A Day in The Life of My 3 Month Old
Each day, the sun comes up over our mountain town, and it’s time for Jackson to wake up, have a diaper change, put on some cute clean clothes, and eat. Next we do our morning exercises. We stretch the arms up, out and across the body. We stretch the legs out straight and up to the nose. We stretch the hips and the back. Then we cross the midline, touching each hand to the opposite foot, and do supported sit ups. This simple movement routine promotes gross motor strength, and helps Jackson build key muscles for the developmental milestones ahead. After our exercises, we say our morning prayer thanking God for the day and praising Him with simple songs. I love spending this little bit of time celebrating our Lord together! It builds the habit of daily prayer for my baby boy and gives me a fun, easy way to teach him about our faith.
Once our wake up routine is completed, it’s mommy’s turn to get ready. This is the one and only time Jackson gets screen time. He gets to watch one episode of a mommy approved show, so that I can get dressed, put up my hair, brush my teeth, grab some breakfast, and get ready for the day. I have found that taking this little bit of time for myself each day is key to keeping myself feeling good and sane postpartum. I also like having a way to entertain Jackson without having to put on the Mommy show so early in the morning. I am generally a pretty perky person, but I need some time to get woken up in the morning. I try to be intentional about what I allow Jackson to watch on TV. We stick to educational shows with people, puppets, and/or 2D cartoons. We avoid things that are over stimulating opting for things with a slower pace and dimmer colors than some of the newer kids shows out there. In case you’re curious, here’s my list of Mommy approved TV shows that Jackson enjoys:
Blue’s Clues (the original) – This is his favorite! He laughs and talks to Steve and Blue staying completely focused for an entire episode.
Sesame Street – We opt for some of the older seasons to avoid the vivid 3D cartoon segments. Jackson particularly enjoys Elmo. We even got him a stuffed Elmo to play with and snuggle which is pretty adorable.
Bear in The Big Blue House – Jackson seems to be very engaged by bear, and he really likes when bear and the moon sing the goodbye song.
Mio & Mao – This show was designed to aid in baby’s brain development, and it has short episodes that are perfect for shorter attention spans.
Veggie Tales – I grew up watching Veggie Tales, and I love sharing the Bible stories in this show with my little guy.
Once Mommy is done getting ready, we get to play until naptime. We practice holding keys and rings, we gab with his many stuffed animals, we explore his texture toys, and we look through his touch and feel books. Then we snuggle up for a good contact nap. Jackson is a big sleeper. He is usually ready for a nap about an hour and a half after he gets up, and his morning nap typically lasts about two hours. I settle in with a good movie and hold him while he sleeps giving me ample time to cuddle my baby boy. This is easily one of my favorite times of the day.
After our nap, we get out our books for story time. Jackson loves to be read to, and I love reading to him! Some of our favorites include Llama Llama Red Pajama, The Monster at The End of This Book, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. After a book or two, we go to tummy time. I like to mix things up to keep him engaged with tummy time, so we do this differently each time. Jackson’s favorite things are his crinkle page book, water mat, and sensory tummy time book. He particularly likes one page in the tummy time book with a picture of a little girl playing a xylophone. I love watching him smile and talk to her! When the weather is nice, we will also go outside to explore during this time. We sit on the porch and walk around the yard and see the sights. Jackson really enjoys being outside, so I like to take him out as much as I can; however, living in a temperate rainforest, that is not always possible. If we find ourselves stuck in the house, we break out the play gym, read some more stories, or sing songs until nap time.
When we get up from nap number two, it’s time for lunch. Thankfully Daddy works very close by and is able to come home for lunch and visit with us each day. Jackson usually hangs out in the wrap while I make everyone something to eat. Then he sits at the table with me and Josh. He loves getting to see his Daddy, and I love spending this quality time with them. After lunch, Daddy heads back to work, and Jackson, Diesel, and I load up in the stroller for a walk. Diesel and I really need the exercise because we have both put on some serious pounds since I got pregnant. Jackson loves being outside, and usually falls asleep after a while of riding in his stroller. If he’s still asleep when we get back home, I use the free time to clean up the house, but sometimes he wakes up the second we come through the door. On those days I put off the cleaning until later in the day.
Next, it’s time for music! We dance and sing and listen to music together. Jackson really enjoys fingerplays like “Five Green And Speckled Frogs” or “Open Shut Them.” He also likes dance songs like “Touch Your Toes To Your Nose” by Hap Palmer. When he gets tired of music time, we move into more tummy time and then exercise in the play gym. If he’s not starting to fuss after that, we read a few books until he’s ready for another nap.
Daddy usually comes home while Jackson is taking his last nap, so we always visit with him as soon as Jackson wakes up. Then I get started on dinner. While I cook, Jackson spends some time in his swing, hangs out in his bouncer, visits with Gigi, or plays with Daddy. Around five thirty we all sit down for dinner. Even though Jackson isn’t eating solids yet, this quality time at the dinner table is super important for us all. The family time spent at the table is great for bonding and sets a precedent for family dinners in the future. We sit together talking, eating, and enjoying each other’s company until it’s time to start getting ready for bed.
Between six and six thirty we begin our bedtime routine. Jackson absolutely loves his nightly bath. He hangs out in the warm water and completely relaxes. Unless he needs a good soaping up, I don’t usually wash him more than twice a week. Too much soap is not recommended for babies this age, but it never hurts to rinse him off while he splashes around in his little tub. When bath time is over, we tell everyone good night (even Diesel) and head to the bedroom. This is another one of my favorite parts of the day because Jackson is just so happy! He babbles and laughs while I put on his lotion, brush his hair, and get him into his pajamas. I give him hugs and kisses, blow raspberries on his belly, and play with him while I get him ready for bed too. Then he has a bedtime snack before I put him to sleep. Once I get him into the bassinet, I have some time for myself before I too go to sleep, and then we start it all again the next day.
I love each day with my baby boy, and I am so lucky to get to stay home with him during this time. Our schedule isn’t set in stone and changes as needed each day, but for the most part, this is what our days entail. Drop a comment below to tell me about the things you like to do with your little bundle of joy, and don’t forget to subscribe to stay updated with everything new happening in our house!
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