Cory and I are going away for the weekend to visit friends who have a newborn.
Without the kids.
My parents and my in-laws are tag-teaming to take care of Ryan and Alexa. I’m a little nervous. Not because I don’t trust the grandparents (they’re wonderful), but Ryan and Alexa both have been a little Mommy-centric lately. I’m sure it will be fine. (Because we’re going anyway.)
My Mom likes details, so she asked for a list of everything the kids need. Honestly, as I was putting this list into words, I felt like a lunatic. When Ryan was a baby, I had a straightforward list for overnights like when he took a bottle, what time his naps were, etc. Simple.
This time?
I wrote everything from itemizing the diaper bag to where you can find the vitamins to little nighttime habits/shenanigans to what songs to sing at bedtime and what to do if it rains. I’m so weird. Really. I also think I forgot like 3,764 things and am wracking my brain trying to figure out what I forgot to write.
It’s 2011. There are phones and computers and if anyone has a question, they can call. Also, I think that if they keep the kids dressed, fed and alive then that’s really the point and this list is just superfluous. That being said, I am going to share my list with you. I assume that when you’re finished, you will no longer be my friend. I will miss you.
Ryan Chase
- Gets alligator spoon full of Penicillin twice a day until bottle is empty. Can be taken with or w/o food.
- He can choose to brush his teeth with either his Orajel toothpaste (“the kind I swallow”) or our Crest (“the kind I spit out”).
- Nighttime underwear with pajamas
- Vitamin is the big white bottle with the R on it. He gets one vitamin with breakfast.
- His brush, water bottle and gel are in the basket next to the vitamins
- He can’t have gummy snacks like twisty fruit because of his tooth
- Breakfast is either smiley face (bagel/cream cheese, vitamin and banana) or oatmeal w/ raisins (he likes to help with the microwave and scoop out the raisins)
- Only two snacks between lunch and dinner
- Dinner is around 5pm on bath nights, 5:30pm on non-bath nights. It’s a weekend, so you don’t have to stick to that schedule, it’s just usually when he’s hungry.
- Before bed, he chooses two short books or one long book. Make sure he has monkey. He needs his bathroom door closed, Buzz nightlight (window wall), ocean (white noise machine) and hallway light on. After lights out, lay in bed with him and sing ABC and Mary Had A Little Lamb.
- He’ll probably call you right after you close the door for water, he’s scared, etc. Go in, but if he calls again, tell him you won’t be coming in again and this is his last request. Cory does this whole freaking thing where he makes sure there are no monsters. Tell him Daddy checked for monsters before he left.
- Time-outs: given for pushing/throwing or unacceptable talk. Give a warning first, unless someone is hurt. In that case, immediate time-out. (Get down on his level and explain why he’s there. He sits for 4 minutes. Don’t communicate with him during time-out. After 4 minutes, come down to his level and ask him why he’s in time-out. Then ask for an apology and kisses and hugs. Move on.) If something REALLY bad happens, he gets a privilege taken away. Monkey game, only one book, no TV with dinner, etc. Pick your battles – a lot goes on in a day.
Alexa Gabrielle
- Usually wakes up between 6:25-6:45am. Yup, you read it right. Go to sleep early!
- 8 oz bottle upon waking
- If you run out of milk, there is another box above the fridge
- She naps around 9:30 or 10 and has to be full before she’ll go down. Yes, really. Her naps are slowly getting later and longer, so we’re in-between 1 and 2 naps. Hard to tell when she’ll wake up and when she’ll need the next one, but usually she’ll wake up after 2 hours and will need another nap around 2:30. If you’re out, she’ll probably get cranky but fall asleep in the car. There is a paci in the diaper bag in a flowered paci holder if she really can’t sleep but I rarely have to use it.
- Lunch is anything in small bites. She can’t have shellfish or nuts. No juice yet. I usually give her a bottle again after her morning nap and before lunch.
- Third 8 oz. bottle at night before bed while reading two books on the rocker. She likes to look through one of the books in her crib to wind down while finishing her bottle. After a few minutes, say bye to the book and sing a song or two. She has a paci in her crib. Ocean (white noise machine) should already be on. She may cry after you leave for 5 minutes or so. It should get softer. If she starts wailing, she may need more of the bottle.
Notes For Both
- When going out, make sure diaper bag has at least 2 diapers and a full wipes case (I stocked everything already). There is Purell in there, a change of pants for Alexa, burp cloth, blue bags for poop diapers, sunblock, Ryan’s sunglasses, snacks (but add more if needed), pens, paci, etc. Ryan’s monkey game is ¾ charged and is in the outside front pocket. There is a charger in my car for any iPhone/iPod.
- Both need baths on Saturday
- When going out, have a full cup of water for each kid in the pockets on the side of the diaper bag, as well an 8 oz bottle for Alexa. If you want to bring milk for later, there are boxes of room temp whole milk above the fridge.
- I folded all of the laundry but didn’t put it away. You may have to pick socks, pj’s and other stuff from the downstairs couch. Sorry!
- If you need to know where anything is or have a question, you know where we’ll be!
- You asked about what to do if it rains. Besides playing in the basement, there are museums and indoor play places. Call me if you want to go. Also, I’m leaving you a book that has great ideas for places to go on Long Island in general. Have fun!
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Note to my future daughter-in-law…
1. Please never make a list like this for me.
2. If you do make a list like this for me, I’ll outwardly laugh at you but inwardly be really, really proud.
