Now that Ava is one whole year old and officially toddling around the house it seems like she is a completely different person. No longer a baby, but a little girl! It shocks me every day how quickly she picks up new things. She plays games on her own, sings, dances and flips through books. We are on a better schedule too. Gone are the unpredictable days where planning to go grocery shopping was touch and go depending on her mood and need for a nap.
At 12 months old her schedule looks like this:
7:00am Wake Up - Ready or not Mama here she comes. We usually snuggle in my bed for a bit and she nurses (our last session to be dropped but I am still holding on to it). Sometimes Daddy will play with Ava for a bit before he leaves for work and I will catch a few more minutes of sleep. Lately, I have been turning on the TV for her which has become a bad habit. She is obsessed with the TV and will bring you the remote and put it in your hand if she can’t get it turned on herself!
8:00am Breakfast- Ava is a fantastic eater. She loves food just like me! For breakfast she usually has oatmeal cereal mixed with yogurt, toast with peanut butter and some sort of fruit along with water in her sippy cup. She loves to feed herself and is pretty coordinated with a spoon. I was using this time to eat my breakfast and read blogs while still coming awake (I am not a morning person but it is getting better since she is sleeping through the night, I feel human again). Now, I do not bring the iPad out while Ava is awake. Instead we eat together and “talk” about our plans for the day.
8:45 Get Dressed and Walk- We both get dressed for the day and head out on a walk with your dog who is very anxious to get doing by this time. He loves his routine and doesn’t like things being delayed!
9:30-10:30 Playtime at Home- I usually try to do something interactive with Ava during this time. Reading, signing songs, counting games, learning colours, sorting shapes. It makes me feel productive and she loves trying out new things.
10:30 Bottle (previously the boob)- I think I may have transferred Ava’s boob addiction to the bottle. I am now trying to get her to take milk from her sippy cup but she REALLY likes the bottle. I am actually going to cut out this feeding all together soon since she won’t be getting it at daycare in the Fall. I should have gone right from boob to sippy cup but we were going away for the weekend (without Ava) and I was very nervous about her not drinking milk so I weaned to the bottle instead.
10:30-11:30 Outing- If we have somewhere to be or something to do, this is generally the time of day to do it. Groceries, play dates, trips to the library or Early Years Centre usually happen in the late morning. This is another activity that gives me a sense of accomplishment and generally Ava is very good and loves outings at this time of day when she isn’t hungry or tired.
11:30 Lunch Time- We have been moving this up slightly as Ava does seem tired and ready for her nap earlier now. She usually eats something from all of the food groups. Today for example she ate a hard-boiled egg, black beans, blueberries, cheese and broccoli. I bet my next child will refuse to eat anything since I have been blessed with such a good eater.
12:15 Naptime- Ava has a bottle and goes down for her nap without complaint. Typically she will sleep for 2.5hrs. Sometimes she wakes up at the 1.5hr mark but she is NOT ready to get up and I have learned from experience that it is best to let her cry for a few minutes, or go in and give her a soother. Nine times out of ten she will put her self back to sleep for another hour. This is also my time to get things done around the house, eat lunch, figure out what is for dinner, read blogs and blog myself.
2:45 Wake Up (again)-Ava generally wakes up in a good mood after such a big snooze. We usually spend the afternoon playing, going on another walk, watching the neighbour kids get off the school bus, or running errands if there is something we didn’t accomplish in the morning.
4:00 Bottle and Snack- We are phasing out this bottle too as at daycare it will just be a snack. Ava generally has a fruit and something else like cereal.
5:15 Daddy’s Home- Always very exciting for everyone!
6:00 Dinner- We generally always eat together as a family and Ava eats whatever we eat. Following dinner its playtime. Lately we are outside as much as possible. Swings, water table and watching the big kids in the neighbourhood are favourite activities for us all. I find now that I am home during the day I have gotten to know our neighbours a lot better. We are lucky to live near some great people who also have kids. It’s great to have some adult interaction while watching your children play.
7:15 Bath Time, Jammies, Bottle and to Bed- I am happy to report Ava is sleeping through the night on a regular basis after a rough week of molars ruling our lives!
I absolutely love this schedule, I like that we actually have one now! As she is getting older she is so much more interactive not to mention entertaining! Sometimes hubby and I just sit back and laugh at her antics. She is a funny little character.
I always say it, but I think this is my favourite stage! What about you?
I am a Mum of a 14 month old and like you cant believe the difference a year can make. Its lovely & interesting to read what works for another Mother.
Thank you! I too love reading about other parent’s adventures. Even though they might be totally different than our experience it somehow makes me realize that we are doing what works for us and baby is happy which is all that matters. Also helps me to appreciate the little moments.
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