Book Events & Blog Events, Challenges

A Day in the Life

A Day in the Life is a blogger event, hosted by Trish at Love, Laughter, and a touch of Insanity, where bloggers keep track of what they do for a day, and then share it with others.

Hi everyone!  I’m excited to be participating in this blogger event!  I just found out about it the other day via Twitter, and I’m glad I did.  It was a lot of fun and an eye-opening experience!

A few notes about my Day in the Life:

  • I’m long-winded and detailed.  It’s just how I am.  Pretty much all of my reviews are long-winded and detailed.  I’m like that IRL, too.  So I apologize for this being so long, but I like to be thorough!
  • I have two kids.  I don’t really use their names on the blog, so I call them Kiddo 1 and Kiddo 2.  They’re both boys, and Kiddo 1 is 5 1/2 and in kindergarten and Kiddo 2 is almost 1 month old.
  • Because I just had a baby a month ago, this Day in the Life maybe isn’t so typical.  I’m still getting used to having a baby again, and also getting used to having two kids instead of one.  Also, the day recorded here is kind of atypical because Kiddo 2 was circumcised that day.  So it was a harder day than normal for him, and for me, and also for Kiddo 1.
  • Also because I just had a baby a month ago, this Day in the Life is not really a typical account of my blogger life, because this post is in fact the first one I’ve had on the blog in over a month.  As you’ll see in this post, reading and blogging are just not as easy to do these days.  But you will see that I do think about blogging and kind of do a few blogging things even though it’s not much.
  • Please disregard the changes in tense.  Sometimes I use present tense and sometimes I use past tense.  I also don’t punctuate all the time and don’t always use capital letters where they need to go.  I know, I know, the grammar nerd in me is gasping, too.  But maybe you’ll understand why I have no time to fix those things right now… ;)

Okay, okay, let’s get to it shall we?  The day in question was this past Wednesday, March 25, 2015.  Here it is:

3:45 AM: Kiddo 2 fussing. Go to the living room, breastfeed, mess around on my phone.

4:25 AM: Kiddo 1 woke up, couldn’t find his stuffed animal. Told him to really look around (pick up comforter, what a concept!), and I’d help if he still couldn’t find her. Of course he needed my help, went in, saw the toy by just looking at bed. Kiss and hug, go back to sleep. A couple comments (from him) about when to wake up, lights off, goodnight.

4:35 AM: Sit back down, still breastfeeding, then Kiddo 2 falls asleep. I waited a while to make sure he was asleep, of course when I stood up he woke back up. I put him in bassinet so I could pee, hoped he’d be asleep when I came back into the room. No luck.

5:00 AM: Went back out into living room and breastfed again. Realized I’m probably getting no more sleep today, because if I want to make sure I get a shower (which I do, because I have to go out of house today) I have to do it at 6 while the hubs is still here. Found out about Day in the Life while on Twitter, started making notes.

5:30 AM: Still breastfeeding, but he’s winding down and falling asleep. Maybe I can put him down and have a 30 minute nap? Let’s try it. Going back into bedroom, get onto cat for being on kitchen table. Kiddo 2 wakes up. Yay. 

5:35 AM: Back to breastfeeding. Maybe I’m awake enough to read? Let’s try it.

5:47 AM: Take photo (obviously messing around on my phone instead of reading)


5:49 AM: Still messing around on phone. I really should try to read for 10 min. Actually read for 10 min. Read 8 pages. Whoo.

6:02 AM: Yawn #1 (probably more than this, this is just the first one I’ve noted)

6:05 AM: Handed Kiddo 2 off to the hubs, checked email on phone, took shower. Yawn #2 & #3 while in shower. Had a fleeting moment of excitement when I realized it was Wednesday, but then sadness when I realized this season of The 100 is over.

6:25 AM: Blow dry hair, brush teeth, etc. Remembered Bloggiesta is going on (found out on Monday) maybe I could do some blog housekeeping stuff today and the rest of the week for Bloggiesta.

6:40 AM: Put clean pajamas on (because newborn). Right eye starts twitching. Not cool.

6:43 AM: Take Kiddo 2 back from the hubs. Kiddo 2 is falling asleep. I hope he’ll actually sleep so I can eat breakfast. HUNGRY.

6:44 AM: On phone. Going to try to put Kiddo 2 in bouncer so I can eat.

6:55 AM: Make breakfast, get onto cat for getting on counter then on fridge, then on top of cabinets. (Photo) Eat breakfast.


7:03 AM: Kiddo 1 is up. Kiss the hubs goodbye. Kiddo 1 is sporting a Spider-Man glove and brings all his Lightning McQueen cars into the living room.

7:09 AM: Share photo on iCloud photo stream. (My mom likes a pic of Kiddo 2 every day, and I forgot to share one yesterday. Oops!)

7:12 AM: Since Kiddo 2 is still sleeping, make breakfast for Kiddo 1. Take my meds, Kiddo 1 eats. Have discussion w/ Kiddo 1 about tooth fairy. I say I’m not sure if she wants kids to put their teeth under their pillow anymore. Maybe she likes them to leave them above the fireplace… ;)

7:23 AM: Kiddo 2 stirring a bit. My cue to use the bathroom while I can. Go to bathroom, decide to make list for Bloggiesta items to do. I love to-do lists. Start thinking of list in head, but don’t actually make physical list yet.

7:26 AM: Start a load of laundry

7:30 AM: Kiddo 2 starts fussing. Pick him up and try to determine what he needs, then he falls back to sleep

7:33 AM: open bathroom door for Kiddo 1 so he can wash his sticky hands.

7:34 AM: Kiddo 1 informs me he is Spider-Man and I can be Aunt Mae

7:37 AM: get text from Jessie, my BBFFL. Text back

7:39 AM: burp Kiddo 2

7:40 AM: more texting with Jessie

7:42 AM: start making Bloggiesta to do list

7:43 AM: Kiddo 1 tells me the things I’m supposed to say as Aunt Mae. So I’m Aunt Mae for 5 minutes. Yawn #4 happens around now.

7:50 AM: more texting with Jessie, who is awesome and offering to give me an audiobook!

7:55 AM: have trouble with my phone. Grrr, phone.

8:04 AM: change Kiddo 2’s diaper

8:08 AM: start breastfeeding again

8:13 AM: update phone. Still breastfeeding. Tell Kiddo 1 to get dressed (only have to tell him twice! Wow!) Debate whether I should make him change clothes (they don’t match), decide against it. Who cares?

8:23 AM: phone done updating. Put Kiddo 2 in bassinet, get dressed myself, use bathroom.

8:33 AM: try to feed Kiddo 2 some more. Want him to not scream cry in car while we take Kiddo 1 to school.

8:50 AM: put shoes on. Yawn #5 & #6 & #7. Get Kiddo 2 in car seat

8:55 AM: grab Kiddo 2 in car seat, diaper bag, Kiddo 1’s backpack and coat, keys, get in car. Help Kiddo 1 tighten his car seat seatbelt. Take Kiddo 1 to school.

9:20 AM: back at home, Kiddo 2 didn’t cry in car! Success! Still hate dropping off Kiddo 1 though.

9:30 AM: Kiddo 2 sleeping, so I put him in bassinet. Change back into pj’s (because newborn) and get in bed. He fusses a bit, but I hope I can get some sleep. Set alarm, try to take nap.

10:00 AM: Wake up to Kiddo 2 fussing. Got about a 30 min nap! Yay! Go back in living room, grab snack on the way. Kiddo 2 seems to fall back to sleep. Eat snack and mess around on phone.

10:15 AM: try to figure out what audiobook I want

10:19 AM: hear someone coming up the steps to my front door. Barely a knock, and the person goes back down. I look out the window and it’s FedEx. They left my tinyprints box (Baby announcements! Yay!) on the front porch, in full view, and there is definitely a different place they could have put it where it wouldn’t have been so obvious. Thanks, FedEx.

10:28 AM: Kiddo 2 wakes up, is hungry. Start breastfeeding and look at audiobooks again

10:52 AM: someone else comes up front steps. Actually rings doorbell, goes back down steps. I have to put my boob away and then go to front door. This time it was USPS. They also left package in plain sight. Thanks, USPS. It’s a package for Kiddo 2! Yay!

10:55 AM: Kiddo 2 is fussing and still hungry. I change his diaper and feed him again, text back and forth with one of my best friends about The Hunger Games (she’s watching the 2nd movie, hasn’t read the books) and age-appropriateness of books for kids. Decided to start rating books for age appropriateness in my reviews (For example, The Hunger Games is YA, and I would rate it suitable for older teens or very mature younger teens. I know some bloggers already do this, and I’ve thought about doing it before, so now I’m going to start.)

11:15 AM: Kiddo 2 done eating, put him in bouncer. Soaked some dishes

11:20 AM: Put Kiddo 2 in bassinet, changed clothes while going to the bathroom (multitasking at its finest). Yawn #8 & #9

11:25 AM: Put Kiddo 2 in car seat, he started crying again. Tried to calm him down. Wanted to leave earlier but still don’t have the timing down. 

11:40 AM: Left house to pick up Kiddo 1 who gets out at 11:45. Stupid half-day kindergarten. At least I only live 5 minutes away.

11:45 AM: get to school, have to get Kiddo 2 and his car seat out just to walk 20 steps so Kiddo 1 and his teacher can see me and Kiddo 1 can be released. If I had gotten there earlier I could have parked right in front and just stood next to the car, instead of hauling Kiddo 2 and his car seat out. I feel like I have to have him ready to leave house like 30 minutes ahead for us to actually get there in time for that…

12:05 PM: back home, suddenly exhausted. Kiddo 2 is asleep, but wakes up. Put him in bouncer. Get Kiddo 1 to make his sandwich (thank goodness he can do it himself), make myself lunch. Kiddo 2 starts to fuss so grab him and breastfeed him while I eat (multitasking at its finest again), put phone on charger while eating.

12:35 PM: Finish eating, go to bathroom, tell Kiddo 1 to put on shoes, get Kiddo 2 in car seat, get everyone in car

1:10 PM: get to doctor’s, feel like I’m going to fall asleep at any moment.

1:30 PM: Kiddo 2 starts crying. Kiddo 1 talking while doctor trying to talk to me and asking me questions. Kiddo 1 will not listen or be quiet, I constantly have to tell him to be quiet, to stop messing with things. 

1:45 PM: Cry while I hear Kiddo 2 getting circumcised down the hall. Kiddo 1 hugs me and makes me feel better. Still feel horrible for doing this to Kiddo 2. Cry some more. Yawn #10 & #11 & #12 & #13. This is a bad day.

2:04 PM: Kiddo 2 is still scream crying down the hall. I wish they’d hurry up so I can hold him and comfort him.

2:10 PM: they bring him back in, I feed him, then they prick his foot for PKU test. Kiddo 1 cries because Kiddo 2 is crying. Kiddo 2 will not eat after this, is scream crying, I’m crying, Kiddo 1 is crying.

2:36 PM: Finally I just give up trying to calm him and we leave.

2:55 PM: back home, Kiddo 2 is still scream crying. Kiddo 1 yells at him, I get onto him for it, explain that I know it’s a hard day with Kiddo 2 crying so much and I know it’s frustrating and hurts our ears and we just want him to stop but he’s a baby and we can’t yell at him. In fact we shouldn’t yell at anyone. Kiddo 1 is obviously just as frustrated as I am.

3:00 PM: Kiddo 1 has snack and then goes into his room for quiet time

3:25 PM: Kiddo 2 has finally stopped crying. Thank goodness. Such a hard day. I need a drink. But can’t yet, of course, I have to be a parent. Parenting seriously is the hardest job.


3:27 PM: realize I never finished that load of laundry. Will have to rewash. But I’m not moving right now, don’t want to chance waking up Kiddo 2

3:30 PM: mess around on phone because I don’t want to move. Looking for audiobooks.

3:42 PM: ask Twitter for audiobook recs. one response. Find some more ideas on my own, now I have too many choices. Great. Book nerd problems.

4:04 PM: Text back and forth with mom about Kiddo 2’s doctor visit and our hard day

4:15 PM: spent 23 minutes on phone to Kiddo 2’s doctor (at least 12 of those minutes were on hold before anyone answered) asking about ways to help relieve his possible constipation, not much in the way of answers.

4:45 PM: worry about my friends and family back in OK, where there are multiple tornado watches and warnings going on

4:58 PM: Kiddo 2 finally pooped (1st of the day) Yay. Changed diaper (he scream cried again) and then fed him. Messed around on phone for a while. Took Buzzfeed quiz: Lupin is the marauder who is my soulmate. Yawn whatever number it is now. 13? 14? IDK.

5:15 PM: Kiddo 1 done with quiet time, playing with TMNT while I feed Kiddo 2. I remind him he needs to do homework. Help him with some of his homework. Yawn ?? 15??

5:45 PM: The hubs comes home and takes over Kiddo 2 duty. I wash some dishes and rewash load of laundry I started at 7:26 this morning. Have Kiddo 1 help me sort his dirty laundry. Kiddo 2 is back to scream crying at times, but the hubs is handling it.

6:15 PM: hold Kiddo 2 again while the hubs goes to the bathroom, then he takes Kiddo 2 again. Watch footage of OK tornadoes, glad we’re not there but wish we had the news stations so we could keep up with the storms. Kiddo 2 naps, the hubs holds him.

6:30 PM: order pizza. No one feels like cooking.

6:55 PM: help Kiddo 1 with the rest of his homework. Yawn ??

7:09 PM: get a call from one of my best friends. She lives in OK and works in Moore. Her work was hit by Moore tornado in 2013 and hit AGAIN by the one today. I feel horrible for her but I’m so glad she (and all my other OK friends and family) are okay. She gets another call from her boss so we hang up. Go back to helping Kiddo 1 with homework.

7:20 PM: Kiddo 1 wants to snuggle but just then the pizza arrives so Kiddo 1 and I eat.

7:47 PM: Take Kiddo 2 from the hubs so he can eat, Kiddo 1 washes up and brushes his teeth and gets into his pajamas. I read him a story and say goodnight, then the hubs does the same thing.

7:55 PM: catch up with the hubs. Kiddo 2 is still napping

8:20 PM: our TV watching time. Nothing on DVR that we want to watch, so we switch to Netflix. Decide to rewatch Sherlock

9:15 PM: start falling asleep before episode of Sherlock is over. Take medicine and go to bed. The hubs stays up for a while, feeds Kiddo 2

9:50 PM: actually go to bed after messing around on my phone for 30 minutes. Have a pain in my chest and have anxiety about it for about 10 minutes until I fall asleep (basically pass out)

2:15 AM: Kiddo 2 is fussing. Get up to feed him, yawn ??, and do it all over again. Realize I still never put that load of laundry in the dryer. Thank goodness there will be no circumcision today!

EDIT: I realized after rereading this that I forgot a lot of details. Like singing and talking to Kiddo 2, especially while breastfeeding (I wasn’t just messing around on my phone…), several more diaper changes, texting with a couple other people (including the hubs), and the hubs’s heroic entrance when he came home and scooped Kiddo 2 out of my arms to give me a break from the scream crying. :)

So there you have it, a Day in the Life from me, book blogger and stay-at-home mother of two.  I admit it looks like I’m sitting around a lot, and I am, but I’m mostly holding Kiddo 2 and breastfeeding him for most of the day.  But I do realize that I’m on my phone a lot, when I could be doing something else.  If not blogging (hard to be on a computer with a kid in your lap), at least reading. So I’m going to try to do that much more often.

Did you participate in this blogger event?  Let me know, or leave a link to your own Day in the Life in the comments!  I’m looking forward to seeing what other bloggers’ days look like!

20 Comments

  1. Beth F

    March 27, 2015 at 11:50 am

    I'm exhausted just reading about about your day. Suddenly my 12-hour workdays don't seem so bad.

  2. Kay

    March 27, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    Oh, honey! Where do you live? Can I come help you? LOL

    Your pictures are so precious. What lovely little boys. And a tough day indeed. I think you are doing very well and no, it doesn't sound like you just sit around. You're at that stage – and eventually this stage will pass and another will come. And it will have it's own challenges and certainly it's own joys. Promise. You take care.

  3. Lindsey

    March 27, 2015 at 3:25 pm

    Half-day kindergarten is the worst! Our district has that too and my son was in the afternoon class. So we would get up and then have half a day before rushing off to the bus stop!

    Those first few months with baby feel so repetitive, but also so special. Thanks for sharing your day with us!

  4. Andi

    March 27, 2015 at 4:06 pm

    God, I remember the days of new-babiness. They're so damn cute, but days are so full of things revolving around them and the tiredness. I know I'm talking to the choir here, but in short, I admire you for ALLLL you have on your plate! Your boys are adorable!

  5. Katherine P

    March 27, 2015 at 4:26 pm

    I do not miss newborn schedules! I miss having a newborn sometimes but not the schedule – especially not the middle of the night stuff! Sounds like quite a dramatic day. I hope you were able to squeeze in a little sleep!

  6. Lisa

    March 27, 2015 at 4:44 pm

    Oh man, all the nursing! Mine were thankfully all very efficient eaters. I wish I'd had a kindle then tho, my life would have been so different.

  7. Cindi

    March 27, 2015 at 5:29 pm

    Oh! The days of nursing and no sleep. Hang in there, Mama. Such sweet babies.

  8. Kate Midnight Book Girl

    March 27, 2015 at 7:19 pm

    Oh my God, you need to show this shiz to your boys when they hit puberty. And then yearly, right before Mother's Day, because you deserve some good gifts.

    Ugh, I'm kind of afraid of how much time I spend on my phone. I used to get horrible Internet connection until recently and now I feel like I'm on it all day. And I'm not breastfeeding every 20 minutes, or juggling two kids, I'm just messing around.

    If I wasn't in awe of you before, I most certainly am now. Love the goodnight routine you guys have with Kiddo 1, and I'm hoping that soon Kiddo 2 will be sleeping through the night and whisper crying instead of the scream crying.

  9. Chris bookarama

    March 27, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    I forgot how exhausting newborns are, but also so, so cute. Maybe I can borrow someone else's for a day.

  10. Joy

    March 27, 2015 at 11:08 pm

    That's a big day! I like the extra note about forgetting lots of details — it's amazing how much we miss even when it feels like I recorded everything! It's impossible to really capture it all!

    Joy's Book Blog

  11. Trish

    March 28, 2015 at 12:15 am

    Oh those early days are such a blur, aren't they? I'm sure it was tough to record the day but I'm sure you'll be glad to look back at it…you know…in like 5 years or so when you've recovered. ;) Thanks so much for participating!! I can't imagine it was easy to squeeze into the day. (and the verb tense go to me, too).

  12. Megan

    March 28, 2015 at 2:38 am

    I'm always changing tenses, too. Sometimes it just feels natural even if the grammar police of the world would have a fit. ;-).

    Just reading about your day made me desperate for nap!! Hope you get to catch up on some sleep some day soon!

  13. reading-in-bed.com

    March 28, 2015 at 5:43 am

    Ohhh man everything about this takes me back to having a newborn. It's kind of crazy how much time and energy is spent breastfeeding! Cute kids though. And yes, pajamas because newborn. I get that. :)

  14. Irene McKenna

    March 28, 2015 at 7:32 pm

    What a pretty blog! Your kids are adorable — I love all the details about tears, cuddles, and having to put the boobs away before answering the door. :-) I miss the baby and toddler years.

    I can relate to the problem of having too many book choices. I already have trouble narrowing down my TBR collection on my Kindle — if I go on social media it gets WAY out of control.

  15. Christine

    March 28, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    Your kids are so stinkin' adorable. I have an eleventh month old and have been doing the whole "should we have another?" dance lately- you make it look manageable!

  16. Literary Feline

    March 28, 2015 at 10:27 pm

    What a wonderful post. It brings back memories . . . My baby is now four, so not so much a baby anymore–and I only have the one. My phone was my lifeline when I was home with Mouse during those early weeks.

    Thank you for sharing!

  17. Heather @ Book Addiction

    March 29, 2015 at 1:23 pm

    Wow, you are a rockstar mom!! I don't have kids and can't imagine having them, honestly, but you gave me a peek into what it might be like. I'm glad you shared your day with us!

  18. Sheila (Bookjourney)

    March 29, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    That is a FULL day! You are amazing!

  19. jilllora

    March 29, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    Kiddo #1 wears glasses! That is just too adorable…I always think little kids with glasses are the cutest thing ever (but you can tell him I said handsome).

  20. Ashley

    March 29, 2015 at 11:47 pm

    Oh my goodness, you go baby momma! Amazing :D

    Ashley @ The Quiet Concert

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