How we roll

We lead a pretty active life - usually going somewhere or meeting someone most days of the week. But when we're home, it looks something like this.

Grant naps roughly at 10am and 2:30pm. He's in the middle of a rough patch, sleeping-wise, but most of the time those naps are close to 2 hours long. His preferred sleeping position is the same as his Daddy's:


All that beauty sleep is paying off. He gets more handsome every day! Besides, sleep is necessary for a teeth-growing, crazy-wiggling, crawl-all-over-the-place boy.


While Grant is taking his morning nap, Hope enjoys Mommy-time. This is a sweet part of the day for both of us, and it's usually spent catering to whatever her imagination dreams up.


Much of the time, we're acting out scenes from books or movies. She assigns our roles, directs what we say, and always wants to "do that aGAIN!" Over and over and over. Recent favorites have been The Three Mousketeers Rescue Princess Minnie, Belle Knocks Gaston Into the Mud, and Scientists Discover the Baby Sea Monster.

Like most kids, I imagine, Hope gets hooked on one or two play things for a week or so and then moves on. Unlike most kids, her play things aren't usually toys. Recent favorites have been my jewelry box, pieces from board games (particularly Pass the Pigs), and of course ... tape. All last week she was taping random things to the walls. At one point I heard her mention that she was the 'bad guy,' and awhile later I noticed she'd taped her Snow White figurine to the wall!


Anyway. Grant wakes up just before lunch, so we usually have a quick bite and then it's time to play with friends. We love playing at home, where Hope is always happiest and where Grant is free to crawl and explore. But we have to get out too (Mommy especially). We frequent "play places" far and near, and so far, they haven't gotten old.


Hope has rest time during Grant's afternoon nap, and if we time it right, Daddy gets home shortly thereafter. Both kids are always excited to see Daddy, and happily jump into playing rowdy with him while I prep for dinner.


After dinner is the bath-books-bed routine. When we're lucky, one parent washes the kids while the other cleans up the kitchen. I nurse Grant while Daddy gets Hope ready for bed. Then we do a "kid switch" and I read Hope's final book and tuck her in while Daddy cuddles Grant to sleep.

Then Daddy and I siiiiiiiigh. We flop on the couch for a bit, and most nights as we're headed up to bed we're laughing at the cute things the kids said or did that day.

It's a pretty routine life, and monotony can be hard, but I know it's going to be one of the sweetest parts of my life. White bread days indeed.