Our Routine: Two Kids - Checkup

Now that we've been doing the two kid thing for a little over three months, I thought I would do a checkup on our routine and see what has changed. The biggest thing is that Harper is awake for longer periods of time. This means I have more time with both kids together now. Harper spends a lot of time in her chair watching, but I figure watching me and Z play is just as good an activity as other things for her.  Also, I pretty much let Z watch TV whenever I feed Harper.  Since she only eats for 15-30 minutes, this is a good time limit for TV.  I try to save the TV watching just for that time (although I admit I'm not always succeeding at that).  Although TV isn't ideal, I'm trying to relax and not worry about it.  It will become less frequent as we are able to get out more as Harper gets bigger.

Some changes I would still like to make are giving Z more alone play time and more structured play time.  A friend referred me to a good website, Productive Parenting, for ideas for activities.  I'm going to start working on some with Z to help him improve his attention span and stay focused on things for longer.  For now, I can get him to stick with something on his own for about 5-10 minutes.  I'd like this to be closer to 15 minutes.

The changes since the last time I posted our routine are in red.

Time	Harper	Z	Mom
7am	Wake Up, Feeding, "Play" in chair in bathroom while I'm in the shower	Still asleep, or still playing in bed	Feeding (about 15 minutes), Take shower
8am	Awake Time; usually in seat while we're getting breakfast	Wake Up & Breakfast	Get Breakfast for Z
8:30 - 9:00am	Nap (On days we have to leave at 8:45, I'll put her to sleep in her car seat)	Breakfast cont'd, Some Television, Getting Dressed	Put Harper to bed, Get Breakfast, Get Ready.
8:45 or 9am	Move to Car Seat	Get in Car	Get Kids in Car (When we have to be somewhere, approx. 3-4 times per week.).
10am - 10:20am	Feeding	Play. Good time for private play time. Or, I'm going to set him up with coloring or read books with him. Z watches TV.	Feeding
10:30-11:15am	Awake time; Mon & Wed -bath time; Tues- awake in car seat at grocery store Thurs: out on errands or at park Frid: Playmat, tummy time, bath	Mon: Playtime outside with Mom & Harper (in baby carrier) Or, watches while I give Harper a bath Tues: Grocery store Wed: With babysitter outside or at park Thurs: park, outside, errands	Mon, Thurs: Playtime with Z (outside when possible) Wed: Housework Frid: Housework & play with Harper
11:30	Nap in car seat; often transfer her to bed when we get home Or nap at home	Outside or grocery store/errands; Bath at home couple times a week	Grocery store/errands or home with kid(s)
12pm	Still Napping	Clean up and Lunch Playtime with Mom	Lunch & Play with Z
1pm	Feeding	Alone playtime or TV	Feeding
1:30-2:00pm	Sit with Z and me	Read books then go to bed for nap	Put Z down for nap and then Harper
2:00pm-4pm	A little more awake time just with Mom; Nap by 2:30pm	Nap	Nap (aahhh.... God shines his goodness on me!) Still napping, but not as long. Try to get 30-45 minutes. 3:30pm - do 10 minute Pilates video 3 times a week and check email or read the other two days, Prep for dinner (cut up things, get ingredients measured)
4pm	Feeding	Get up & Snack. If Z isn't out of his room by 4pm, he plays in there while I'm feeding Harper. Usually he's up and eats his snack and then watches TV while I feed Harper.  This is one feeding where sometimes he'll play and we won't turn the TV on.	Feeding & Snack
4:30pm - 5:30pm	Outside in carrier with Mom	Play outside with Mom & Harper	Outside
5:30pm-6pm	Nap	Alone Play time	Play with Z until have to get dinner ready
6/6:30pm	Nap	Dinner	Dinner and then clean up
7pm	Feeding	Playtime with Dad	Feeding
7:45pm	Sit with us for storytime before Z goes to bed	Get ready for bed and storytime	Storytime
8/8:15pm - 10pm	Nap	Bed	Clean up, Change into PJs, Watch TV with John
10:30pm	Feeding	Bed	Feeding
10:45/11pm	Bed	Bed	Bed