I’m frequently asked if I would share what a day in my life looks like… if there are certain things I do at the same times every day, schedules I stick to, productivity secrets to share, or any tips for how I balance work, home, family, and life.
And while I would love to tell you that I wake up every day at 5:30, and that I’m super productive until I go to bed at the reasonable hour of 10:00 — that’s just not the case. Even as I type this post, I can’t help but feel a little disheartened by our haphazard daily and weekly “schedule”.
We are far from perfect.
But since I preach “progress, not perfection,” I’m sharing our perfectly imperfect daily life with you!
MORNING:
5:45am — Dave’s alarm goes off. He almost always gets up right away — I continue sleeping.
6:30 — Nora is up and crying by her door. However, since she usually wakes up at least twice every night, I can tell she’s still tired. So, I go into her room and lay in bed with her until 7:30 when she wakes up again — this time much happier.
7:45 — I change Nora’s diaper, change her clothes, make her bed, and feed her.
8:00 — Nora plays with toys in the living room and watches Curious George on TV while I get dressed, eat breakfast, brush my teeth, and check my emails.
8:25 — Curious George is over… I know this because Nora is now pulling on my shirt as I sit at my computer desk!
8:30 — We read a few books (usually 2 or 3 books multiple times in a row) play with some toys, and dance with her toy piano.
8:45 — She has fun “helping” me unload the dishwasher (I started it before I went to bed last night) and putting the wet clothes into the dryer (I also put this on an 8-hour delay cycle before I went to bed).
9:00 — Her all-time favorite TV show (Super Readers) is on, so she watches that while I respond to several more emails, do some social media promotion, and look over my schedule for the rest of the day.
9:30 – 11:30 — I usually try to get out of the house during this time. We might get groceries, walk around the mall, go visit a friend or relative with little kids, go to the library, play outside (weather permitting), or make up an errand JUST to get us out of the house. I’d be perfectly fine to stay home, but Nora needs a change of scenery… and a good car ride or stroller ride always tires her out!
11:30 — Lunch. I’m usually starving by this time, and since I dislike sandwiches, I almost always eat leftovers. If Nora fell asleep on our way home from running errands, I’ll eat my lunch in the car while doing a little more work on my laptop. If she didn’t fall asleep, then we’ll eat at the kitchen table like normal people.
Nora plays peek-a-boo every time she’s in her high chair.
She LOVES peek-a-boo!
AFTERNOON:
12:00pm — if Nora didn’t fall asleep on our car ride home, I attempt to get her to take a nap some time between noon and 1:00pm. Some days, she only fights it for a few minutes and then falls asleep. Other days, there’s no way I’m going to get her to sleep. Period. After almost 15 months of dealing with her nap-less days, I can usually tell within 5 minutes if she is or is not going to fall asleep.
If she DOES fall asleep…. she won’t sleep for more than 25 minute (she’s a power-napper!) I use this time to do my “15 minutes” for the day. I clean up the lunch dishes, fold a load of laundry, glance at my email again, respond to anything urgent, and do any prep-work required for dinner.
12:45 / 1:00 — Nora is awake and we spend the next hour playing and reading books. If it’s not freezing cold or raining, we will probably go for a walk or do something outside.
2 – 4:00 — The babysitter arrives! We have a babysitter come to our home 3 days a week from 2-4pm. Also, my sister or my Dad usually comes one of the days the babysitter doesn’t come.
Since I work from home and don’t have the luxury of a toddler who sleeps during the day, this is MY TIME to work on my blog or do anything else that requires focused attention. I schedule all meetings, phone calls, etc. during this time and I also do a good chunk of my Virtual Assistant work during this time.
Sometimes, if Dave will be out late at a basketball game, I have the babysitter stay a little later so I can get dinner going. As I mentioned yesterday, dinner might be just shoving a defrosted meal from the freezer in the oven and cutting up veggies for the steamer. However, it might also be a full-blown freezer-cooking session, making many meals at once. It just depends on the day and our schedule.
4:30 — Nora and I hang out again until Dave gets home from school. Sometimes she watches while I cook, other times, we play with the iPad, look at photo albums, “talk on the phone”, or go outside again.
EVENING:
5:00 – 6:00 — Dave usually gets home around this time and he literally drops everything and scoops up Nora, who is anxiously waiting by the back door after hearing me ask “who’s here?”.
Dave plays with her while I finish making dinner. Then we eat, and Dave and Nora play while I clean up dinner and get a little more work done.
7:20 ish — Bath time! Dave gives Nora a bath — which she absolutely LOVES. He lets her splash around for about 15 minutes, which gives me another 15 minutes to race around the house picking up. I put away all the toys and books, clear off the counters, start the dishwasher or a load of laundry (if necessary), and basically declutter the living areas of our home. It’s amazing how much I can accomplish in 15 minutes when I’m racing against the clock… or against the bath!
7:50 — Nora is out of the bath with a fresh diaper and jammies, and she’s ready for bed. She looks at the pictures above her changing table and eagerly points and grunts at the familiar faces while I attempt to comb through her crazy hair.
I feed her and lay down with her for a few minutes, and she quickly falls asleep. After months and months of dealing with a child who refused to go to bed at night, we FINALLY have a routine that seems to be working and she regularly goes to bed without much of an hassle (most of the time!)
8:00pm – 12:00am — This is when Dave and I get everything done that needs to be done!
I usually take a shower and get ready for bed right after I put Nora to bed. This gives me a little energy to be super productive for the next few hours.
Dave uses this time to do all his grading and lesson planning. He packs his lunch, irons his clothes, washes dishes, takes a shower, etc. etc.
After I’m out of the shower and ready for bed, I park it at my computer desk and type away. This is when I write most of my blog posts, respond to lengthier emails and comments, do more VA work, etc. This is the ONLY time of the day when our house is quiet, and no matter how exhausted I might be, I need this time to just sit quietly and think.
As many of you know, I used to write all my blog posts on Friday and I had a babysitter here all day. I absolutely LOVED that system, but unfortunately it doesn’t work as well now that Nora is older and has massive issues with being separated from me 🙂 She cries most of the time the babysitter is here, so I’ve opted for several 2-hour windows instead of one full day. I’m not quite as productive, but it’s better for Nora, and it is helpful to have at least 2 hours of focused time to get something accomplished.
Right before bed — The one thing I ALWAYS do before I go to bed is take 5 minutes to quickly jot down my to-do list for tomorrow and prioritize the top 5 things that are most important for me to accomplish. I honestly don’t think I could fall asleep if I didn’t do this!
Wee Hours:
11:30 – 12:30 — Nora wakes up between this time almost every single night — and she wakes up screaming. We’ve tried letting her cry it out (so, so many times) but since we’re not willing to clean up puke every night of the week, I simply go into her room and lay down with her for a few more minutes until she goes right back to sleep.
Then we go to bed.
Nora’s random midnight wake-up is another reason Dave and I stay up so late. We both have plenty of work to do, and it’s frustrating to go to bed at 10:30, only to wake up for Nora an hour later. Neither one of us are naturally night owls, but for now, this is our “new normal” and it’s actually working pretty well!
3:30am — Nora is up again… screaming. I get up and get her back sleeping within 10-15 minutes. Then I crawl back into bed. Sometimes she might wake up more than this… but she almost always wakes up around midnight and then around 3:30.
5:45 — Dave’s alarm goes off and we start all over again 🙂
…………………………………………………………..
Obviously, not every day runs exactly as I outlined above. I might be gone for a chunk of the day for something work related, we might go to Dave’s basketball game in the afternoon, or to a friend’s house for dinner at night. We might have some of Nora’s “friends” come over to play, or we might have an off day where we watch Baby Einstein movies on the couch all afternoon. Also, our weekend schedule is quite different because Dave is home all day 🙂
No two days are ever the same — which is sometimes refreshing, and other times, it’s just down-right exhausting.
I realize that by sharing all of this, some of you might be thinking:
- She’s a work-a-holic
- They never do anything fun
- She has her priorities all messed up
And others are probably thinking:
- What a “gravy” life — I’d like to sit at home all day with my kids
- She has no idea what “busy” really is
- What is she going to do when she has more kids?
However, I have a hunch there are least a few people reading this and thinking:
- I can totally relate to that.
- I’m happy to know there are other moms out there who struggle to manage everything they do each day.
- It sure makes me feel good that someone who is naturally so organized still has to hire a babysitter so she can get stuff done!
Life with a toddler is just so much different than I thought it would be. Not necessarily “bad different” just “different”.
And even though Dave and I are often over worked and over tired, we also know how blessed we are to have jobs that we love, a home we love, loads of family and friends who live close by, and a cute little girl who ALWAYS keeps us on our toes.
Tomorrow, I’m sharing more of my thoughts about balancing home, family, work, and life… so make sure you come back to read that! In the mean-time, feel free to relish in the fact that although we try really hard, the Dekkers definitely don’t have all our ducks in a row all the time 🙂
Bonnie says
Sounds like you are doing a great job. Kids love structure and routine. You are wise to have a baby sitter help out. Thanks for a great blog!
Cindy says
Quiet time… ah yes. I have friends that are astounded by how early we put our kids (2+4) to bed. 7pm on the nose. (8pm for summer fun) And they might get up between 5-6am the next day but we’ve had our entire evening to ourselves to do what needs to be done AND relax. Ours are finally sleeping through the night although I wake at every little cough but otherwise, I’m usually only tired because I went to bed so late and a kid got up early… oh and all the day time exhaustion too! We all just gotta roll with it. And I like how you DO! Use what works for you. 🙂
Melanie says
As a mom of 4 teenage daughters life is just crazy. I loved it when u said…progress not perfection! It’s my new motto! I’ve been struggling that I can’t seem to get everything together in our crazy hectic lives. I work part-time and run my girls this way and that…but I wouldn’t change a thing. Thanks for the motivation!! As with you…our family is out priority…everyday is a new challenge…but we learn and grow together as we deal with these challenges.
Kim says
I agree with the nomination for sainthood idea. God sent you a rather challenging baby and you guys are dealing with it in as positive a manner as anyone could. I also agree that the next baby will surely be a bit easier…………and that Nora will settle in and sleep better one of these days. You guys are doing a great job, hang in there. I know you encourage one another and share the load. Keep up the good work!!!!
Charissa says
Thanks for giving us an inside look! I always love hearing about someone’s routine/schedule. I feel I can always learn something!!
Debbie says
This was so good. Thanks for sharing. Trust me when I say it does not slow down much as
your kids grow. It just gets more different if that makes sense. Only the love keeps growing in your family. 🙂
God Bless you, your family and your business
Karyn says
Thanks for being so real! Being a wife and mom is hard work, and it’s nice to hear those who are honest about it! We have to adapt to whatever “season” of life that we’re in, because as soon as we get used to it, it changes. I love reading about how you change and adapt.
Leah H says
I can so totally relate to this day, just with a 5 year old and 2 year old. I am still trying to figure out how to do it all.
I homeschool, work from home freelancing and part time for 2 companies doing graphic design work, clean a house every other Friday, volunteer at our homeschool co-op every Monday, plus all the other meetings and field trips we take. But, I enjoy every one of my “jobs” so it just works like it works 🙂 (Yes, my house is a disaster most of the time, but that’s something that won’t change for a very long time, so I have learned to embrace it and deal with it as I can)
I have finally realized though, that I need to have a routine of getting to bed at a certain time and waking up at a certain time. I actually feel better not getting varied sleep according to what has to be DONE no matter how late 🙂
I agree that you put Nora first and that is what matters. I chose to homeschool amidst all of this because to me there is no other choice, it’s what I feel is best for all of us, so I will do it 🙂 My kids and hubby come first when it comes to being home.
Thanks again for sharing. I look forward to the next post immensely!
Verity says
Thanks for sharing this! You incorporate some great ideas into your day!
I think I’m going to try to take an evening shower for the energy boost!
Deb says
Oh my goodness! You should be nominated for sainthood! Some kids do sleep, don’t be scared to have another one and HANG IN THERE, most teenagers love to sleep! Mine were 3, 1 and zero at one point, don’t know how we did it, but you get through and savor the small blessings like a nap, or a hot meal or a day without a screaming fit, but one day you do look back and miss it, trust me, enjoy the minutes because the years pass quickly……YOU ARE A GREAT MOM!
Priyanka says
I have an eight month old, who has similar night waking issues like Nora and I know how draining and tiring it can be. I always admire you for being so hardworking and after reading how you manage to juggle being a full time mum and work at home mum, its only increased.
I agree with Katie, most people say that putting a baby to sleep earlier will make them sleep more. That is not the case with my son. If I put him to bed at 7 or 8 he will wake up multiple times at night. Some babies are wired differently, so you may want to try pushing her bedtime a bit and see.
Jen says
Thanks for sharing! Seems like you are doing a great job balancing it all to me. Toddlers are totally unpredictable! It seems that you and your husband are really working as a team and that’s great!
Rachel says
I have a great-nephew who would wake up during the night screaming….I think they finally figured out he was lactose intolerant? He would be fine during the day but inconsolable at night. Wonder if Nora might have a food intolerance? I want to say that I think she has the prettiest eyes of any baby I have ever seen. She’s cute all over – but her eyes are amazing!
Terri says
Absolutely agree with the dairy issues. My daughter (17 now) would wake up screaming and inconsolable. Wouldn’t even let me touch her. Wish I knew then what I know now. I would definitely get rid of all dairy, or eliminate what you normally feed her and see what happens. … What really helped with me for noon naps was putting cushions on the floor in the living room and putting in a movie. Our favorites were Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. I would lay down with her and she’d be out before too long. For bedtime, routines are a must. At 9:00 we would start getting ready. Then I would lay on the bed with her (and later both girls) and read a book–one that doesn’t require much interaction from her. Plus a nightlight or two. Nothing worse than an absolutely dark house when you wake up. My girls are teens now, but their routine still continues at 9:00 and they still read books to help them sleep. And don’t worry about the attachment thing. I got a lot of lip service for it, and for not letting them cry at night. My kids are well adjusted and very intelligent. I might’ve lost my mind a little back then, but I love how my kids turned out so far.
Katie says
My daughter was like Nora, waking up a couple of times through the night. When I told an old aunt about her, she told me that I was putting her down for bed too early, she suggested that I go ahead and keep her up until 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Honestly, she became more tired, yes she was a little more crankier than usual for the first week, but after that first weeks, she adjusted and slept all night long, she even slept later into the morning about 8:00 am. It was a miracle and her daddy and I felt so much better and we were both more productive with her sleeping all night. Two times a night getting you sleep interrupted is really bad on your health. You might try it and see if it helps Nora sleep through the night. When my daughter was old about 4 yrs old, we started making her bedtime earlier, added 30 mins every few weeks until we got her to an acceptable bedtime…it worked like a charm and she continued to sleep through the night.
Heidi says
Also I’m relieved to hear about other moms that are ok with letting TV entertain/teach the kiddos for small chunks of time to get things done! My toddler daughter loves the same two shows you mentioned. I had a mom try to make me feel bad about letting her watch TV, I think everything in moderation is key…and it helps with sanity too. A sane, showered and caffeinated mommy = a happier home!
Andrea says
Oh good greif! Don’t ever let another mom make you feel guilty. I’ve had the same thing happen to me… and found out later that although this mom didn’t let her kids watch TV, she did let them play on the computer ALL afternoon! I couldn’t agree more with your “everything in moderation” expression; in fact, I actually wrote a post entitled that 🙂
Fashion and Frugality says
I think we must all remember we have different families, morals, and expectations of us. As women we can be quick to judge to make ourselves feel “better” or “justified” in what we allow & don’t allow. We must find what works for our families, and then trust & work with that. Hope you have a great day~
Kristia says
My girls are 5 & 7 and I’d give anything to go back to this age. I LOVED this stage. Although, I remember those toddler days (and nights) at home. They can get long at times, but it is such a cute age and it does so fast. I don’t think life is going to get any less hectic for you and Dave unfortunately as Nora gets older. I can assure you of this that there will be a day that she will sleep through the night!
joy says
love this! We have 4 kids under 7…. Every few months, just for fun, i chronicle my day. When i go back and read my journals, i’m exhausted! I love your “15-minute-race” and I do believe I will be putting that into my days at home. 🙂
Andrea says
Joy, the 15 minutes a day is awesome. Not only is it a great motivator to keep things neat and clean, it’s also a quick little energy boost!
Heidi says
I can relate! I have a 10 month old and a just-turned 3 year old. When people ask what our schedule is, I like to say that we don’t have a schedule, we have a Daily Agenda. That way I relieve the stress of time constraints and go for checking off daily goals as time is found, it has made it much easier to feel accomplished amidst the chaos 😉
Nicole(Whole Strides) says
Busy busy! This is a good reminder for why I appreciate my kids being older and a little bit more independent now. It’s easy to forget how hectic life is with tiny ones around.
Terry says
I enjoyed reading this–it’s a wonderful service to other moms in similar situations to see an honest portrayal of the challenges of parenting. My children are now teens, but I stayed home with them for 10 years and was so frustrated that other moms were not willing to discuss the challenges (OK, really crappy parts) of motherhood. Congratulations on accepting Nora for who she is and working with it–that will definitely help in the teen years! I’m not sure how old Nora is, but one of my personal saving graces for toddlerhood was My Morning Out and morning pre-school.
Good luck to a wonderful mom!
Melissa says
Actually this post totally makes my life feel normal. At least I am not the only one!
Mel says
Oh my goodness Andrea – thank you THANK YOU for sharing this. I love seeing this glimpse into your real, authentic life, and this was exactly what I needed to hear. I have a one year old and because of transitions that happened right around the time he was born, I’m currently not working (even though I just finished grad school before he was born with the hopes of working) and my only role is being a stay at home mom to him. There are days when I feel like such a failure because I literally feel like I get NOTHING done, yet I’m working all.day.long. Laundry, picking up, running our household, loving my baby, feeding my family, etc. etc. And then I see other moms and think that I’m just not functioning as a mother. But reading your story makes me realize that it is just HARD work, plain and simple. Even though it is totally worth every minute, it is a job filled with constant challenges. Again, thank you for sharing your heart.
JoAnn C. says
For moms as well as full time caregivers of elderly parents it is truely about routine. You said a mouthful.
Debby says
You are doing a great job and this is just who Nora is. Maybe she will grow up and be the night shift Dr. or nurse in the ER because that’s how she rolls. LOL I had a great napper with my oldest daughter 3 hours everyday like clock work. However, it had to be at home in her bed. Otherwise, everybody within a 30 mile radius was miserable from her screams. When my second daughter came along and I thought the 3 hour nap was normal, reality set in. We were lucky to get in 1 hour. However, she would power nap anywhere anytime, and never complained while I shuffled her from one place to another with my oldest. Even to this day, she will power nap in the car on the way to Grandma’s, and she is now 15!!!! Keep up the good work.
Andrea says
Debby, Nora sounds similar to your 2nd daughter… she can fall asleep in the most random places — but only for 25 minutes. It doesn’t matter where we are, 25 minutes is her naping limit!
Jen @Creating Chaos Blog says
Great post 🙂 I feel so much more “normal” after reading this! Elise also loves Super Why, and I have no idea why, maybe they will both be early readers!
Andrea says
Thanks Jen — I guarantee it’s the music on Super Why that they love. Nora stands for the entire episode and dances every time the music starts again 🙂
Corissa says
I work during the week, but my husband and I have different days off so that our children aren’t in daycare as much. It’s extremely hard from both ends. Some days I think going to work is almost easier, but you still have to pick your kids up, make dinner, feed them, bathe them and get them to bed. On my days at home it’s just as hard. I don’t have any help, but those are still the two days that I have to get most of my housework and errands done in.
I think it’s amazing that you can get up a couple times a night and sleep only 7 hours! I can’t funtion without plenty of uninterrupted sleep. 🙂
To Dorothy: I live in Michigan too. I don’t think putting your child in rearfacing until two is possible for all parents. My toddlers legs looked crammed at 1 year old. Not to mention the fact that most of them don’t like staring and a seat. I’m all about safety, but don’t think it’s fair to give out advice when it hasn’t been asked for. Especially without knowing the situation.
Andrea says
Corissa, I used to need a full 8 hours of sleep every single night — however, I was always extremely busy all day long too. Now, I get less sleep at night, but often have more time to “relax” during the day while we read books, look at pictures, or play on the iPad.
I’m often tired, but it’s not as bad as you think… and my body has definitely adjusted to less sleep (not sure if that’s good or bad though!)
Lisa says
You sound like a normal human being to me! And a great mom, too. Thanks for sharing and keeping it real.
Five4FiveMeals says
This sounds like you have found a routine that works with Nora’s personality and it shows you have put her needs first. I am proud of you.
I have an almost 15-month-old and another baby coming in May and I know our day will change on a dime. It’s not about a schedule, it’s about routine and there is a big difference.
I know you must be exhausted but you are handling it all with grace.
Andrea says
“It’s not about a schedule, it’s a bout routine” — I quoted that exactly line the other day when I was speaking to a group of moms. I couldn’t agree more!
Katie Richards says
Ugh, the no nap child! My 4 month old is a difficult napper which gives us a TON of time to stare at each other during the day. Small infants aren’t the most interactive! Thankfully I’ve been able to get him to take a morning nap for the last few weeks. I’m glad your day looks so much like ours! It makes me feel like not as horrible of a parent
Andrea says
Katie, you’re not a horrible parent — I’m sure of that!
I can remember when Nora was only a couple months old. All my friends’ babies were sleeping for hours and hours during the day — so much that my friends complained of “being bored” during the day. HA! There I was with Nora wide awake ALL DAY LONG with absolutely nothing to do accept play on the floor or sit in her swing… but of course, I had to be right there with her otherwise she would scream. It definitely made for some very, very long days.
You are doing great!
Kimberly says
Just a thought from another mom with a difficult sleeper: they say that for kids that regularly wake up at particular times during the night, it sometimes helps if the parent gently disturbs the child’s sleep a bit before the usual wake up time. Somehow that breaks the child’s regular wake-up rhythm. It helped my son. Just a thought.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/84694-changing-baby-sleep-cycles/
Stacey says
I can’t even stand the fact that she doesn’t take naps. My kids have always been crappy nappers and it’s the worst. My 2 year old takes about an hour and a half nap every day and it’s not enough! I would be in the nuthouse by now if I were you, lol. I will say that her naps used to be a lot shorter when she was about Nora’s age so maybe there is hope for you all yet:)
Laura says
I’m in the “totally can relate” bucket (I have a 3.5 yo and a 9 month old). It sounds like you are doing the best you can do…and that’s all we can do.
Jen says
The one big thing I’ve learned about raising kids is that, even beyond toddlerhood, every day is a master class in improvisation. When I find something that works, even knowing it will be temporary, I go with it. Other people’s opinions be damned. 😉
Hannah says
Sounds like a crazy day! I’m a stay at home mom for now with a 1yr old while my husband works 7 days a week between 2 jobs. We do a lot of the same things–little Curious George while I start my day, lots of walks and errands, and just playing together. One thing that’s different for me: my baby definitely takes naps! I never realized how lucky I was to have a baby that takes 2 2hr naps a day and usually only wakes up once a night. You really are amazing to get so much done and keep plugging along with such little sleep. Keep up the good work!!
Cathleen says
Andrea – thank you for sharing. Sharing personal stories is always very brave.
As a mom who worked from home when my kids were Nora’s age, I always wondered how others did it. So your post was fun to read.
It was interesting that you mentioned you had to switch your Friday schedule – I had to do that a couple times too. As the kids grew, our cherished routines would get blown out the window, and we would need to find other ways to make it all work.
A wise woman told me to remember that every childhood stages passes quickly. So when there are trying periods (sleeping patterns, teething, etc) remember it will pass. But also remember to cherish the sweet periods because they grow so quickly.
Thank you for sharing! Keep posting!
Stacie Kaltz says
Andrea you are inspiring! I have the option on some days to work from home while other days I have to go to the office. But your blog has inspired me to stay organized and on task. It can be so hard on mornings and evenings when all I want to do is lay down and watch TV to escape and relax. I have a 4, 8 and 18 year old! Yes one in college! But you continue to provide myself and I am sure others to stay motivated and organized! Your a great Mom and Wife. It must be rewarding to know that you are able to have a nice effect on others to help them in their daily lives! Great Job! 🙂
Abra says
Thanks so much for sharing about your day/routine! I think you are doing a great job.
Shannon says
Hi,
I just found your blog and am enjoying it. I can totally relate to the baby waking up at night and not being able to cry it out. My now 4 year old did that for the first 3 years of his life. We even consulted his doctor on the issue and were told it had to do with his REM cycle. One night I was desperately researching on the internet and found a post that said sometimes children wake up from low blood sugar or low levels of Potassium. So, we started feeding him a banana every night before bed. He started waking up less and less, and finally success! I wish you all the best , but most of all a night of uninterrupted sleep!
Melyssa says
Hi Andrea,
I just wanted to tell you that you are not alone in the land of toddlers that don’t nap ever – I’ve got two, and 2.5 yr old and a 1 yr old. Life is always interesting! Don’t forget to find five minutes of “mama” time. So so important. Remember to fill your cup so you can pour out on theirs!
Be encouraged! Melyssa
Dorothy says
Sounds like a normal day to me! One thing–Nora should be rear-facing until at least age 2. This is true in MI (where we both live) and is what’s recommended by the AAP. It’s just safer =)
http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/babies/on-the-way/carseat-safety-for-babies.html?gclid=CLbThKSvn7UCFeZFMgodTGIAbQ