Weekday Schedule

Now that I have been back to work for a couple of weeks I thought I would post our weekday schedule so you can see what works for us. 

A couple of things to note:  I work at home full time.  Jason is a stay-at-home dad. 

6:00am:  I don't use an alarm clock.  I just wait for Cal or Jack to wake up, or both.  Usually, 6 is when this happens.  I get Jack his vitamins, a breakfast bar and a cup of milk to tide him over until breakfast.  I get both boys dressed for the day at this time too since Jason isn't the best at picking out outfits.  I gather my pump parts while my coffee is brewing.  Cal may or may not eat during this time period.  If I have laundry to do, I start I now so I can fold during my lunch time.

6:45am:  I let Jason know it's time to get up.  He stirs for a few minutes and then is up at 7:00 for me to start work. 

7:00am:  I log into work and check my email while I pump hands free.

7:30am:  After I am done pumping and checking email, I jump into the shower.  Jason is usually feeding Cal around now and he typically will go down for a short nap since he isn't the best night sleeper.  Jack is either playing or watching Sesame Street or some other kid friendly movie.  After my shower, I make breakfast (usually oatmeal to help with my supply) and grab another cup of coffee.

Work, work, work, and more work.

10:00am:  Jack generally has his breakfast during this time period.  Jason usually gives him a bowl of cereal with fruit, oatmeal with fruit, or peanut butter toast and fruit.  This is the time that I pump for the second time of the day.

I haven't really touched on when Cal eats because it's so sporadic.  He eats often but not on a schedule.  He is right in the target range for ounces during the day (25-30) but he isn't the type of baby that eats 4 oz. every 3 hours or whatever.  Instead, he eats on demand and for as long as he wants, as much as he wants.

12:00pm:  Lunch time!  If I haven't eaten lunch by now, I usually make myself something.  Jack also gets his lunch during this time.  I don't get a lunch hour per se.  I eat in front of my computer generally. Although I have been known to sneak away for 15 minutes or so to spend time with the family or fold a load of laundry.

12:45pm:  Jack goes down for a nap.  His nap is anywhere from 90 minutes on a bad day to 3 hours on a good day.  He doesn't sleep past 5pm ever.  We will wake him up otherwise he won't sleep at night.

1:00pm:  Third pump of the day.  Jason usually eats around this time because Cal is usually napping.  When he naps consistently, it's around lunch time for a good hour or two. 

Work, work, work, work.

3:00pm ish:  Jack is up from nap and gets his snack.  Most days he grazes but sometimes, if it's a messy snack, he sits in his highchair. 

4:00pm:  I log off work.  Immediately after logging off, I pump for the fourth time of the day.  Once I am finished, it's time to tidy up the house, put away laundry, do dishes, etc.  Cal gets his Prevacid around this time so it gets a chance to work before his next "meal".  If it's Wednesday, I give Cal his bath and into jammies early.  Nothing like a clean smelling baby in the afternoon!

5:00pm ish:  I usually start prepping/cooking dinner.  I have dinner already planned out in advance so I know what I am making.  Our meals never take more than 30 minutes of prep time.  It can bake for as long as it needs to or sit in the crockpot but my rule is that it needs to be super easy to prepare so I am not slaving over the stove.

6:00pm:  Dinner time!  We all sit down and eat.  Granted, we don't have a table to all eat at, but Jason and I sit at the coffee table and Jack sits at his highchair right near us.  I guess you could consider that "family time".  After dinner, I clean up, do dishes and tidy up the house a little.

7:15pm:  If it's bath night for Jack (he gets one every other night), he goes into the tub around now.  It takes a good 45 minutes for his night time routine so we start it now.  One of us gives Jack his bath while the other gives Cal a bottle (if he's hungry) and/or into his jammies.  We try and get both boys down around 8:00 but it typically takes Cal a bit longer to fall asleep.

8:00pm:  Bedtime for both boys.  Cal usually isn't asleep by now but some nights he surprises us.  I get Cal to sleep by swaddling, shushing and rocking him.   

8:30pm:  Last pump of the day.  This might be a little later depending on what time Cal finally falls asleep.  It's usually before 9 though.  Once I am done pumping, I treat myself to something sweet and a glass of milk.  It helps me wind down and darn it, I deserve the treat!  I get everything gathered for bed (Cal's bottles, burp cloth, paci, my phone to charge) and put it in the bedroom. 

9:00pm:  I try to go to bed around now and either read or watch tv until 9:30.  Cal sleeps next to me in his Rock N Play and he comes into the bedroom with me when I go to bed.  Until now he's been sleeping in his Boppy in the living room while Jason and I are out there. 

Nighttime is really spoardic.  Cal will sometimes sleep until 11pm or as late as 2am.  It really just depends on how well he has slept during the day, if he's gassy or what have you.  He is usually still up at least twice during the night but more often it's three. 

Now there are a lot of things that I am not listing out.  Like when Jack plays or when Cal naps.  That is because Jack gets free reign of the house while he's awake.  He is free to play with whatever toys he wants unless it's nap or sleep time.  Cal sleeps when he's tired and there is no schedule for that.  I also didn't list things like housework.  That is because that is also sporadic.  Jason has his hands full by taking care of the boys so I still do all the housework for now.  Maybe as things get easier, he can help with that.  I clean throughout the week when it needs it. 

I hope this schedule works for a while because it's really easy to stick to and it makes our day flow well.