Our Day in Pictures: Settling Into Life With Two Children

This post is by regular contributor Kylie Gardner of Octavia and Vicky.

Our days are full and busy – and that’s how we like them! Like most children, Pebble has a lot of energy to burn. She does not tolerate staying still for too long and boredom is the enemy. She will play on her own for little stretches but she also needs outings like Kindergym, mothers group and the park to help her get her wriggles out. If we’re not out and about then we’re at home creating, playing, cooking and reading.

Am I super mum? Um. No! I have help. Lots of help. Pebble goes to care at a (truly fabulous) child care centre two days a week. Then there’s Grandma, who is retired and is often visiting and playing with Pebble, or having Pebble over for a visit at her house. They have always enjoyed regular visits with each other and this hasn’t stopped just because I’m on maternity leave. Daddy is also a major player, in every sense of the word. His every minute after work is all about playing with Pebble, as well as a good chunk of his weekend. Of course we also have our down time. Pebble enjoys watching her favourite TV shows, usually at the end of a busy day when I’m trying to find the lounge room floor again and cooking dinner.

As for baby Rocky, he is ten weeks old and is just beginning to settle into a nice routine. He is an easy baby – his night sleeps are getting better (not great, but better) and he’s starting to have definite naps in the day. He also loves being carried in his sling, which I make full use of to keep my hands free to get on with playing or working.

I leave my major chores until the days that Pebble is at care, leaving my days with her to play and bake and dance and run. And I have pretty low standards when it comes to house work. Dust settles. Dust grows into bunnies. Eventually I clear the bunnies away, but I’m no domestic goddess.

Our days might look crazy full but don’t be fooled into thinking I’m super human. I just have help. And a strong desire to avoid the whine of a bored preschooler.

What do the pictures of your everyday look like? Do you have help?†