The School Schedule

I know that everyone does it differently, that most do it differently each year, that some are uber-schedulers and others are schedule-phobic, but I'm going to share what the plan for this year is. I will say that this is different to how we've done it in past years, but each year that brings a new student into the fold requires some rejigging.
This year, I have a fifth-grader, a fourth-grader, a first-grader, a pre-k, a nursery/toddler and a nursing infant. You'll notice I've got nothing much planned for the babe-in-arms - I figured he'd be eating or sleeping most of the time...
This schedule is by no means set in stone, but it's nice to have a framework to start with, and I'm happy to make changes along the way as the need arises. I'm basically planning to work on a 45-min-on, 15-min-off plan. The 45 min should give the big kids sufficient time to get the bulk of their work done and the 15 min will give everyone a chance to relax, use the bathroom, change a diaper, etc. I've had to plan in more rest time than I would normally do, considering the broken sleep I'm anticipating, but hoping that will eventually give way to time to exercise or be creative. The schedule has also reflected the opportunity to train my big girls in helping to prepare meals and oversee clean up. I'm thinking that will serve everyone. :)

	Mom	Abi	Anna	Noah	Ellie	Dan	Caleb
8 – 8:45	Bible with Noah & Littles	Chores, inc piano/ Read	Chores, inc. piano/ Read	Bible with Mom & Littles	Bible with Mom & Littles	Bible with Mom & Littles
8:45 – 9	Check chores	Free	Free	Free	Free	Free
9 – 9:45	Read & Geography with Littles	Literature	Literature	Read & Geography with Mom	Read & Geography with Mom	Read & Geography with Mom
9:45 – 10	Check work/ diapers	Make Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack/Diaper
10 – 10:45	Watch over Math	Math	Math	Math	Play	Play
10:45 – 11	Break	Break	Break	Break	Break	Break
11 – 11:45	Bible with Girls	Bible with Mom	Bible with Mom	Play	Play	Play
11:45 – 12	Prepare lunch	Prepare lunch	Prepare lunch	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up
12 – 12:30	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12:30 – 1	Rest	Clean up & Read	Clean up & Read	Read	Read	Nap
1 – 1:45	History with Girls	History with Mom	History with Mom	Lego	Nap	Nap
1:45 – 2	Break	Break	Break	Clean up	Nap	Nap
2 – 2:45	Grammar	Grammar	Grammar	Grammar	Nap	Nap
2:45 - 3	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up	Wake up	Wake up
3 - 3:15	Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack
3:15 – 4	Rest/ Exercise	Play with Littles	Play with Littles	Play	Play	Play
4 – 4:45	Special	Special	Special	Special	Special	Special
4:45 – 5	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up	Clean up
5 – 5:30	Dinner prep	Buddy wash	Help out	Help out	Help out	Buddy wash
5:30 – 6	Dinner prep	Help out	Buddy wash	Help out	Buddy wash	Help out

                  Specials: crafts,

                   computer, movie

The grammar and history slots may end up flip-flopping if I am too tired to do history at 1pm, we'll see. I've planned it so that whatever the girls don't finish during their allotted time, they'll have to do either during playtime or in the evening, under the watchful gaze of their father - they're less inclined to mess around with him.
Since we're doing co-op this year, I'm not sure that the schedule will apply at all for that day, if we'll just try to pick up where the schedule has us when we get home, or if it'll be a make up day/afternoon for things we're behind on. Again, we'll have to just see how it goes...
Homeschool moms, what's your plan (or are you planning not to plan)? Feel free to share in the comments, ask a question or post a link!

On Breastfeeding

I have been able to nurse all five of my babies for at least a year each, am fully intending on nursing this next one, and feel very blessed and grateful to do so. Many women that I've met either found that they were not able to nurse due to any number of problems, whether it's baby's allergies, being on medication, infections, problems with milk production, or one of the other myriad of things that can make nursing difficult or even impossible.  I have had no such trouble thus far, and have been so grateful that not only have I been able to nurse for as long as I have, but have even had the opportunity to donate milk to a milk bank. It was not, however, something I'd always planned or even wanted to do.
I remember before my first was born thinking it's a rather odd thing - sticking a body part in a baby's mouth to provide life-giving nourishment. Weirdness. I was, however, sold on the idea that God designed my body to do just that, that it really is the best option for my child, and the most frugal option for me (I am cheap, I must say.). So, I guess I could say that breastfeeding, for me, was an opportunity to respond in faith.
It took roughly a month to get the hang of it. A month of being sore, dreading the cry of this hungry infant, knowing there would be at least 30-45 minutes of stinging pain, sitting there crying while trying not to resent my child for "doing this to me". A month of calling the midwives to check that I was doing it right...a month of learning:

• It hurts, and anyone who says different is selling something. I suppose, theoretically, it's possible that for some women, it does not hurt, but everyone that I've come across, whether their first child or tenth, breastfeeding hurts a bit in the beginning. And that's normal.
• The encouragement of people who cared about me mattered, especially my husband. He would rub my back, pass me a tissue and tell me how beautiful it was. I remember feeling like I didn't much care how it looked, but having him tell me how proud he was of me and encouraging me made such a difference - I might not have kept going without it.
• Nipple shields were/are, for me, a godsend. I have used them for everyone of my children, and they have proved invaluable. I know some people are very anti-shield, but they allowed me to heal while continuing to nurse, which meant that I didn't give up. It made such a big difference - I continue to be grateful for the friend who first told me about them!

I am also grateful for a few other things - people who encourage new moms, lactation consultants who go the extra mile, the many different styles of nursing clothes and covers that mean you can nurse where you need to without disrobing in public, and even the options and flexibility that formula brings. It wasn't too long ago that if you couldn't nurse, your options were either find a wet nurse or your child would die. Few, if any, in our culture now face that decision.
A friend once told me how she felt judged because though she had tried to nurse her children, she was unable to do so and had to switch to formula. She felt the need to defend her decision or explain herself, somehow. It broke my heart to hear this, partly because I knew how much she wanted to nurse and the hoops she jumped through to try, and partly because I knew I have been guilty of judging others in a similar way. Fortunately, she gave me the opportunity to see my own sin and confess that judgemental attitude. I was humbled and grateful for how her humility served to show me my own pride.
If you're a mom who's struggling with nursing, I'd encourage you not to give up. Call a friend who's been there, call the lactation consultant, send someone to buy some nipple shields for you. Drink lots to help your production, and drink warm drinks to encourage your let-down reflex. Be prepared to learn with your baby - this is the first time he or she has done this, too. But if it's not happening, if your baby is losing too much weight, remember - you have not failed as a mother if you switch to formula. Nursing for 12 months doesn't make a good mother - loving, caring for, training, and lifting up your child to the Lord in prayer makes you a good mother.

Today:

• I woke to my favorite breakfast in bed - bacon, egg & cheese on an everything bagel
• my children did their chores and helped each other
• I watched them draw pictures, build Lego creations, play games together
• there was a harvest of cucumbers and tomatoes
• Abi mended a hole in Daddy's shirt on the sewing machine
• the girls picked up and worked on their knitting projects of their own accord
• the nappers sat attentively while I read some stories and are now quietly sleeping
• time has already been spent in the swimming pool, and more swimming is anticipated
• more school prep has been accomplished - and the laminator has been used!
• there has been bickering and consoling, conspiring and playing

This is not the end of our day, but it's so nice to periodically lift my head, look at what God has done and continues to do in our family, and say thanks. He truly has been good to me.

So, in the getting ready for baby Caleb to arrive, I noticed that some of the burp cloths/muslins we already have are beginning to look a little...well...ratty. Holes, frayed edges, stains. You know, used by five other children before.

It just so happened that I have a scrap basket that's kind of overflowing, and a Pinterest board with lots of cute ideas, so I introduced the two:

 I basically sketched a rough hourglass shape, cut out a top material, a backing material and something somewhat absorbent for in the middle (quilt batting or t-shirt material) and used my serger to put all the layers together. It was pretty easy, but I did learn that my serger doesn't cope well with deep curves - it would often miss sewing the narrow curve because I tried to turn it too sharply. It worked much better when I made the curve more gentle and long.
You know what I mean, right? Sure, clear as mud...

Anyway, the babe now has a collection of at least a half dozen of these stylish burp cloths, and he'll probably get some more as I go through my scrap basket (or if he goes through the cloths faster than I can wash them...). It's also great for my pregnancy brain and limited time to have such a simple and quickly-completable project to pick up at time allows. Suits where I'm at so very well.