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A day in the life with my 12 week old

I thought it would be fun to share a day in the life of my 12 week old so you can compare that to Emily’s post with her 7 week old and Brittany’s post with her 12 week old.

Here’s a day in the life with my sidekick Raffi, who turns 12 weeks old tomorrow (but 3 months next week. This counting of his age thing is confusing to me).

7 AM: I hear squeaks from Raffi’s bedroom and take a peek on the video monitor. His mouth is opening and closing like he’s hungry, although his eyes are still closed. I sneak in and pick him up to feed him laying down on the guest bed. I kind of doze off as I feed him.

7:15 AM: Back in his crib, where he is half asleep. He falls asleep in a minute or two. We consider this his morning nap although he doesn’t play before it. I hop back in bed.

8:30 AM: My alarm goes off and I jump up to try and get as much done before Raffi wakes up for the day. I shower even if I plan on exercising, just in case I don’t find the time. I also make the bed, fold laundry, straighten up and try my best to eat breakfast. By 9 AM Raffi is awake and chattering in his crib. I try to let him hang there entertaining himself until about 9:30 AM.

9:30 AM: I go into Raffi’s room and shut off the sound machine, open the shades and smile a lot at him as he wakes up fully. I unswaddle him and really enjoy watching him stretch and smile at me. This is his most smiley time of the day. After 5 minutes or so I pick him up to change his diaper and get dressed for the day. He usually wears soft PJ-like outfits unless we are going to see someone special or we’re going to church. Since I most likely haven’t done everything I had planned to do, Raffi hangs out on his own for a few minutes on his activity mat until I’m done.

10:00 AM: Time to eat! I nurse him while sitting on the couch and watch news/junk or type on my laptop one-handed.

10:15 AM: Play time! We play a lot together at this time, mostly on the mat or I sing songs and he stares etc. After a few minutes of digesting we do tummy time, which he either loves or hates.

11:00 AM: Uh oh! Raffi starts yawning and I panic a little, knowing it’s the dreaded naptime. I swaddle him loosely and put him in his crib. I darken the room a bit and then read a book. Raffi stares at me talking and never notices the actual book. I put on the sound machine, give him a pacifier and a kiss and leave the room.

11:05 AM: He’s crying. I wait a minute or two and give him his pacifier. His eyes close and he immediately turns his head to the side. I start running around the house cleaning.

11:15: Wailing! Pacifier fell out before he was ready to let it go. I sneak back in and give it to him without talking or looking him in the eye.

11:20 AM: Pacifier again. I wait a minute or two to see if he can grab it with his mouth before going in one last time.

11:21 AM: He’s asleep! I check emails, read blogs, get dressed to go out, etc.

12 noon: Someone’s awake! I try to help him nap a little longer but it never works. I unswaddle him, change his diaper, and we play more.

1 PM: Time to eat again! We sit on the couch and I watch TV or just look at my cutie pie.

1:20 PM: he falls asleep nursing. I let him rest knowing he’ll be up in a couple of minutes. He wakes up and spits up his whole meal on both of us. Outfit changes for two!

1:30 PM: Raffi goes in the stroller and we either walk or drive to do errands. After about 30 minutes of looking out the window or at his surroundings, he will doze. If he’s in the car this involves some tears first. I clench my teeth for the 5 minutes of crying and try to blast the Christmas music. At the next stop on our task list Raffi will wake up and look around before gently closing his eyes again- no tears. All in all he’ll sleep about one hour.

4:15 PM: I rush home as fast as possible knowing Raffi will be hungry soon. I unload the stroller with our groceries etc. at lightning speed, realizing just then I never ate lunch. I make 2 eggs and eat them as fast as possible. Raffi wakes up after bite number 2.

4:25 PM: I feed Raffi on the couch while checking emails on my iPhone. I don’t have the chance to respond to any.

4:45 PM: Raffi goes in his babysitter balance in the kitchen while I prep dinner. He practices pushing the pacifier in with his arm every time it falls out, or putting his toy to his mouth over and over again.

5:15 PM: Raffi is already crabby and yawning again. I put him in his swing for a mini 30 minute nap. We repeat the pacifier moves of the morning nap if he is overtired. If not he just stares at the mobile and slowly and gently closes his eyes.

5:40 PM: We have a squeaker. He starts waking up and I scoop him up to dance a bit. We sing or I put him on my shoulder as a “potato sack” and we walk around looking at things. This is a more fun version of tummy time for all of us.

6:00 PM: As I’m snuggling him he falls asleep in my arms. I snuggle up my head next to his and give him lots of kisses.

6:10 PM: He’s back up and yawning. I try my best to entertain him while finishing dinner.

7:00 PM: Baba’s home!!! Everyone perks up as we gab about our days. Trig gives Raffi his bath as I go back to my computer for a few minutes.

7:15 PM: Trig puts Raffi in his long sleeved onesie and diaper. I then brush his hair, double swaddle him, close the curtains and shut off the lights. I lay in the guest bed to nurse Raffi without any noise or light. I am usually on Twitter the entire time.

7:35 PM: Raffi finally pulls off with a contented sigh. I shut off the heater, scoop him up, turn on the sound machine and plop him in his crib before escaping as fast as possible.

Then one of the following things happens:

A: Someone is thrashing in his crib, but he is not crying. We wait with crossed fingers and a warm dinner on the table. He falls asleep.

B: He barely moves from the position I put him down in, and he is sound asleep immediately.

C: Raffi shrieks a bit and we keep running in to give him the pacifier or a pat until he is out.

D: The crying doesn’t sound like tired cries. We pick him back up to check for a dirty diaper or a burp before rocking him a bit and putting him down drowsy again. Then we wait for A, B, or C to happen.

8:00 PM- 5/6 AM: Raffi is asleep. I am yawning by 8 PM but stay up to write, check emails, chat with my husband, eat dinner, and watch a little TV. Lights out at 10 PM, if I can make it that long.

5/6 AM: I see Raffi’s mouth on the monitor opening and closing like a little fish. Every once in a while he squeaks and moves his head from side to side. I wait 5 minutes to make sure he isn’t doing it in his sleep, and then I sneak in to dreamfeed him. He goes right back to sleep while nursing and I put him back in the crib.

Repeat from the top!

Some notes: There are lots more diaper changes in there, often a poopsplosion or two, and sometimes a photo shoot. Raffi smiles the most first thing in the morning, so I really soak up that time and also snap lots of iPhone pics to send to Trig at work.

The end. A day in the life with my 12 week old. I wonder how that is going to change once my maternity leave is over.

PS- Check out my latest post on Babycenter where I share my maternity leave tips.

 

d’andrea wristlet giveaway!

Want to win a d’andrea wristlet?
Then you’ve come to the right place!

Nicole D’Andrea, a local RI designer, has decided to do another giveaway right in time for the holidays. She is offering 3 RhodeyGirl readers a chance to win one of her super cute wristlets!

Like I’ve mentioned before, I love d’andrea’s designs and I love supporting small businesses. My d’andrea purse from a few years ago is still in perfect condition, and I love how the leather gets even softer and silkier with age. This year Nicole has the above wristlets for sale at $30 each as well as lots of other classic and funky pieces. I love wristlets, especially now, because they can fit all the essentials: phone, keys, chapstick, money, and credit cards. I actually hang a wristlet off my stroller so that I don’t have to carry anything in my pockets during long walks with Raffi.

This giveaway has come right in time for the holidays. Three winners will be chosen to receive one of the above wristlets to complete your holiday outfit! Best of luck!

Here’s what you can do to get one:

1. Leave a comment saying why you NEEEEEEEED one of these wristlets.
2. Visit the website and share one fact or thing you like via Twitter. You can also just share the link to this post. Be sure to cc me (@rhodeygirltests) so I see it.
3. Share the link to this giveaway on Facebook and come back to let me know.
4. Visit the website and buy one!

**Only valid for U.S. readers (sorry!)
**Giveaway ends Dec 16th at 12 noon EST.

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