Outside My Southern Comfort Zone: Routines

Any routines we previously had have gone out the window. Our life now is all about new routines that revolve around the baby. It seems that things revolve around when the baby is sleeping... and anything I'm doing comes to an immediate stop when the baby is hungry. It's an adjustment.

The first few weeks were really hard because there was NO routine. We didn't know what we were doing. Eventually we fell into an eat... play... sleep routine but the times that each of things occurred were all totally random. So at about 6 weeks we began following a suggested schedule from one of the books we have. It suggests a feeding, playing, and sleeping routine during the day, as well as a bathtime/bedtime routine at night. The rationale being that it will prolong sleep at night. After only a couple of days following the schedule (as much as possible - babies can't tell time), Clayton went from sleeping 4 hours a night to pretty consistently sleeping 6.5 hours a night! Honestly, he could sleep longer than that but I wake him up to feed him (as per the schedule). In the next few weeks though we should be able to let him sleep a bit longer and I honestly think he will be able to!

In addition to the improved nighttime sleep, the routine has helped us around dinner time. That's a rough time for newborns and Mike and I were struggling to figure out how to cook dinner, eat together, and comfort the baby. Having a set time for feeding baby has helped us better figure out how to feed ourselves! Clayton still likes to fuss during this time of day but it's not like it used to be.

I also love it because Mike gets some bonding time with Clayton every night - he gives him his bedtime bottle and puts him down every night which is a huge help to me but also some sweet father/son time for them. I love it.

Having some resources and attempting a routine has been awesome for us. Before, we had no idea what we were doing. Mike would ask me a question like, "Should I try to put the baby down for a nap?" and my answer would always be, "I don't know." Now, we at least have a plan - things don't always follow the plan of course, but at least there is a goal in mind.

I love a routine. I'm an organized, type A kind of person so following a routine is something I can totally wrap my head around. And I so appreciate Mike being on board with it! It takes the team effort and I'm so blessed to have a supportive team member!

In other news, Clayton stayed with babysitters while Mike and I went on a date!!! Hallelujah! We didn't know what to do with ourselves! We have awesome friends!!! And he stayed with a sitter while I went to a brief meeting at work! Big steps for us!!! It's helping me understand how I will be able to go back to work (which happens in 2 weeks and I'm already dreading it).

Clayton also went on his first snowshoe adventure with me and Zephyr! I won't lie, it was challenging but fun!

Without further ado... the photo dump...