Routine: We all need one.

A daily routine is a important to babies as it is to parents.  Let's face it...it's important to any person really.  Since having our son, it's been a dramatic change in our lives.  I thought I was a planner before Isaac was born but little did I know how much of a planner I would become after he arrived.

It has been a total change for me and now I have a different weekly routine.  It helps me get everything done that I need to.  I have slowly worked myself into this routine by adding one or two things at a time over time.  For example, I wasn't working out right away after having Isaac. I needed time to heal.  Remember he weighed over 10 lbs.  So first I worked on getting a routine down involving cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.

Sunday - Church & family day
Monday - Yard Work
Tuesday - Laundry
Wednesday - Finish Laundry if not done
Thursday - Grocery Shopping
Friday - Clean House
Saturday - Errands if needed, family day

Obviously sometimes things don't workout exactly this way but I try to stick to this routine as much as possible.   I like to keep the weekends for fun family time and open if we have relatives visit.

About a month ago, I went back to work part time.  This was another thing to work into my routine.  I work 2 hours per day during the week and 4 hours at the office on Wednesdays.  I get my work done in the morning when Isaac takes his long nap of the day and then tackle my housewife tasks.  So far it's working out great.  Isaac is still not used to being a the sitter house on Wednesdays and getting a bottle but we'll work on that.  I'm not used to it yet either.

Now that I have this routine down, it was time to add exercising to my routine.  This was the most difficult since I had to also work around my husband's schedule so that I could leave the house, head to the gym and get a good workout in.  My goal was to workout 3 days a week at the gym.  So now my routine involves working out on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesday nights.  I add walks in the afternoons where I can and when I can (if the weather permits).

Isaac is on a 4 hour routine and is doing great.  He's a great sleeper at night and loves to wake up talking to himself in his crib in the morning.  He loves to sit in his swing or Johnny Jumper so I can clean up in the kitchen or make dinner.

I've found that a routine makes life less stressful for me and my family.  I have also found that it's important to still be spontaneous and flexible to a change here and there, especially if it's a fun change. I'd rather be having fun and spending time with my family and friends than worrying about cleaning my house.  It gets done eventually.

What's your routine and what tips do you have that help you keep your routine or help you get your weekly tasks complete?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Isaac's First Easter

We had a wonderful time this Easter.  Isaac's Papa came to visit for the weekend.  We went to the zoo and watched Final Four basketball.  Sadly, my husband's team (Michigan State) couldn't make it to the championship.  Sunday the Easter Bunny left Isaac a basket full of goodies.  We went to church and then to Panera for lunch.  It was a great weekend.

Isaac wasn't so sure about Papa when he arrived.  Talking on Skype wasn't the same as seeing each other in person.  It only took a few hours for Isaac to warm up to Papa.  They were smiling at each other in no time.  Maybe it was his hat that scared Isaac.  They read lots and lots of books over the weekend.  Isaac gets his red hair from Papa and we think they have birthmarks in the same spot.  How appropriate that Isaac's middle name is Robert after his Papa.

Here are pictures from the weekend.

Thanks for coming to visit Papa.

Hanging with Papa.

Family picture at the zoo.

Papa playing with Isaac at the zoo.

Papa reading books with Isaac.  They both loved it.

Snuggling with Papa.

Lunch at Panera on Easter Sunday after church.

Playing with Daddy.

Checking everything out.

Three generations of Davis men.

Isaac ready for fishing season with Daddy and Papa.  We must protect that fair skin.

Say Cheese

Isaac has been smiling alot for us lately.  I have been taking lots of pictures.  My husband thinks I am going to blind our son.  I figure you have to capture as many memories as you can.  Here are some memories from the past few weeks.

The face I get when we are about to leave the house for our daily 45 minute walk.

His outfit says "I make my Mommy happy."

Holding his head up like a big boy.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 

(& his Great Grandpa Rudy's birthday. I wish they could have met. I think Grandpa would have really enjoyed Isaac.)

Cash only please!

Hanging out with Daddy and his toy puppy.  That's one of his favorite toys.  I make doggy licking noises with it and rub the doggy's nose on Isaac's face.  He loves it.

Reading with Daddy.  They were both into this book.  My husband remembers this book from when he was little.  Isaac loves to read books with us.  It's a daily event in our house.

This is his concentration face.  He was all into his hands and putting them into his mouth.  His mommy makes the same face when she is concentrating but doesn't look nearly as cute.

My Boy is 2 Months Old Already!

I can't believe my beautiful baby boy is 2 months old already.   He is amazing.  He is smiling at us all the time and loves to move around.  He is very strong and is starting to master holding his head up.

He loves his bouncy chair and swing and he especially loves his Daddy!  Here they are watching the Olympics.

I am amazed that Adam and I created this little person.  Our lives have completely changed.  Isaac is the most important thing in our lives.  I can't get enough of him and I never stop thinking about him.  I want to be there for every moment and mold and shape him into a wonderful person.  There are so many things we want to teach him and can't wait for opportunities to do so.  The first three years of their lives (really all the years) are the most important for brain development.  What we teach him now and how his brain develops now will affect him the rest of his life.  WOW!!!

I have never felt the importance of being at home with him as much as I do now.  I never expected to feel so strongly about that, but I do.  Nothing else matters.

Growing Like a Weed

Isaac is growing like a weed.  He had his 1 month pediatric visit this week and is weighing in at 12 lbs. and measuring 23 1/2 inches long.  Wow! He is growing up fast.  His rash or acne on his face is in fact acne and is starting to clear up more and more every day.  We are thankful for that.  It can't always be comfortable.

I have my 6 week check up appointment next week. It's hard to believe it's been 6 weeks since I had my baby boy.  I am taking a full 12 weeks of maternity leave and am very thankful that I can do that, both with my employer and more importantly we can afford it financially.  This gives me more time with our son, more time to find child care and more time to just enjoy being a mom (& wife).  I love being home and love taking care of my boy more than anything in the world.

Today he woke up in the middle of his nap with a screeching cry.  I have never heard him cry like that before.  He scared me.  I wonder if he had a bad dream.  We rocked a bit and I put him back down and he was fine.

He is starting to coo more and realize he has a voice.  He was sucking on his pacifier the other day and make a squeak with it which startled him.  The look on his face was priceless.  He's also smiling at mommy and daddy and that is a great site for us to see.  We love him so much and are really enjoying how much he is growing and changing...even if it is too fast.

We read to him multiple times throughout the day.  We really want him to grow up with lots of books read to him and develop a love for reading...just like his daddy.  My house is going to be covered with books, books and more books.  We will definitely be making lots of trips to the library as Isaac gets older.

I took these photos last night.  I couldn't resist the photo opportunity.  Enjoy.

Reading time at the Davis home.

Dr. Suess who?

Kisses with mommy.

Daddy really loves his boy more than anything.

Time Flies

Time really does fly when you are having fun.  Our son is 1 month old already.  Where did all that time go?  He has changed so much over these last 4 weeks.  I can't believe it.  He's starting to smile and make lots of cooing noises.  He's finding his voice.  He has also started to smile at us a little bit and can hold his head up on his own when he is really focusing on something.  He loves to look at the family pictures we have on the walls in our hallway.  He's getting that chunky breast fed baby look to him too.  We have his 1 month doctor's appointment on Monday.   I wonder how much he weighs now.  I'll report back on that as soon as I can.

These shots were taken a few weeks ago.

This one I took today.

(If you are wondering what is on his face, it's impetigo.  He broke out with this a few weeks ago.  It's going away slowly.)

It's been so great being able to focus just on being a mother to our amazing son.  Some days I still can't believe that he is ours, that I carried him for 9 months and gave birth to him.  I am still overwhelmed with joy and happiness about the whole experience.  I wouldn't change any part of it.  I am so blessed.  We love him more and more every day.

Happy 1 month birthday Isaac!  Mommy & Daddy love you so much.

Our Baby Boy is Here!

Isaac Robert Davis was born 12/31/09 at 8:56 pm.  He weighed 10 lbs. 5 oz, 22 inches long.  He is perfect and we are so happy.

I am still amazed that I carried that 10 lb. baby.  I am even more amazed that the ultrasound technicians all thought he was going to be just under 9 lbs.  Where was all that baby hiding?  Nonetheless, after 12 hours of labor and an hour and 15 minutes of pushing HE IS HERE!

The whole experience was so amazing (minus the really hard labor pains).  It was an experience that has brought so many things to my life.

Here are 10 things that I have learned or reflected on after the birth of my son:

1.  God is so amazing, powerful and good.  I am amazed at how God made women's to be able to go through labor and delivery.

2.  My husband and I have an even stronger relationship after experiencing the birth of our son together.

3.  We are a family now; not just a couple.

4.  My husband is an amazing man and the best support person I could have asked for.  He is so strong and I always know I can count on him for anything and everything.  He always finds a way for me to love him just a little bit more when I think I love him to the fullest already.

5.  I feel like a stronger woman after having a baby.

6.  I know that I was meant to be a mom.

7.  I love that my husband is such a hands-on father and wants to do everything with his son.  (i.e. baths, diapers, reading to him, singing to him, rocking him to sleep).  He's an amazing dad already.

8.  I can't believe how much I love our son.

9.  I couldn't imagine not having our family here for this amazing event.

10.  This is going to be a great ride.