Routine

in All Posts, FAQ Mondays

We realized last night that we should begin to settle into a predictable routine with Henry.  There are many different schools of thought on putting babies on ‘schedules.’  Henry is far too young for a clock-driven schedule, but I know he’d probably benefit from some sort of routine.  The first few weeks with a newborn are so crazy; there was no rhyme or reason to when we went to bed or woke up.  But this week, I’m going to tackle getting into a morning routine – at least doing the same things in the same order every day. 

 

So far, our routine includes waking up with the sun and having breakfast.

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(The world needs more duck-footed pajamas.)

 

And then we go for a walk with the dogs. 

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I’m hoping that, over the next few months, we can extend these walks and transform them into runs.  Since I’m still recovering, we’ve been doing 10 minutes once a day.  

 

And then Henry eats again.  And I eat, too.

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French toast with Greek yogurt, sunflower seeds, and blackberries.

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FAQ Monday

 

What’s your morning routine?  I just described mine!  Wake up, feed Henry, change Henry, go for a walk, wake up the Husband, make breakfast and feed the dogs, feed and change Henry again, sneak in a shower if I can, and sit down to get some work done.  Oh, and coffee happens at some point.

 

Do you consider yourself to be an organized person?  Kind of.  I’m organized about some things but not others.  I kept meticulous date books in high school and college (I still have them – it’s fun to flip through ‘em).  Now, my iPhone really helps keep me on track – I use the notes function and reminder lists to stay on top of my assignments; the calendar ensures I don’t miss meetings.  However, beyond the day-to-day stuff, I’m pretty disorganized about paperwork.  I only recently realized that some adults keep actual filing cabinets of their personal paperwork (I spied a filing drawer at Nicole’s and realized she kept all her utility stubs!).  I started to keep a filing cabinet when we moved and feel so much better about my paperwork – it’s no longer in a big messy pile on my desk!

 

What jobs have you held?  I started working when I was 16.  In order, I have been:  a cashier at a grocery store, a salesperson at Limited Too, a sexual assault peer counselor, a career peer counselor, a cashier at a used textbook store, a bartender at a Mexican restaurant, a columnist for a publication called The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition, a freelance writer, an urban planner, an author, a blogger / social media consultant, a motivational speaker, and a secretary at my husband’s clinic.  I’ve also sporadically picked up odd jobs like working at a dog kennel over the holidays (hardest job ever), proctoring professor reviews at colleges, and being a medical experiment guinea pig. 

 

Your turn! What’s your morning like?  Are you tidy and on time?  And what gigs have you held?

{ 68 comments }

 

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat June 25, 2012, 9:23 am

    I want some duck foot pjs too! LOL. My morning routine goes gym at 4:30 (usually – 5:30 if I’m teaching a spin class), home, shower, get ready for work, brekkie, blogs, make an iced tea to take to work, then off I go! As for organization, I’d say yes, I am an organized person. My room and house are always pretty clean… except for right after weekend cooking extravaganzas! And jobs.. I’ve done a ton of babysitting, then some modeling and event promotions, a retail associate, a Marketing Coordinator, an Account Team Intern job at an ad agency, a Marketing Intern, and now, a Marketing Specialist (sensing a trend here!?) Then there’s blogger, fitness instructor and health coach, all of which I am now. All time-consuming gigs, but I love them!

  • Kelly June 25, 2012, 9:24 am

    I am VERY rountine…like to a fault. I struggle to be flexible because it stresses me out. Ha! I am a teacher so my morning routine is very different during the summer versus the school year. So right now…here it is:

    6:30am: wake up
    7:00am: 45 minute walk with the dog
    8:00am: breakfast and blog reading
    9:00am: shower and start the day!

  • Katie @ Peace Love and Oats June 25, 2012, 9:28 am

    My mornings are: wake up at 5am, run or workout at the gym, shower, breakfast, and head to work around 7:45! And by “work” I mean my unpaid internship… Haha

  • Sara June 25, 2012, 9:30 am

    Weekday morning: Wake up at 6:20, get ready, tell Husband (who is still sleeping) goodbye, get my lunch together (and breakfast–my husband makes tea for me though. One less thing I have to do! He also feeds the dogs and lets them out to go potty.) I feed the cats, then I grab my bags and head off to work by 7:20. Arrive at work around 7:50-7:55, at desk by 8.

  • Becca @ Blueberry Smiles June 25, 2012, 9:32 am

    Fun questions! My jobs- scooper at Ben and Jerry’s, camp counselor, college athletic dept staffer at games, political campaign volunteer director, political campaign fundraiser, mayor’s policy aide, jr lobbyist, nonprofit program manager, kindrgarten teacher, and now back to nonprofit program manager. Whew, sounds like a lot but some of them (teaching and the campaigns) were very short (less than a year).

  • Jennie June 25, 2012, 9:32 am

    I wake up at 5:45, hop in the shower (well, more like stumble with my eyes half open), quietly kiss the husband, then I go downstairs, make breakfast, check my e-mail, put on my makeup and head out the door to work. On my morning commute I listen to mixed CD’s, the radio, or sometimes just the lull of the highway and when I get to work, I get a glass of water and check my work email/bank account/blogs/news.

    Jobs I’ve had: babysitter, cafeteria worker, roguing (field work), janitor, flower shop, communications director for a nonprofit (current).

    Love your blog! I’m fairly new here, but I think I came in at a good time. Henry is adorbs 🙂

  • Cindy June 25, 2012, 9:47 am

    I love footy pj’s!

    Routine? What is a routine? 🙂 As post grad student I should really have one, and it makes me sound so lazy when I describe my day. Wake up at noon-ish (depending on the day and if I hve any appts), and then coffee! Catch up on email, blogs, etc. If I am taking an early gym class I usually head out then, if not I sort of do whatever needs to be done (cleaning, laundry, etc) and then head out for errands and the gym. Note, how I have no work in there at all. I am kind of in a holding point where I have no “real” work other than reading right now…. so. I really need to get into a routine, and once I start compiling my research in the fall, I will have to. 🙂

    I’m very organized, usually, but since moving to the UK and having no desk (we rent and have what we have) I sort of shove all my paperwork in a drawer (the little I have) and pay all my bills via direct debit.

    As far as jobs: I’ve been a paper girl, baby sitter, cashier, bagger, de facto manager of a department at Filene’s Basement at 16, camp counselor, computer assistant, computer lab supervisor (complete with staff), tech support worker, change control manager for global IT at a Fortune 500 company, student teacher, Bath and Body works employee, barista, science camp teacher, teacher aide to a visually impaired student, science teacher for 6th and 8th grade, math teacher for k-6th grade levels, substitute teacher, curriculum developer, English and Math teacher for grades 1-8 in a supplemental program, holiday worker at Macy’s. And now I am a full time post grad research student. (Phew!)

  • SaraJoan June 25, 2012, 9:48 am

    What’s your morning like? It’s summer, so: sleep as late as possible (sometimes later), nurse #4, shower, nurse #4 again if he’s interested, grab the food my dh has prepped and take it with me as I head out the door with #3, drop her at preschool summer camp, head into my office.

    Are you tidy and on time? Tidy? Generally yes, but less so with four kids than I was a decade ago. Rather less so than I want to be, truly. On time? I was never good at that and the kids have made me worse…

    And what gigs have you held? Catering staff (1 event); snack bar girl on a tour boat; sold fudge, ice cream and popcorn at a tourist place; sold moccasins, t-shirts and other stuff at a tourist place; credit union teller; custodial work at a university; tutoring; security monitor at a (different) university; newspaper photograph; digital projects supervisor at a (another different) university.

    • SaraJoan June 25, 2012, 9:50 am

      Erm, newspaper photographER. And I left out repeat stints as phone receptionist for a florist.

  • Abbey June 25, 2012, 9:49 am

    Morning routine: Wake up at 6:45, shower and get ready, make my lunch and my husbands lunch, feed the dog and cat, let the dog do his business, eat breakfast and get to work by 8:45.

    My various jobs have been (starting at 13): babysitter, tray service for the patients at a hospital, cashier at Kmart, casher/store associate at Hallmark, chasier/store associate at JCPenney’s, receptionist at a hair salon, makeup consultant for Clinique, and finally a paralegal at a lawfirm!! All by the age of 30!

    Henry is such a darling. I’m sure that he is going to enjoy the morning walks just as much as you will!

  • Lindsey @ Pas de Deux June 25, 2012, 9:49 am

    I love those duck footie PJs!! So sweet!

    My morning routine is: up at 5:30, Mysore yoga from 5:50-7:30, come home, drink coconut H20 and get breakfast ready, shower, wake up the husband, make coffe/tea, do my hair and makeup, eat breakfast with the husband while watching the Today show, and the leave for work by 8:45!

    I’m pretty organized–though sometimes it’s a bit of organized chaos when piles of papers and such build up…

  • Megan@ The Running Doc June 25, 2012, 9:59 am

    My morning routine consists of waking up at 6:19 (I can’t set my alarm for anything ending in 0 or 5!). showering, getting ready, waking up the boyfriend, packing both our lunches, letting the dog out, and driving to work.

    I wish I was more organized! I have a filing cabinet but right now it’s empty. If I could just spend one weekend organizing my paperwork I know I’d feel so much better but I can’t seem to motivate myself to do so.

  • Amelia June 25, 2012, 10:01 am

    I love the pj’s. So cute! 🙂

    Morning routine over here:
    Wake up at 6:20- breakfast for hubby/ pack his lunch/ feed the pup/ laundry.
    7am- My breakfast then shower + get ready for work or head to gym (depending on the day of the week). Luckily I can flip flop my schedule around right now to be pretty flexible. However, that is all going to change in about a month or so.

    Have a happy Monday!!!

  • Lindsey June 25, 2012, 10:04 am

    During the week – wake up, shower, get ready, eat breakfast & read blogs – then its pretty much go time!
    I hate clutter and am always picking things up around the house, and I am always the early person – but I am sure that will change once I have kids and don’t just have to worry about myself!
    I have worked at a furniture store, grocery store, golf course, as a marketing assistant, events coordinator and now a marketing manager!

  • Amy June 25, 2012, 10:04 am

    You have posted this already, but what iPhone apps are you using to track feeding, diapers, etc.?

    • Caitlin June 25, 2012, 10:12 am

      Just tracking feedings – it’s called iFeed Baby and it’s great!

      • Amy June 25, 2012, 1:16 pm

        Thank you!

    • Allison K June 25, 2012, 12:24 pm

      Amy,
      I use Baby Connect, and it is awesome. Like, caitlin, at first I was only interested in tracking feedings, but now I am interested in sleep and diapers as well (solely, so I can answer the pediatricians questions!). The app was $5.99, the only time I’ve ever paid that much for an app and it is TOTALLY worth it. I love seeing the patterns emerging in his behaviors, and it has other things you can record as well. Medical stuff, play time, notes etc.

      • Amy June 25, 2012, 1:17 pm

        Thanks! I will definitely check that one out.

  • Beks June 25, 2012, 10:14 am

    Being the single chick I am, I get up, make coffee, get dressed, make lunch and leave. Today, I needed to get gas and fill up a tire on my car with some air, and then horrible traffic, which made me late for work, but for the most part, I’m pretty punctual with stuff like that.

  • Jo June 25, 2012, 10:15 am

    I’m a student, so during the schoolyear, I have pretty identical mornings: wake up, shower, mix oats with yogurt and let them wait while I dress, somehow eat, check blogs, email & facebook AND put on make-up all at the same time. All this between 7.05 and 8.15, when I run to the metro(subway) and get to class just before 8.30.

    Oh and I’ve worked at music festivals (from placing access bracelets to marketing to cleaning), I’ve distributed a ton of fliers and been a babysitter to several kids.

  • Courtney June 25, 2012, 10:21 am

    My morning routine depends on the morning! But I usually roll out of bed, brush my teeth, wash my face, go downstairs for breakfast and water, go back upstairs to get dressed, do my makeup and hair, and take my pills, then I go out for the day!

  • Ashley June 25, 2012, 10:25 am

    During the week – wake up at 7, hot snooze once. Jump in the shower, get dressed, do my makeup, enjoy some puppy time and breakfast, leave for work.

    I’m somewhat organized – it’s much more of an organized mess! But, it seems to work for me so far 🙂

    Completely agreed on the duck foot pj’s, those and paw print pj’s!

  • Sarah F. June 25, 2012, 10:27 am

    Yay- I love questions on Monday! Anything to make the day a bit better, right?
    My morning routine depends on whether I’m going to yoga or not. If I’m going to yoga, then I’m up at 5:30, quickly do my makeup and hair, make breakfast and lunch and pack my work clothes. Yoga from 6:30-7:45 and then my boyfriend and I will have coffee together before I head off to work. If I’m not going to yoga it’s more or less the same just a much later wake-up time.

    The jobs I’ve had are: worked at DQ (thank goodness I was 14 and had a great metabolism cause I ate a LOT of ice cream in those days), retail store, physiotherapy aid, hostess, server, bartender, and now I work as an accountant (working on my CA which is the Canadian version of a CPA).

  • Dana June 25, 2012, 10:29 am

    Did you work for OMET at Pitt, by chance? I’m finishing up school there and I’ve worked for them for a few semesters.

    • Caitlin June 25, 2012, 10:31 am

      Yup! It was a fun gig.

  • Janae @ Bring-Joy June 25, 2012, 10:30 am

    I love my mornings to start out as early as possible. I love having accomplished a lot of things & been up for 4 hours before 9 o’clock. My routine is always changing, so I guess you could say I don’t really have a routine other than I get up & work for awhile, once the kids get up we read books, eat breakfast, then get ready for the day.

  • Corrie Anne June 25, 2012, 10:35 am

    My morning routine is wake up at last possible second. Put some clothes on. Eat cereal. Go to work. Lol. Not exactly a primper.

    Jobs — paper girl, home health aid, hospital kitchen worker, receptionist, teacher, accounts payable clerk. My favorite was teaching! Lol. I hope to get back to it soon.

  • Shari June 25, 2012, 10:36 am

    Fun questions!

    My jobs: tutor, writing center consultant, intern in the Creative Services department of Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate, teacher (well, student teaching – I was a double major in college), production assistant, and now I’m a freelance writer/aspiring author 🙂

    Henry’s pajamas are ADORABLE, by the way!

  • Rebecca June 25, 2012, 10:38 am

    That’s so cool that you used to work at Limited Too! I loved that store when I was little!

  • Jessica June 25, 2012, 10:57 am

    Man, it seems like you’ve lucked out with an easy baby! I can’t imagine trying to pull together a routine at 3 weeks – I was still nursing every two hours then, ha! Good for you! As for jogging – have you looked into jogging strollers? I was bummed that my jogging stroller says you can’t jog w/the baby until they are 8 months old! I haven’t started running again due to that fact, I don’t have enough time to fit it in without having the baby with me. 🙁

    Now, with a six-month old, my mornings look like this:
    5 – nurse (then, if we’re lucky, back to sleep!)
    6 – nurse again
    6:15 – change baby’s diaper and outfit, play with baby
    6:45 – pop baby into bouncer in bathroom while I take a shower and get dressed
    7 – go downstairs, finish prepping bottles and stuff for the day, straighten house (all while holding the baby – she’s a little clingy in the morning)
    7:30 – my mom or MIL arrives to babysit
    7:35 – bike to work, then pump while eating breakfast as soon as I get in the office so I can start work at 8.

    I love the footie pj’s!

  • Laura June 25, 2012, 11:04 am

    I’m on summer vacation so my morning routine consists of waking up, eating an apple or peanut butter toast, going to the gym, eating breakfast, and attempting to get some work done.

    I am an organized person! I love organization, but can also be apathetic about the organization of certain things. I moved into my first off campus apartment last year after college and I keep a little mini drawer set where I store receipts, coupons, and miscellaneous items. In college and high school I took pride in my planners and notebooks.

    Jobs I’ve had include: a telephone counselor for a youth and runaway hotline, a resident assistant throughout college, a part time student worker with the student leadership team of my college, a student orientation leader over the summer in college, a student worker at the school of business, and I am currently a high school teacher on my Teach For America assignment.

  • Elisabeth June 25, 2012, 11:07 am

    Jobs I’ve had… (a pretty short list – I’ve only worked 2 places!)
    1. Environmental Assistant at a nursing home
    2. Laundry Aide at the same nursing home
    3. Activities Aide at the same nursing home (worked there a total of 5 years)
    4. Medical Laboratory Scientist – my career since college (8+ years at the same hospital)

    I filled in a little bit for a couple years at my uncle’s Florist shop, too. 😉

  • Lynna June 25, 2012, 11:07 am

    Babysitter, swimming teacher, lifeguard, library assistant (put myself through college there), morning anchor/news director at radio station, voiceover and commercial artist, secretary, legal assistant…among many other things…

  • Kelli June 25, 2012, 11:12 am

    My morning routine:
    6:30- get up & feed dogs, let them out, get back in bed
    7:45 get up, shower, eat breakfast, head out the door for work by 8:45
    I’ve had so many jobs! In high school I worked at Dairy Queen & taught piano lessons.
    In college I was a janitor, professor assistant, waitress.
    After college I worked as a wilderness camp counselor for 2 years & lived in a tent, then I was a physical therapist assitant & went back to school for a short time to become a PT (dropped out after hardly passing chemistry- I related to your story last week!), got into sales, & transitioned to working for State Farm, where I’ve been the past 8 years. After baby is born in Sept I’ll go part time but still work for SF.

  • Lexi @ You, Me, & A World to See June 25, 2012, 11:19 am

    Wow, you’ve worked some crazy jobs!! I wish my job was wearing duck-footed pajamas like Henry though 😉

  • Heather June 25, 2012, 11:29 am

    I

  • Lo June 25, 2012, 11:30 am

    The BabyWise Eat, Play, Sleep routine is a lifesaver! I have a 16 week-old and we started her on it at 7 weeks, although she was a preemie (born at 36 weeks and 5 lbs.) so I would have started her on it much sooner if she was bigger and stronger.

    Essentially, she eats and then we play which includes me singing to her, reading to her, time on her tummy/back on a mat, etc. I then watch for sleepy cues–rubbing eyes or yawning–and immediately swaddle her and put her down for a nap. Since infants (0-6 months) should sleep 4-6 hours during the day we are able to cycle through this 4-5 times per day, depending on length of nap. The first nap is usually 2 hours, second nap 1.5-2 hours, 3rd nap an hour, and 4th nap 30-60 minutes. All of this makes life SO easy because she knows what to expect, and I know how to watch my baby for her cues b/c she basically tells me what she needs I just need to look for it.

    Also, since I am a working mom I decided early on that I did not want to “babywear” my daughter all of the time. If you are of this school of thought that’s great, but for me, I know my productivity would be less if I had my daughter strapped to me all day long. I just finished up one Master’s degree (when she was 8 weeks old) and am halfway through another one, so I have to be very efficient with my time. Early on I started putting my daughter in her Snugabunny bouncer seat, turning the music and vibrations on, and moving about the house to shower, cook, study, etc.(This falls in during “playtime”–half of it is active with me interacting with her and the other half is her entertaining herself). She’s within ear-shot distance, but this really taught her how to occupy herself and be okay by herself. Granted, I check in on her every 15 minutes, and every time I do she is super content to look at the birds that hang above her head or the other toys I change out for variety.

    The best parenting style is whatever works for that family, and so with my daughter I made a choice to guide and teach her how to enjoy time with herself in addition to time with me and her Dad. I can say that I don’t feel overwhelmed, my house is always clean, dinner is made every night, and my school work gets done. Regardless of which style you choose, you are right in thinking to start Henry on a routine, whatever you decide is best for the three of you. Best of luck!

  • Allison K June 25, 2012, 11:32 am

    It will be interesting to see how your routine changes as Henry gets older. Anderson was much more mobile when he was a few weeks old, now that he is 7 weeks, and getting more alert (and recently decided he hates his carseat, thus the stroller) our mornings our changing. We used to walk the dog every morning as well. Now, it’s arranged around nap time, or what carrier/seat Anderson feels like he can tolerate that day! Used to love the moby, now he wants to stretch out his legs, used to hate the ergo, now falls asleep in seconds (after he figures out I’m not putting him on my chest to feed him).
    Our current routine looks like this:
    Wake up between 7am and 8am.
    Feed Anderson
    Change diaper and put on that days first outfit (cause you know there is going to be more than one!)
    Put Anderson in Bouncer or swing while I make and eat Breakfast (husband leaves for work at 6:30a–so all of this is on my own now).
    Play toddler stations on Pandora and sing silly songs while I eat.
    It’s now about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes after Anderson woke up, and he’s ready for a nap!
    I soothe him to sleep, and during this morning nap hope to get my self dressed, teeth brushed, and do a few household chores.

    Then, when he waskes up, repeat! He is starting to naturally fall into an “eat, alert/play, sleep” pattern, on most days. Recently he had a growth spurt, and our mornings were like newborn mornings again! Eat/sleep/eat/sleep!

  • Heather June 25, 2012, 11:33 am

    My phone’s going wacko! Meant to say that I was an assistant manager at Limited Too about 7 years ago. That place was very interesting and the moms would get so crazy about their daughters clothing (at least they did out here in Cali.) I really liked it though because our store got to do stuff with the local girl scout troops so I would take them on tours of the store. It was a cute job. I also worked as a camp counselor, in a bail bonds office, Mervyn’s, Wet Seal and a Vet’s office.

  • Debbie June 25, 2012, 11:48 am

    Hubby wakes me up with coffee and breakfast ready,walk dog, bible study with hubby, exercise, and get ready for the day. I’m extremely organized. I, too, love looking back at my old date books! I was a cheerleader for a professional football team, hair/makeup artist, baggage service supervisor for an major airline, and run a government contracting consulting firm with my hubby.

    Love hearing how well you and baby Henry are doing…

  • Elizabeth June 25, 2012, 11:50 am

    It sounds like you are doing exactly what works for you, and I wanted to register a quick vote to keep doing that.

    When I first had our now two year old, mommy message boards freaked me out because I wasn’t in a routine yet. We definitely didn’t hit “book, bath, breast, bed” every night. In fact, reading to an infant felt kind of stupid.

    Instead I just followed my instincts about what Charlotte needed each day (and what my husband and I needed). It strengthened my intuitive abilities as a mom and made me more relaxed and confident. Now that she’s two, we live by a schedule because toddlers FREAK THE FREAK if they don’t know what’s going on.

    Totally not saying your little morning routine is wrong or a bad idea. Just don’t beat yourself up if the components get shifted or you don’t manage it at all some days. There is PLENTY of time for schedules and routines. (Oh and C has turned into the most voracious reader I’ve ever met. With a huge vocabulary. I think it’s part nature, part having to sit and listen to her two lawyer parents discuss everything under the moonx2).

  • Jess June 25, 2012, 11:57 am

    Hi there! First off, Henry is absolutely adorable! So I have a 10 week and being the type a personality that I am I found myself wanting a routine pretty much right away. When the baby was around three weeks and ready For a routine I felt, I began using the baby whisperers EASY routine. It can be adaptable to any phase of the baby’s life and is easy-to-follow. E is for eat which can take say half hr 45 min w burp and changing diaper. A is for activity which begins as simple interaction at Henry’s age would probably only lasts for about 15 to 20 minutes and then S sleep y is supposed to be you to have you time while he sleeps. I found my baby easily adapted to the schedule and as he aged the times just changed the routine stayed the same. For instance his activity became longer as he got older. Hope that helps. I found it really refreshing to be on some sort of routine and everything else felt a little crazy. Good luck!

  • Tammy Root June 25, 2012, 12:33 pm

    Hi Caitlin, Where do you and Henry sleep? Are you introducing him to the crib for any naps yet? We are still using the bassinet for Marea which we have in the living room. We pretty much live in the living room! At night I will stay up with her until 1-2am when Denny sleeps in bed and then Denny will come out to the living room and take over from 2-7am and I go to bed. It works for us. But, I am debating whether to start introducing her to the crib. Just curious how you all are doing it. 🙂

    P.S. Isn’t it great to get out of the house, even if it is just a walk, the grocery store, lunch with a friend, etc.? I go stir-crazy being inside all day and night.

  • Ellie@Fit for the Soul June 25, 2012, 12:48 pm

    I totally agreee! the world needs more fuzzy wuzzy adorable footed PJs….haha! And omgsh you actually do a lot in the morning even with a baby!! I’ve seen moms struggle a lot in taking care of themselves, and I’m so curious to know how you do that. It seems like you’re doing a great job though Caitlin! 😀

  • Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy June 25, 2012, 12:48 pm

    oh my gosh those duck footed pjs are the cutest!

  • Brigid June 25, 2012, 1:08 pm

    My weekday morning routine: wake up, work out, make breakfast, shower, get dressed, drive to work. Pretty unexciting.

    Am I organized? I’m messy organized. My stuff is in piles, but I know where it is.

    My jobs, in order: day care, lifeguard, office assistant, camp counselor, administrative assistant, RA, tutor, government employee (child support enforcement), newspaper writer/photographer, Development Associate (i.e. grants and other fundraising), Fund Development Specialist (ditto, mostly), Development Coordinator (yep), and now Director of Programs. Obviously I like office jobs and working with kids!

  • K @ Finding a skinnier me June 25, 2012, 2:12 pm

    I love footie PJ’s.. if they had some in my size I would buy them. Those duck ones are awfully cute.

    I am NOT a morning person. I get grumpy on less than 7 hours of sleep and since I work full time plus attend class at night, it is often I get less than 7 hours sleep. My routine is, hit the snooze too many times, convince husband to start shower, get into shower bleery eyed, attempt to do something with my hair and make-up, grab an outfit that looks appropriate (hopefully), love on the doggies a little, realize I am late, grab my lunch/tea/purse (that the husband is holding by the door) and race to work, singing loudly to songs on the radio. My favorite mornings though are the mornings I get up extra early, go for a run and eat breakfast before getting ready for work.

    I am very organized in work and school. I keep all my binders, folders and paperwork neatly organized. BUT at home, I suck at filing our personal paperwork. The husband is in charge of it.

    I have been a bakery cashier, fast food manager, hotel clerk, clothes sales person, receptionist, massage therapist and now I am a legal assistant who is 3 months away from her degree to be a paralegal!!

    I think you are doing GREAT as a new mom. I don’t know if I would have it that together after a baby!! 🙂

  • Kelly June 25, 2012, 2:16 pm

    1) I love mornings! I wake up, workout, shower, breakfast, get dressed, take the train to work.

    2) I would like to be an organized person but it’s just not in my blood. I guess I’m also a messy organized with the pile system. I am working to have less clutter in my life.

    3) I haven’t held a lot of jobs but I was a fitness center manager (with my dad), ward clerk at a nursing home, administrative assistant, bill collector, administrative assistant and office manager.

  • Amber K June 25, 2012, 2:25 pm

    My morning routine is pretty much the same every day, wake up – pop my thyroid pill – drink some lemon water and coconut water while I read blogs or look up some online since I have to wait an hour before I can eat breakfast, then I can eat and get on with my day. I don’t know how the heck that’s going to all work once I have kids because as it is I need at least two hours before I have to be anywhere. (so I can get ready, wait the hour to eat breakfast, eat breakfast and allow everything time to “move” after).

  • Tara June 25, 2012, 2:28 pm

    What’s your morning like? During the week I get up early, shower, rush around the house gathering food for work, and out the door by 6:30. Sometimes if my son is up in time, I get to sneak in a few hugs and kisses before I leave for the day.

    Are you tidy and on time? Tidy – it depends. On time – YES!! I am a freak about time. If I even think I’m going to be late I can feel my heart rate go up. I’m a little better about time, since having a child but I still like being right on time for everything! 😉

    And what gigs have you held? For my first real summer job I got drawn in by an ad for “aspiring actors and actresses” I saw in a local paper. Turns out it was for a small theme park in the Dells and I got to act (dress-up) as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Little Bo Peep. We had to walk around in sweltering heat, share costumes that were only washed once a month, and it turns out our boss was actually wanted on back taxes, so we never got paid for our last week of the summer. Lol! I was only 15, but I did learn a lot from that experience. Now that I’m a grown-up most of my jobs have been in finance and accounting…not quite so exciting!

  • Marci June 25, 2012, 3:08 pm

    We have been a Babywise family from the beginning. It works, we are believers. I love the routine lifestyle and the semi-predictible patterns. My favorite time for him is our bedtime routine.

  • Jen June 25, 2012, 3:38 pm

    I’m in agreement with those that recommended the EASi routine….I did it with my now 2 year old and now with my 13 week old. I started it probably within the first few weeks with #2, although it was really more eat-sleep-eat-sleep since they need so much sleep at that age. The only thing I would say is – mine never showed any sleep cues when they were little – #2 still doesn’t. So I go by average wake time for the age. I think I have a chart bookmarked if you want it.

    I’m on my last week of maternity leave now…so sad. But my morning routine at this point is – wake up around 6 but lay in bed as long as possible while husband gets ready for work. Get up to feed #2 whenenever he wakes up (anywhere between 6 and 7) and play with him and put him down to nap within an hour. Make coffee somewhere in there. Feed the toddler when he wakes up (usually between 6:30 and 7) and then put on Sesame Street so I can unload the dishwasher and make my breakfast. After all that the toddler and I get dressed while the little one is still napping and then play outside before it gets too hot.

    Now when I go back to work next week – I can’t even imagine what the new routine will be!

    Organization – I’m type A and love organization. 🙂

    Jobs – I’ve been a waitress, an amusement park ride operator, a bank teller, a bank customer service person, and now a 3rd grade teacher!

  • B @ Crags and Veggies June 25, 2012, 4:40 pm

    I try to be highly organized and am a type A, but when it comes to the mornings, I’m always in a rush!

  • Vicky (Little Baby, Big City) June 25, 2012, 5:51 pm

    Wake up next to the baby (5 months old), change his diaper, wake up husband, take dogs on a walk and grab coffee, come home shower, feed baby while drinking latte, eat breakfast…. Enjoy the rest of the day no routines!

    • Vicky (Little Baby, Big City) June 25, 2012, 6:30 pm

      Oh… And the only real routine I have for Milo is his bed routine…. Bath, read a book, kisses from daddy, diaper change, nurse him to sleep….

  • Katie @ Soulshine and Sassafras June 25, 2012, 6:03 pm

    Camp counselor, Subway sandwich maker, pet store employee, actor, doggie day care receptionist, dog walker, leasing agent.

  • Rebecca June 25, 2012, 7:39 pm

    Weekday routine currently is something like: up at 6, breakfast, pack lunch, work 7 to 3, come home and do internet things, make dinner if I’m asked to, eat, and hang out. And try to do homework. And shower.
    Last week’s routine was that, but with church every night from 6/7 to 9-ish. Sad the event’s over, but it gives me more time to do other things I guess…

    Aside from some babysitting jobs, the four actual jobs I have up to now include: sales associate, data entry person, and custodian (in two separate schools). Oh, and I guess we could count 5. receptionist, sort of. Least favorite job. Try not to remember it too much, lol.

  • Sarah June 25, 2012, 7:58 pm

    I followed a loose routine with both kids. And both mine were really settled, happy kids. They ate heaps, slept really well…and I really and truly did not walk hallways with a crying baby. Hate on me, but I think it was the routine.
    They would wake up, I would feed them immediately so they had energy to have a full feed. They would ‘play’ (age-dependent) and then after 1/2-1 1/2 hours they would be back to bed for a sleep. Always at the first sign of tiredess. No feeding to sleep (unless it was between 7pm-7am when feeds were treated as night feeds).
    First boy ended up doing this roughly every 3 hours… second boy roughly every 4 hours.

  • Ellen June 25, 2012, 8:05 pm

    1. Routine: Run (or yoga)+ Make the bf a smoothie+ Make my breakfast+Shower+Walk to subway+WORK!

    2. Organized? No! I hate this about myself. I am not organized at all. I’m not a hot mess though 🙂 I’m a conscientious worker and I never flake on plans or work-related things, but my paperwork, folders, notebooks and books just sit on my desk in crazy, nonsensical piles. It makes me anxious…I need to get a handle on it!

    3. Jobs: First job was at Graeter’s ice cream! Growing up I was a waitress several times, and since college I have worked in the magazine publishing industry as an editorial assistant, editor, online editor and reporter. It’s been fun, but I’m now transition into a new career to be a certified health coach. Yay!

  • Alett June 25, 2012, 9:15 pm

    routine – wake up after a few snoozes (I know I know it is a bad habit but…). Yoga at 6am – luckily only 2 blocks away while hubby walks dogs & makes coffee. If it is an “off day” then run & chores if it’s a work day then -> Work. home. walk dogs. Dinner.

    2. organization – I wish 🙁
    (thankfully I am far more organized in my work life)

    3. Jobs:
    strawberry picker -> baby sitter -> snack bar cashier -> provincial park gate attendant (best job ever) -> brief stint as waitress -> brief stint at GapKids (until I broke my leg) -> receptionist & broker’s assistant -> kennel attendant at vet clinic -> teaching assistant -> veterinarian Whew!

  • Julia H. @ Going Gulia June 25, 2012, 9:37 pm

    I hate to admit it, but this summer is the first time I’ve ever had an actual paying job (and I’m 21)! I was always extremely involved in extracurriculars, so that took the place of working during high school and even some of college. I’ve done volunteer work & had an editorial internship last summer in NYC, but my bartending gig right now is the first thing I really consider a job since I’m getting paid for it…and making money feels good! 🙂

  • Dynamics June 25, 2012, 11:00 pm

    Caitlin you have to check out the Neat system. I think you will love it, for both the clinic, your travels and home. http://www.neat.com/

  • Diana @ frontyardfoodie June 25, 2012, 11:08 pm

    Funny, I just did a post on what our days sort of look like regularly.

    I am VERY organized. I didn’t used to be but over the years I have slowly slowly progressed. Now I would call myself an organized person, and my husband would call me obsessive. haha

  • Marissa C June 26, 2012, 12:24 am

    We started getting into a recognizable routine around 8ish weeks regarding bedtimes and feedings, but it was always pretty fluid. By 4 months there were some definite things we could count on (i.e. being ready for a nap 1.5 hours after waking up, etc.)

    I guess one thing I realized is no routine is ever going to stay the same…it has to change as they grow, so don’t get freaked when something changes. I was convinced that she was going to be up all night, etc. when really she was just on to the next developmental stage.

  • Jess June 26, 2012, 1:00 am

    I’m a routine person.

    Get up, shower, dress, breakfast while facebooking/emailing, stop at McCafe for a coffe on the way to work. I am a teacher, so my whole day is scheduled (kids need structure) then I have meetings, potter around, hit the gym and go home.

    Boring, I know!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin June 26, 2012, 6:51 am

    Aww those duck footed PJs are the cutest! 😀

    My morning routine totally depends on whether I have class in the morning, or if I’m off, or if I work. Lately with my summer job starting at 7 am, I’ve been getting up at 5:50, getting ready, eating breakfast at 6 while reading blogs, then running off to work. I don’t like being so rushed, but it’s nice to be off work at 3!

  • Katie June 26, 2012, 12:06 pm

    If I am ambitious I get up at 6 or I wait until I hear my alarm clock (8 month old daughter) at around 6:15-6:20. Get up and give her a bottle. Let her play while I shower/dress then head to my babysitters around 7. Once there I sit with my daughter for 15 min or so and give her breakfast and chat with my babysitter and her kids.

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