Getting back into routine

The other week I read through Clutterpunk's account of her weekly routine of walks, libraries, friend and adventures with her two boys. I saw the life I imagined I'd have during the two years I planned to take away from work after Jack's birth. We'd go watch road works, talk to friendly puppy dogs and I'd lose all my pregnancy weight. Instead I was irresistibly drawn into turning my dressmaking business into a craft business, and Jack grew up in the sewing room.

I realised yesterday the effect the last six or seven weeks of pregnancy have had on both me and Jack. I've been too exhausted (and busy with Olive Grove and Northside Makers Markets) to take him to the playground regularly or to resist when he wants to watch tv. I sew two to five hours a day, six or seven days a week, and if I'm sewing and Jack's not napping the tv is on at the opposite end of the house. He doesn't necessarily watch it - I often discover him sitting on our bed chewing my jewellery or taking all the precious DVDs out of their cases - but if the telly's not on he whines and tantrums. It's been so much easier to simply let him watch it. I've been thinking of getting a little tv/DVD unit for the sewing room so we can at least be in the same part of the house.

If you can't see, Jack's holding a remote in each hand.
You can tell this is an old photo because my laptop was still alive!

But now that I'm officially into second trimester it's as if my energy switch has been flicked back on. Instead of lamenting the fact that when I'm not in the sewing room I'm on the internet, I'm taking back control and curbing both our addictions to the screen. It's a little unfair on Jack, who gets no say in what will be a drastic change of routine (or rather, 'a routine'), but should make both of us happier.

7am .......... Up, nappy, bottle, breakfast, teeth
7:45am ..... Books & trucks
8am .......... Shower; computer for me & telly for Jack
9am .......... Park
9:30am ..... Morning tea & play in the sewing room while I work
11am ......... Nap for Jack, serious work for me
1pm .......... Lunch for toddler, pregnant woman had hers around 11:30
1:30pm .... Telly & email
2pm .......... Sewing room & afternoon bottle
3:30pm ..... Walk, afternoon tea
4:15pm ..... Hubby/Dad's home and I can collapse

This is a big change from the computer going on at 7am and being kept in sleep mode all day so I can check my email/Facebook/Google Reader every time the mood strikes me, usually hourly. I am going to try to keep the computer off as a default. For those who don't have personal internet access during the day an hour and a half may seem incredibly indulgent. Even I am a little embarrassed that this is my new internet 'diet'. But the fact that I plan to leave the house not once but twice a day, and possibly spend 45 minutes exercising, is a huge change. Of course it's normal to put on weight during pregnancy but I gained *gulp* 20kg last time and only lost 17kg in the 15 months between Jack's birth and starting over again. If I can gain only 17kg or less this time I'll be proud of myself.

It's just gone 9am. I'd love to go use up my accumulated health points on my new online addiction, Treasure Madness, but it would be poor form to break my new routine after only two hours. So goodbye internet, I'm headed for the playground.