Down-time for me.

My first post on this blog was made possible by pretending I was sleeping in after my {wonderful} husband sweetly snuck out of the room to entertain our 16 month old when she woke up for the day. I'd do a lot worse some days to get alone time from my mommy's girl. I wouldn't have her be any other way, but no one can prepare a first-time parent for just how demanding these little beings can be! 

My personal tips:

Napping or laying down and reading when she naps. NOT CLEANING UP, NOT GETTING ON FACEBOOK OR BLOGGING, DEF NOT CALLING UP A FRIEND. Actually, literally kicking back and resting.

Letting her play in the bottom of the tub with toys while I have a long shower. Sometimes that still doesn't cut it and I wait until she's in bed for that long shower.

Doing hand massages together with lotion.

If its one of those really bad days where they're fussy non-stop, sit on the front porch with coffee {and a coat & slippers if you live in Canada like me} and leave them in their crib 10 or 15 minutes early before their nap. {with a monitor handy, obviously... a break can only be SO MUCH of a break, you're a mommy!}

Chocolate. Just eat some chocolate. And when they're old enough to beg for it: hide behind the fridge door as you cram some in your mouth, in the pantry, around the corner from the baby gate... or in a less-desperate time, offer them chocolate milk.

Have one evening set aside per week that you go OUT OF YOUR HOUSE, ALONE. Whether you go buy groceries, or if you're so lucky to be rich enough to go buy yourself a new outfit, or go sit at a cafe with a coffee or go do a yoga class etc. {You could include girlfriends sometimes, depending on your personality- but it always needs to be YOUR time.} My husband's at work all day & I don't want to miss every evening at home with him, but once a week is perfectly healthy. And he enjoys that time & gets to bond with Hayley.

I could go on and on but those are some basics that keep me sane. Stay tuned one day for what it takes WITH TWINS thrown in the mix! I hope it doesn't have to change too much.