Ever wonder what someone home with an 8 month old does all day?  Here is my general schedule.

Somewhere between 3-5 am: Raven wakes up hungry since she has a crazy fast metabolism.  I get a bottle from the fridge and hand it to her in her crib which lulls her back to sleep after she's done with it.

6:30 am:  This is usually when Raven wakes up for the day, sometimes a little earlier or later.  I change her diaper, get a bottle, set her in her playpen to drink it while I eat a little breakfast and watch the news.  I used to try feeding her spoonfuls of rice cereal in the morning but she hates it so she's happy with a morning bottle instead.  The next few hours, Raven likes to sit and play on the couch with some toys and mom hugs mixed in.  I usually have to change a huge poo diaper and one pee diaper during this time (and her clothes).

9 am:  Did I mention Raven has a fast metabolism?  I make another bottle for Raven which she downs and then I try to lie her down on the couch with me to take a small morning nap (she won't nap anymore being rocked and placed in the crib).  I'm sure I started a bad habit, but I like the snuggle time and Raven gets a her nap in instead of screaming from her crib.  After hopefully a nap, I let Raven crawl and play with toys on the floor which I now have to constantly clean.  I have to pick her up a lot to avoid places she shouldn't go (she has an uncanny ability to try to grab things that are off limits).  I usually have 1-2 diapers to change too during this time.

11 am: Raven gets a bowl of baby food for lunch which I spoon feed her from her high chair.  This usually goes fairly well and clean up isn't too bad.  I then give her easy to eat puff cereal pieces or cheerios which is teaching Raven self feeding and she's doing a great job!  While she is occupied self feeding, I do dishes, tidy up the kitchen, and make myself some lunch.  Then it's time to check another diaper.

11:30ish- If Raven seems tired or didn't sleep well in the morning, it's back to lying down on the couch and soothing her to sleep.  If she is really tired, this is the time she screams and cries which can last up to 45 minutes until she falls asleep.  If she does fall asleep, I power nap next to her or watch some HBO.  Naps usually last an hour but have been known to last up to 2.5 hours.

1ish: After a bottle, we either go run errands (sometimes in the morning instead) or Raven crawls some more.  She also likes her walker but I have to keep the doors all closed when she's in the walker because her obsession is getting into trash.  She can move really fast in her walker, so I have to prepare the baby block-off areas prior to Raven going into her walker.

3ish: After getting some energy out, Raven usually takes a small nap, but only if I am holding her.

4ish:  JD comes home from work and all of us usually play with Raven.

5 pm: Raven gets baby food and cereal pieces again.  After supper, she gets a bath every couple days.  She has a towel warmer which I put her pajamas in instead which she LOVES once she gets out of the bath.

6 pm: Bottle time and play time!  I make dinner as well.

8 pm:  We give Raven a bigger bottle and then it's time for bed in her crib.  Some nights she goes to sleep right away, some other nights are a real struggle.  The latest she has fought sleep was about 9 pm since she was 6 months old.

After 8 pm:  I hang out with my husband, knit, shower, do chores, etc.  I can get a lot done without constantly supervising a curious infant.  I usually fall asleep around 10 since my body has kind of gotten used to getting up early so it wants to go to sleep earlier too.  Does that make me healthier, wealthier, and wise?

So this is my general day now, with exception to when I have wedding flowers to work on...that takes some multitasking.  Sometimes my mother in law will take her overnight and during a day in which I can get some more cleaning done or work on hobbies (a mom's day off if you will).   I know I have a lot more respect for stay at home moms now.  

Raising babies aren't easy, even though it is very rewarding.  I do miss day long adult interaction, but I know working away from home, I would miss Raven.  This makes me also respect working mothers very much.  It's hard to leave your baby daily, I'm sure!  That's all for now, folks.