As you may have noticed from my lack of recent posts, things have been a little crazy lately. I have really enjoyed other bloggers’ day in the life posts, so I thought I would do my own and give you a little window in to what it is like to write a cookbook with a toddler. During the holidays. While your hardwood floors are buckling because of a faulty refrigerator install. Yes, it has been crazy…..

7:00 AM Manatee is on the way out the door and claims that when he went to kiss Baby G goodbye, she was standing up and saying Mama. I don’t buy it. I’m pretty sure he woke her up to get a hug. He puts her in bed with me and kisses me goodbye. I was hoping for snuggles, but Baby G is already off the bed and out of the room, I guess we are getting started for the day.

I get her some milk in her sippy cup and get my coffee going. I cut up an apple and grab a handful of roasted almonds. I try to start every day out with an apple because if everything else fails, at least I ate an apple. I grab my coffee (mmmm…pumpkin spice) and also grab a quarter of a ginger cookie. Gingerbread cookies are my absolute favorite cookies. One of the many reasons I love shopping at Woodmans is that they bring in baked goods from local bakeries. These cookies were a find!

7:30 After finishing my coffee and reading Baby G some books, I change into my workout gear and we go downstairs. Today is a recovery day (I am in Month 2 of Insanity) so I do a P90x3 Pilates workout. Baby G spends most of the time trying to sit on my chest. My abs get quite the workout.

8:15 I change G’s diaper and then into the kitchen for breakfast. I scramble two eggs and make a piece of toast. I make cup of coffee part 2 (decaf). She eats more salsa than eggs, and won’t touch the toast. I get the whole piece to myself. It’s my homemade bread so it’s a special treat. Nothing better than warm, buttered toast and coffee.

9:00 I clean up the kitchen as best I can- until the dishwasher is empty, this means I just pile up the dishes in the sink. I had G help me unload the dishwasher a few times, so now I can’t open it without her little head appearing at my side. And she doesn’t quite get the concept of loading the dishwasher, so I try to do it at nap time.

We have swimming at 10. We have quite a bit of time before we have to leave, but I know that it’s best to get things going. I pack our bag and get G into her swim shirt.

9:15 Manatee calls to check in about floors. I get off the phone and leave a message for the floor people. I get changed into my suit.

9:35: We are out the door. I had to wrestle Baby G into her car seat and try to explain why her pet elephant can’t come to swimming, but we get there early enough that she can play with the toys in the waiting room.

10:00-10:30– Swim! Baby G loves the water and goes under several times.

10:30-10:45- Post-swim lessons is the most challenging time every week. They have these tiny changing rooms with curtains and trying to get out of a wet suit without your toddler exposing you to everyone in the waiting room requires major multi-tasking, entertaining, and quick dressing.

11:00 Restoration guys come. So last week we noticed our floors were buckling under our fridge. Turns out it was leaking since last March. Good news: We don’t think we have to rip out the hardwood floors. We should be able to dry them out and then sand and refinish them. Bad news: remember that cookbook I am writing?

11:30 I give Baby G lunch: peanut and jelly on homemade bread, pears, and cucumbers. While I am giving her lunch, I work on prepping bread to go in the freezer and pouring leftover squash soup and veggie chili in quart-sized bags to be frozen. I love having a freezer stocked of homemade goodies!

She eats a half of sandwich and signs for more. I am very happy to make her another half. She doesn’t eat much of it, but I save it for later…and I might have taken a few bites.

12:00- Appliance guys come to document the damage. Baby G and I hang out in the living room making huge block towers. She loves knocking them down.

12:30– I get Baby G set up at the counter with a marker and a notebook so I can get started on recipe testing. Since I am often taking notes while I am making something, I have learned it’s easier to just give her a marker and paper right away. I get all my ingredients out for the bars. Then G starts to fuss. She has colored all over the counters. Thank God for washable markers! I abandon recipe testing and get her milk from the fridge.

12:45 We read a few books and then get ready for nap. Diaper change, more books, songs, and she’s down.

1:00 All of the ingredients are waiting for me. I use the stand mixer to make the bars. I resisted the lure of the stand mixer for a long time. I registered for it because that’s what you did, but I didn’t use it much. Since having a kid, I can’t get enough. Having a stand mixer is like having another set of hands. Anyone else a big fan of the stand mixer? Do they make one that will clean your kitchen? Because that would be awesome.

1:15 Bars in the oven. Even though I was cleaning up as I mixed the bars, the kitchen is still a disaster. I make a Shakeology shake, and then tackle the kitchen.

1:45 Bars are out of the oven and the kitchen is clean. I look at the clock and my list of things to do. I need to make green soup and I wanted to do a puree recipe. I am exhausted. Decide to put off the puree, but I do need to make the soup. The ingredients are taking over the fridge (16 ounces of both spinach and kale are a lot of greens in addition to our salad stuff) and I know I won’t be able to do it tomorrow because the restoration guys would be back. I hear Baby G start to fuss. I need to shower because I am working at Orange Tree. I decide to do that first and hopefully she will fall back asleep.

2:15 Showered, hair done, and G is back asleep. To the kitchen! I start to cut up the potatoes and onions. G fusses a little, but again is back asleep by the time I am done with the prep. I saute the onions and mushrooms, simmer a huge pot of greens and potatoes.

3:00 G is up and the soup is almost done. We snuggle and read more books. I bring her in the kitchen and she signs for milk. I give her what was left pre-nap. She plays in the living room while I puree the soup. I pour the soup in a large glass bowl to cool. I clean the kitchen AGAIN.

I am already sore from this morning’s workout. Pilates is hard enough, but doing it with a toddler on top of you- dear lord. I pop some Advil.

3:45 I decide to sample a small bowl and sit with G in the living room. We play with blocks.

4:00 I have about an hour left before Manatee will be home. Even though I just want to chill on the couch, I decide to change the sheets on the bed. This turns into quite an activity with G bouncing on the bed and us playing parachute with the sheets.

5:00 No word from Manatee. I fold some laundry and wonder if I will make it to Orange Tree on time.

5:15 Finish getting ready for work. No word from Manatee.

5:30 I hear him pull in. We quickly debrief each other on our days and I pass G off to him. I drive to Orange Tree Imports.

6:00-8:00: I work the counter at Orange Tree Imports. During the holidays, I work on Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings. I love it. I worked there part-time pre-baby and feel so lucky to be able to work during the holidays. I help people pick out Christmas presents and box up their gifts. I listen to Christmas music and eat my $1 worth of chocolate that every worker gets during their shift. It’s a little slow, so I check out a past co-worker’s new cookbook, The Little French Bakery Cookbook. I am both impressed and intimidated. Susan is so talented!

8:30 Get home. Heat myself up a bowl of veggie chili and top it with cheese, Greek Yogurt, and shredded lettuce. Catch up with Manatee on his day at work and time with Grace.

9:00 Pour myself a small glass of red wine and enjoy it with a pumpkin bar. We watch the news and Modern Family. That is our show, any other Modern Family fans? I always tease Manatee that he is just like Phil. He wants to be like Jay, but then again I’d rather be Gloria and he swears I am Claire. Guess we are made for each other.

10:00 Go to bed. Little do we know, G has quite a night planned for us…..

*****

So, that’s a snapshot of the life. I never quite get everything done and I clean my kitchen a lot.

So, how are you guys? Surviving the holidays?

I am going to try to keep blogging, so hang in there with me readers!

 


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