Routines

Just some random thoughts from motherhood. Yes, it's actually quiet and peaceful enough for me to just contemplate for a moment.
I have spent all weekend coming up with a schedule and some routines for Charles (and myself). He does not sleep through the night yet but at least during the day I've decided that noon-2pm would be nap time. That give me time to get going in the morning, go exercize (twice a week in the morning) feed him, run errands if I have to, play with him, feed him again then put him down to get some work done. Honestly, on Sat. I looked at my kitchen and thought "If my mom saw this she'd report me to CPS." Charles got an A+ on Friday and Saturday but then daddy came home from being away and we were both pleasantly surprised to see that he actually recognized Daddy and started kicking, smiling and squealing when he heard his footsteps. Charles seems to completely recognize Daddy's voice. Now Steve walks loudly when he comes in and Charles starts spinning his head around looking for daddy, he nearly fell out of his chair while I was feeding him this afternoon.
Charles likes avacado, yams, baby cereal, apple, eating whole bananas (which I think feels especially good on some of the teething spots.) Some days he devours his food like a bottomless pit and I end up making more. Other days he eats so little it seems then starts fussing and crying and downs a bottle. As if to say, "this chewing and mushing it around in my mouth is far too much effort and taking far too long to get this stuff into my stomach, I quit, I'm outta here, where's that bottle? I need some fast action here!"
Oh, back to the training. So dad comes home and while Charles is crying in his crib (going on a minute and a half) dad says "Are you just going to let him cry? How long has been at it.?" I tell him what "the book" says 'let them cry for up to an hour' but I know I couldn't go that long. Well, Steve and I got on the same page by the end of the night. Actually, it's great to have a husband and partner in this who cares so much about our baby. I was trying to get Charles to sleep by patting him until my patience wore out, I just walked out and in about 1 min. he was out like a light. It's funny to think that WE are the stimulus that keeps him awake sometimes.

Speaking of stimulus...tomorrow is a BIG day for all of us. I hope you all awake Wed. morning finding you are suddenly better off than you are today. By the way, if I were in charge, I'd make inauguration day a holiday. It would only come every 4 years or 8. Actually, I'm realistic about it, I'd exclude incumbants being sworn back in. Face it, everyone's going to be watching TV all day tomorrow no matter where they are and if they ABSOLUTELY cannot watch TV, they certainly wont be paying attention to their jobs...just call it a day off!