The time seems ripe for another snapshot of a typical day in the life of Lucy, since she was only six months old for our “last one”:http://boydsnest.org/news/2006/lucy-watch-2/ She just keeps getting more and more fun!
*7:20 am Lucy wakes up to the sound of banging.* Nothing to be alarmed about, just the carpenters working on putting in a room in our basement (the future home of Jon and Ann’s office). Lucy doesn’t seem to mind the banging, actually, and is ready for some morning milk in her pj’s.
*8:00 am Breakfast time.* Now that we are dressed and freshened up, Mama prepares our traditional breakfast of cereal, toast, and fruit. Lucy crawls around, stands up, and tries to grab Mama’s cereal bowl — but is quickly distracted by a strategically placed measuring cup. Lucy gets buckled into her high chair, and we enjoy our meal together. Papa, working in the office next to the kitchen, has eaten hours ago, but he smiles at us anyway.
*8:35 am Clean up time.* While Lucy finishes the last of her toast and banana, Mama takes the opportunity to unload the dishwasher (which Lucy will promptly attempt to climb into if left to crawl around during this chore). Lucy signs “all done,” and Mama grabs a cup of water and rag to do the “dip and swish” method of post-prandial hand-washing (it should maybe be called “the dip, swish, and dry off,” but that seems a little long). Lucy crawls around and plays with her beloved “Fridge Farm”:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001X0DR6/octothorppres-20 while Mama washes off Lucy’s high-chair tray and seat.
*9:00 am Walk.* Lucy and Mama head out for our 20-minute loop around the neighborhood. Mama has just read something in a magazine about the health benefits of “walking as though you are late for an appointment.” Lucy relaxes in the jogging stroller. Mama keeps forgetting about the mythical appointment.
*10:05 am Lucy naps.* After a milky snack, diaper change, and some books, Lucy is ready for her morning snooze. Mama makes great headway on an InterVarsity project that’s been languishing on her to-do list while Lucy takes a good long nap.
*11:30 am Lucy plays while Mama makes lunch.* In the midst of preparing the midday meal, Mama receives a phone call from a colleague. After a few minutes Lucy begins to fuss but is soothed when Mama hands over her wallet for a toy. (It seems that credit cards are fun for all ages!)
*12:00 pm Lunchtime.* Papa joins us for a family lunch. Lucy gets a taste of Mama’s latest confection, some delicious coconut-pecan cereal bars. She approves. While Mama cleans up, Lucy polishes the floor with a rag — what a good helper! (See video, 42 seconds long.)
*12:40 pm Ready to leave on our errand.* Just before walking out the door, we have a last-minute diaper-check.
*12:50 pm Clean, fresh, and ready to leave on our errand.* We discover debris from the demolition part of our basement room rehab rummaged by scavengers and against the garage door, preventing the exit of our car. We seek Papa for help.
*1:00 pm Clean, fresh, and ready to leave on our errand, now with a clear path for the car.* Success! Lucy and I make quick stop at Babies R Us, then head on to Costco to stock up on chicken and baby wipes. Lucy tries the sample of pan-fried tilapia and likes it, which inspires Mama to buy several pounds, though it wasn’t on her list. That’s Costco for ya!
*2:35 pm Back home.* While Mama puts away the groceries, Lucy entertains herself by pulling packages of baby wipes out of the huge box and enjoys their packages’ crinkling sound.
*3:10 pm Naptime.* After a dose of milk and a diaper change, Lucy is ready for another snooze. Or so we believe…
*4:17 pm Lucy gets up from her “nap.”* Lucy was not tired, and spent most of the hour giggling and cackling with glee in her crib. She has never done this before — do you think she knows Mama is taking notes for a “Lucy watch” post and wants to make an impression?
*4:20 pm Playing in the living room.* Lucy examines a variety of toys, magazines, and cups on the floor. Mama enjoys a few minutes of reading “Family Fun magazine”:http://familyfun.com/ while Papa distracts Lucy away from her beloved cordless phone.
*5:20 pm Family walk.* Lucy gets another walk in the jogging stroller, this time with Papa at the helm. We encounter a few sprinklers we can’t get around, which is fun on these hot days.
*6:00 pm Dinnertime.* Papa feeds Lucy her supper while Mama cleans up the kitchen and prepares food for a grown-up dinner with “uncle derek and Aunt Linda”:/news/2006/first-date/. Lucy enjoys her string cheese, especially.
*6:30 pm Bedtime routine.* “Aunt Linda”:/news/2007/laughs-with-aunt-linda/ and uncle derek arrive just before the bath. Lucy is a little slow to warm-up, being extra-sleepy due to her lack of nap. Papa gets baby nice and clean in the tub, then dry and pajama’ed. Mama provides a milky bedtime snack and performs the nightly toothbrushing, in which the (admittedly modest) goal is to at least touch each of Lucy’s nine teeth with the toothbrush. Back to Papa for books, then Lucy gets zipped into her sleepsack and snuggles down to bed.
*7:03 pm Goodnight!* With the little one slumbering away, Mama and Papa enjoy a leisurely dinner _al fresco_ with their good friends. We’ll see you in the morning!
Isn’t it lovely to enjoy a routine such as this? Nothing routine about it, of course, but we are so fortunate to have days like this when the primary task is to provide (and accept) love and care and comfort. I feel that my life has been blessed in the same way by my wife, our sons, and now our two daughters AND two grand-daughters.
My wish for you – and all of your friends – is to cherish that routine, to know just how important it is, to live and love each day in the fullest manner, and to NEVER take these blessings for granted. To me, that is the true beauty of your writing and I thank you for sharing it with all of us. Needless to say, I send you my love…
Oh my goodness – she’s so big! She’s growing so fast! =)
That sounds like a great day. Too bad about the nap! :)