So today was the start of a new term of baby classes, our new year new routine began today.

I think it is going to be quite good. I feel that as a family of four we are finding our feet, right before we become a family of five!!!

Esther and William, over the festive period, made the transition from two short naps in a day to one longer one. Over Christmas this nap had been at 11am which is when most of our classes are. So now nap time is just after our morning class, which today at least worked really well.

We do classes on most days now. Monday is Fun Train which is singing, instruments, action rhymes and puppets. Tuesday is Gym Babes and Minisigners. Wednesday we go to NCT Bumps and Babes. Thursday we have as a home day. Friday we either have a play date or go to Baby Rhyme Time at the library. An action, fun packed week!

Now that I can drive life is easier for us and has also led to a change in our daily routines.

Esther and William are super sleepers at the moment. They are often in bed by six and do not get up again until eight in the morning.

When they get up they play with Mummy for a while then after his shower they ordinarily have breakfast with Daddy whilst I get everything organised for the day.

In the mornings we usually have a class or a playdate and then between 11 and 12 Esther and William have a snack in front of the telly before going to bed for a nap. Each day we watch the same things on TV so that Esther and William know that it is nap time. Depending on how much of a wind down they need we may watch Mr Tumble or go straight into Owl Babies

and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

After their nap we have lunch and then play through the afternoon or go to another class.

If we are at home we play using my box system. All of their toys and books are organised into boxes – board books, noisy book, wheels and motion, traditional wooden toys, sorting and stacking, tower building, musical instruments, real life role play, puppets and cuddly toys etc … Every half an hour to 45 minutes we choose a different box with which to play.

There are also some toys that are out all the time – Elefun, Whirly Fun Fair, Octo Peek-a-Shoe, rocking horse, trampoline and spin and bounce zebra. We also have a tunnel that comes out just before tea each day. When Daddy is in charge they also have ride ons and walkers to use.

I should so start up a nursery! We have so much stuff and I have so so many ideas!

At 4.30pm we watch a bit more TV to calm down before dinner. We practice our signing to the Animal Sounds Song

and we Wind The Bobbin’ Up

before doing The Skeleton Dance.

Then we climb up two flights of stairs to find Daddy in his attic office.

Daddy has tea with Esther and William while I sort out pyjamas and everything needed for bath and bedtime. I also use this time to sort out washing and clothes for the next day.

Our routine works really well and means that the babies get lots of time with Daddy and I get time to do all the jobs that need doing to ensure that our days can run so smoothly.

After tea and bath with Daddy, I join in for bedtime too. We all snuggle on the double bed in their nursery and watch In The Night Garden. This will eventually change to a bedtime story but Esther and William find stories too exciting and so we read them during the day.

When I write it down and read it through I love our routine. I wonder what changes will need to be made when Matilda May arrives in Spring?