Afternoons we cruise around the living room, play and have a movie on in the background, Winnie the Pooh, Harry Potter etc.

What kind of activities are you and the baby doing these days? We walk a lot and try to stop at the park. Swim class Saturday mornings.

Anything new and exciting happening? Not really

Recent struggles? I'm still having a hard time some days with everything, feeling secluded a bit.

How are you getting your "me time"? I love daycare days. It helps my morale so much. After he goes to bed dh plays his video game and I can relax on the couch or take a bath.

Miscellaneous word vomit: I wish there was more things in walking distance that I could get to, not even a mall or anything just something we could do indoors. If it's a cold or rainy day we're stuck inside.

[tkford216]

How is it going overall?

Great. It's been a lot of fun with all his recent learning. I feel like we need to get out more though. He hasn't been socialized at all yet. I knew this would be an issue with staying home, and I haven't pushed myself enough to get out and meet new moms yet.

What's your typical day like?

Wake up, breakfast, play, nap, lunch, play, nap, errands/walk/play, dinner, play, bedtime. I love that we have a routine, but it's also just so... routine. By the end of the week, I'm completely bored and blah. This could all be fixed by getting out more, but.. I'm lazy I guess.

What kind of activities are you and the baby doing these days?

He does a lot of independent play. I set him down with toys scattered around the room and he does what he wants. I do sit and play with him sometimes, or we read books. Every so often we'll take a walk, run errands (where we talk about colors and shapes and foods at the grocery store while strangers look at me like a weirdo), or visit my H at work.

Our latest new game is "find the ball" where I hide a ball under one of his nesting cups and move them around so he can try to find the right one. Or I put all his toys and books in a bin so he can take things out and put things back. I've been trying to find activities that make him think - I'm not very creative.. if you have ideas, share!

Anything new and exciting happening?

Now that he crawls, it makes play time more interesting. But he still has to be really motivated to cruise the room, so we're not completely in the danger zone yet.

Recent struggles?

Just the socialization thing. We stopped to visit a friend and her baby (same age) and my kid wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. He acted more annoyed than anything. If the other kid touched his leg, he cried and kicked. So, we need to make some friends around here.  (Eta, I'm a complete introvert homebody, so I guess it's just not in my nature to want to get out a lot. I need to balance that with getting him out more.)

How are you getting your "me time"?

Ha. Um... when I find this so-called "me time," I'll get back to you. It's been especially difficult lately because it's primetime election season, so my H is basically on-call constantly and works a lot on the evenings and weekends. I'm going a little nuts being "on my own" so much.

Miscellaneous word vomit, questions, whatever: I've got nothing. With teething upon us, I'm too tired to function today.

[trtlcrzy]

tkford216 if it makes you feel better kids do "solo play" until they are around 2. So he probably won't necessarily want to play with another baby for a little bit. It's great to expose him to other kids but you aren't doing anything wrong by not socializing him. Do you have kindermusic or something like that you could take him to?

childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-development/play-work-of-children/pl3/

[tkford216]

trtlcrzy that makes me feel better, thanks. Her kid was all excited and wanted to play, and mine was being antisocial and all I could think was "don't be like your mama!" Lol. They don't even do the kid's time at the library anymore, it was apparently just the summer. I'll have to look in the big city. It's a half hour drive but it's all I got.

[trtlcrzy]

Oct 18, 2016 12:47:59 GMT -5 tkford216 said:

trtlcrzy that makes me feel better, thanks. Her kid was all excited and wanted to play, and mine was being antisocial and all I could think was "don't be like your mama!" Lol. They don't even do the kid's time at the library anymore, it was apparently just the summer. I'll have to look in the big city. It's a half hour drive but it's all I got.

I try not to make "just you wait" statements but honestly enjoy the simple, easy stage you are in right now. When he becomes a toddler you'll be running around trying to work out his energy. You're doing great, don't feel mom guilt to get him into a bunch of activities right now.

[mishy2010]

How is it going overall?
Ok. I'm getting the itch to return to work. I'm covering a few tournaments in November. I'm sure I'll change my mind after that lol.

What's your typical day like?
Wake up around 7:30, shower, get kids up around 8:30, breakfast, play, run errands, lunch, preschool 12:30-3 TTh, library story time, nap 1-4, play, dinner.

What kind of activities are you and the baby doing these days?
Baby is just along for the ride. We go to parks, the library, and we have a few local businesses for kids to play but I've never gone.

Anything new and exciting happening?
Negative.

Recent struggles?
I'm trying to register for my PA school pre-reqs and stressing over class timing.

How are you getting your "me time"?
My me time consists of only have one child at a time. I can run errands and shop without kids when H gets home but I haven't really done anything for my self recently.

[auchick913]

How is it going overall?
Better. Since he's been sleeping on his tummy, his fussiness has pretty much entirely resolved which is GLORIOUS.

What's your typical day like? Unfortunately we're stuck in a 530-530 day. I'd really like him to get up at 630 but I'm just going with it for now. So he gets up at the crack of dawn, eats, has a couple naps and bed. I try to leave the house at least a few times a week for a walk or errands or whatever.

What kind of activities are you and the baby doing these days?
He does a lot of tummy time lately, so independent play. I will play with him if he gets fussy or needs something new.

Anything new and exciting happening?
He has really gotten good at pivoting around. Yesterday he did quite a bit of scooting backwards through the kitchen (went 8-9 feet) and today he did some mini planks (1/2 in off the ground). I'm looking forward to him gaining some independence.

Recent struggles?
He has horrible stranger anxiety. I mean, I know some is normal, but I feel like his is more along the more severe side. I try to get out several times a week to expose him to people.

How are you getting your "me time"?
This is a BFD with DH and I. I have repeatedly asked him to do things socially (date nights, inviting people over etc) and he says he's "working on it" but nothing ever happens. I remember we got in a big fight about it around the time of my birthday which was a month ago. Still nothing. It's so annoying, like he doesn't prioritize my needs. So.. a lot of my "me time" happens while kid is independently playing but I know that's not a long term solution. ETA: I also get a lot of "me time" since DS goes to bed so early.

Miscellaneous word vomit, questions, whatever:

[swim]

How is it going overall?
Aside from being buried under sickness hell, pretty good! 


What's your typical day like?
DS usually gets up between 6-7:30 depending on the day, so I feed him a bottle, then go downstairs to pump. Usually DD wakes up a little after 8. 
We eat breakfast, usually accompanied by Paw Patrol or Bubble Guppies. 
Then we usually leave the house by 10 for a bit. Always home by noon so I can pump again. 
Naps at 1. 
Then supper prep/play time
Pump again
Finish cooking supper, then eat.
Bath and bedtime routines start at 7:30. Both now in bed before 9. 


What kind of activities are you and the baby doing these days?
 Walking, playing at the park, building things with mega blocks, napping together lol 


Anything new and exciting happening?
Well DS is mobile now so that leads to exciting things. He's pulling himself up as well. 


Recent struggles?
 The sickness that never ends is getting me down. 
Plus I feel soooo sick of pumping but I'm sticking to it until I go back to work in 3 months. I will be completely off the pump by then. 


How are you getting your "me time"?
 I either go to the gym for a couple hours, or go get groceries. 


Miscellaneous word vomit, questions, whatever:
Teething sucks. But I'm glad I'm not breastfeeding DS this time around. 

[tkford216]

swim you guys really need a break from sickness. I hope that happens soon.

[eyelashedviper]

How is it going overall?

We're doing well. Most people are impressed that I even get out of the house with all three, ha.

What's your typical day like?

This our typical day but we're flexible. Wake-up has been averaging 9:00 for the babies, a little earlier for DD1 so that leads to us racing out the door to make it to morning activities. The babies will either nap while we're out if they're in their stroller or often in the car on our way home. Then lunch for everyone (kiddos play while I prep). In the afternoon I'll put on a video for DD1 and let her play while I let the babies nurse and nap on me. Other than that we have playtime, sometimes some arts/crafts or other project. Then I'll get started on dinner unless babies are a tired cranky mess (we're still transitioning down to 2 naps) and then I apologize to DH for not having food ready when he gets home at 6:45, ha. Then we get dinner into us however we can (DD1 is the priority) and DH starts bedtime with DD1 around 7:30. Then if babies have had an evening nap bedtime is on average at 10:00, earlier if they've been up since the afternoon. I typically go to bed when they do.

What kind of activities are you and the baby doing these days?

We do the library, strollercise, mom and baby fitness, indoor play place, playdates, playgroups, the park, errands.

We do unique events as well. We went to see butterflies flying free in a greenhouse the other week, went for a walk in the woods to see a waterfall and collect leaves. I plan to do a local trail where you can feed birds out of your hands. DD1 and I picked out Halloween decorations at the dollar store last week so we get to decorate and will carve a pumpkin together.

Anything new and exciting happening?

Both little ones are getting mobile! H is army crawling and getting faster by the day. L is so close to figuring out forward motion on all fours. L has 2 teeth cut and H's second will be cutting any day.

Recent struggles?

I am really slacking with solids. I'm averaging one meal a day. It's just a lot of work to prep and set up everyone's food, get them fed and then do all the cleaning of cups, feeders, trays etc. afterwards.

Also, all the playgroups around here start at 9 or 9:30 in the morning which makes it a challenge for me to get to. I'm finding that DD1 is getting really clingy and unsure around other kids a lot. I hear "play with me mommy" all day. It sucks because I would love nothing more and I give her what I can but I always have something on the go. I need to get her together with kids in her own age group on a regular basis! I feel like I'm failing her socially. I still plan for her to do nursery school 2 half days a week in January, she needs it.

How are you getting your "me time"?

Very rarely. Sometimes after DD1 is down I will leave the babies with DH and run a quick errand or go pick up a treat.