A Day in the Life of Little Man and His Mama

So, while we were in the States, I got this question a lot:

"What does a typical day look like for you?"

I don't know that I ever actually had the time to fully answer this question, so I thought I'd blog about it, just in case anyone else was curious as well.

First, let me just say that I like routines.  One of my dear friends says that routine drives her crazy, but routine gives me comfort.  Therefore, I try to have as "normal" a day as any mom of a 2 year-old can have who also lives in a foreign country and is trying to learn the language so as not to have to ask someone to repeat themselves 20 times in a conversation.  

Second, I'll add this:  Russian lacks 2 words that are very important in America--"convenience" and "routine".  Ok, not literally, but it sure does feel like it sometimes!

Now, let me walk you through my day, at least the days without language lessons when I am gone from home a good bit of the day.

I try to get up around 6:30am (sometimes not making it up until 6:45am) so that I can have a quiet time before Isaiah gets up.  I find that if I don't get up at least 30 minutes before him, that I'm not able to get my quiet time done until later in the day, and naturally the later that I wait, the less likely I am to do it.

About 7:00-7:15 Isaiah wakes up.  Praise God he is sleeping a little later, or at least waiting patiently until we come to get him.  For such a long time he would ALWAYS wake up crying really hard.  He would calm down quickly, but I'm so thankful that now he wakes up happy!  Sometimes before we get out of his room, he says, "Outside?!"  We usually check email together and look at any pictures posted on facebook.  Isaiah really seems to enjoy that--especially pictures of other kids.  

Then we get breakfast.  As a family we've started doing our meals a little differently, which I really like.  Every day but one, when Thomas has to leave really early, we have breakfast together.  Then we have some family worship time.  It's such a great start to the day.

Next is therapy time.  That's another thing that I have to do right away, or I get busy and the day slips away from me.  Isaiah is now using a Walkabout, which leaves his legs free but straps his trunk safely in place.  This is designed to help him learn how to move his legs and bare weight on them, so that he can then move to a smaller walker that doesn't require any

 strapping in.  We do various exercises with him in the Walkabout and just stretching on the floor.  Usually he does really well!

Depending on chores or projects, I try to take Isaiah outside in the morning.  This is how he rides:

He's always pulling himself up to sit really tall and be able to see everything that's going on.

That is, unless he's turned around to flash me a "thank-you-so-much-for-bringing-me-outside-Mama-I-love-you" smile.

Next is lunch, then nap for Isaiah while I either take a nap as well or try to get some projects done.  When my lessons start in full swing again, I'll probably try to do homework during his naps.

After nap is more outside time, usually to do food shopping or run other errands.  Then we have snack back at the flat, and if it's my night to prepare supper, I work on getting supper started.  Thomas is marvelous in many ways, but one of the ways that I really appreciate is that he is willing to alternate cooking nights!  He's such a good cook, that I'd hate for him not to utilize his talent. :)

We eat, have another family worship time, then get Isaiah ready for bed.  In the evening I try to be productive with sewing or homework or blogging or corresponding or something like that.  

So, I hope that answers the questions.  Sorry for all the details, but that's just me.  Hopefully the cute pictures help.

So what's your favorite part of your day?