Heeere we go!
Morning
Sleep has been a little hit or miss around here lately thanks, in part, to what I can only assume is the beginning of the four-month sleep regression. Thankfully Ryder seems to fall back asleep fairly easily after nursing in the night, but there have been a handful of nights where I feel wide awake after a 2 or 3 a.m. nursing session. It’s no where near as bad as the insomnia I had when I was pregnant (that was brutal!) but it’s rough enough to cause me to skip my 5 a.m. alarm some mornings. That was the case yesterday and I ended up sleeping in until 6:30 a.m. when I got up and quickly got myself dressed for the gym before the boys were up for the day.
Ryder was up about 15 minutes later, so I nursed him and then brought him downstairs with me where I took a little time to make my coffee a little special.
I made myself a pumpkin spice latte and followed Brittany’s recipe because it’s the best one I’ve found for a creamy latte made with good-for-you ingredients. (There’s a reason her latte made my list of the 10 Best Blogger Recipes I Make Again and Again.)
When I heard Chase start to make noise, I figured I should quickly down my breakfast before getting him up for the day so I threw together a big green smoothie topped with pumpkin seeds, bee pollen and cacao nibs.
It always feels like the moment Chase wakes up our day kicks into high gear and yesterday was no different! We read some library books together while Chase ate a whole wheat pumpkin muffin and some strawberries for breakfast. Ryder seems to be falling into the pattern of needing a quick cat nap in the morning before preschool drop off so I did my best to get Ryder soothed and napping in his Rock ‘n’ Play and then Chase, Sadie and I spent some time in our backyard, filling the bird feeder and searching for butterflies and bees. (Ryder’s Rock ‘n’ Play was positioned so I could easily see him through the back door window.)
We had 10 minutes to go before it was time to leave for preschool when all of the sudden Ryder woke up and needed to nurse, Chase had to use the potty (a long experience some mornings…) and then Ryder had a massive poop that came out the back of his diaper. I was convinced we were crusin’ through the morning seamlessly but we ended up dashing out the door. Yeesh!
Chase was excited for school as usual and ran right up to his teacher to show her his mosquito bite (important stuff, ya know) and barely managed to remember to wave goodbye to me. I truly hope his enthusiasm for school and his intense curiosity lasts forever and ever.
After drop off, Ryder and I made our way to boot camp where he hung out in child care while I completed an athletic conditioning workout.
We spent three minutes at each station, switching back and forth between 10 reps of two different exercises. It was a sweaty one!
After my workout, I joined my friends Carrie and Jess and their little ones for a short walk at a local park. I knew Ryder would likely take a pretty solid nap during our walk since he was awake most of the time at boot camp and he snoozed away while I chatted with my friends.
Right after our walk, I quickly ate one of the new maple almond nut butter packets RXBar sent my way before driving home.
RXBar’s nut butters are some of my favorite on-the-go snack options and I love the way they offer a little boost of protein and healthy fats that help take the edge off my hunger. The new maple almond butter flavor was delish!
Back at home, I nursed Ryder again and then let him play and kick on a blanket while we did some tummy time and he chirped and cooed away.
He’s become so vocal in the past few weeks and hearing him chatter away and make the loudest high-pitched dinosaur noises makes me smile so much.
Afternoon
Before I knew it, it was once again time to head back out and pick Chase up from school, so I loaded Ryder into his car seat and we were off! Without fail, every time I pick Chase up from school he immediately runs to smother Ryder in kisses and I have to coerce him back to the car with the promise that he can play with his little brother when we get home. I have to give Ryder a ton of credit for being such a laid back baby because he tolerates Chase’s rather intense attention with smiles and looks of curiosity and adoration.
For those with two kids, have you noticed your older child picking up on the nicknames you have for your youngest? It cracks me up when Chase calls Ryder “Sweetie” or “Cutie Boy.” I wonder where he got those names from?
Before nap time we did our usual picnic + stories in Chase’s room and then I settled Chase in his bed with a few books. Most of the time he’ll fall asleep “reading” but I’m totally fine with him reading and playing with his toys in his crib as long as he gets at least an hour or so of quiet time. He truly needs it to decompress and relax after a busy morning!
While Chase slept, I tried to get Ryder down at the same time. It didn’t work so well, so my work time at the computer yesterday was rather limited but I did my best to respond to time-sensitive emails with Ryder in my Baby K’Tan.
I also quickly ate a jar of chocolate chia pudding that I made the day before and followed it up with more than a couple spoonfuls of coconut butter. (Coconut butter is my latest addiction.)
Once Ryder was over the baby carrier but still not ready to nap, we did a little house tour and I placed him in random baby gear holding spots around the house while I attempted to do random things on my household to-do list like laundry, packing prep for our trip to Florida, etc.
Before I had Chase, I still remember one of my friends telling me to register for products/baby gear that would allow me to put my baby down and now, two kids in, I totally see what she meant! I am always looking for “docking stations” for Ryder and since he’s currently at the age where he’s content in one spot for about 10 minutes before he needs a change of scenery, some days it feels like I’m taking him from the DockATot to the bouncer seat to the Boppy Lounger to the Rock ‘n’ Play and back again. At least we’re putting all of our baby gear to good use, right!? (Side note: For anyone currently creating a baby registry, this flashback post about Our Baby Registry was created with help and advice from a ton of mom friends and blog readers and I can now say with confidence it was a pretty comprehensive list and we used everything on it!)
Evening
By the time Chase was up, Ryder was ready for a good nap (go figure) but Ryder’s sleep gave me some quality one-on-one time with Chase in the late afternoon which I loved! Chase also helped me a bit with dinner prep which looked like a cilantro shrimp and avocado salad served with baked sweet potatoes.
We dug into dinner soon after Ryan arrived home from work and rounded out the night with the whole bath and bed time routine.
Well, I actually rounded out my night with vanilla ice cream and pumpkin seeds.
It’s a random combination but one of my recent favorites. I love the contrast of the cold, creamy vanilla ice cream with the crunchy pumpkin seeds, especially when the ice cream gets nice and soft. So good!
Thanks for stopping by the blog today, friends! I hope you all have a great Wednesday!
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Hey Julie! Was wondering what you have done for trying to keep toddler/school germs and things away from a newborn. I am expecting number two and am kind of nervous about this with my toddler who goes to school everyday. With my first we basically quarantined ourselves per our pediatrician’s recommendation. A slight fever with a newborn requires a trip to the ER and that terrifies me! Ahh okay thanks in advance!!??
Oh man it’s definitely a constant battle and Ryder had a high fever a little over a week ago that sent us into the doctor’s office and then onto the hospital for blood work. Thankfully it was just a virus but it was really scary to see an infant with a high fever (his reached 102).
To answer your question, we do a lot of hand-washing and hand sanitizer with Chase before he can play with him after school but beyond that we’re not doing a ton. I think it’s hard to have everything super clean all the time and I’ve always kind of been of the mindset that a little dirt won’t hurt and, if anything, will actually strengthen immune systems but I know it’s hard not to worry! (Ryder was also 2 months old by the time Chase started school which I think kind of helped with germ exposure in the very early weeks.) I know having a newborn this time of year is challenging with the approach of flu season and I remember a few of my girlfriends went through the same thing last year and basically stayed close to home with their baby for several months and just tried their best to keep their toddler’s hands clean around their baby. Sending you lots of good wishes for a healthy pregnancy and baby — and a healthy flu season in your household!! <3
That’s so funny about Chase using your nicknames for Ryder. Our almost 3-year old does the same with our little one. Her name is Morgan and we often call her Morgie or Moo Moo. Hearing our 3-year old call her Morgie Moo Moo is just the cutest thing ever (especially because it sounds more like Mew Mew). Seriously, melts my heart!
Aw! So cute! And I love the way they imitate the high pitched baby talk with their already high-pitched toddler voices. Too darn adorable!
I love this post! We have a 3 month old baby boy, our first, and it’s refreshing to hear similar experiences from other moms, like trying to find spots to put the baby down so you can get stuff done. 😉 Our sweet baby decided to start his day at 4:30 a.m. today, so I’m on my second cup of coffee at the office. That picture of Chase looking over Ryder and holding his hand is absolutely precious.
Ready your post reminds me I need to bust out the “park a baby” items for my soon to be arriving 2nd! The bouncer and newborn boppy lounger we so easy to tote around the house.
How is the dock-a-tot going for sleep thus far?
We actually haven’t used it at all for sleep though I know a lot of people swear by it. As far as naps, Ryder naps in his Rock ‘n’ Play but sleeps in a bassinet next to our bed at night. We love it for a “docking” station though and bring it allllll over our house!
Ryder’s smile is so contagious! I hope the sleep gets better soon – I have a 6 month old and I have major insomnia some nights after nursing her.
My girlfriend calls all the baby seats their baby “containertainment” hahahaha
LOL!!! Love that!
Do you have a recipe for your shrimp salad?
I don’t but I just combined shrimp, lots of avocado, olive oil, fresh lime juice, salt, pepper and tomatoes together!
These are my favorite kinds of posts! Your boys are so sweet and the picture of Ryder gazing up at Chase reminded me of my boys when my youngest was Ryder’s age! They are 7 and 2.5 now. I just love seeing brothers!
Ugh I am dealing with insomnia during pregnancy (my first) now too! 35 weeks tomorrow, 5 more to go…trying to keep my eye on the prize and just make it to my due date because man it is rough.
I feel for you!!! It’s horrible! I really hope you can get some rest before your little one arrives. Sending you positive vibes for GOOD SLEEP!!!
You NEED to try the pumpkin spice pumpkin seeds from Trader Joe’s with your ice cream! Or just by the handful….
Thank you for the pumpkin latte recipe! It was delicious!
Omg yes on the nicknames. I call my 18 month son “my sweet sweet boy” or “Mr. Stick” -> because homeboy knows how to stink out a room LOL. And it’s so funny when my 3 year old daughter calls him these same nicknames.
LOL! I love that!!