Me My Life

A Day in the Life

Several people have asked me about my daily life on formspring (a site that allows people to ask questions anonymously). They want to know how I fit in my work, if I have any help, when I find time to keep my house in some semblance of order, etcetera. Last week, I took photographs throughout the day so that I could share a day in my life with you.

My Day: March 24, 2010

6:00 – Good morning! Eleanor’s up, so I am too. I change her diaper and nurse her, then put her in the exersaucer to play while I shower. Once I’m out, I let her crawl around and play while I finish getting ready.

7:30 – We wake up Brandon, then Eleanor and I head downstairs for breakfast.

A Day in the Life

8:30 – Brandon leaves for work.

A Day in the Life

9:00 – My assistant Erika is here from 9-12 three days a week. She helps me with my shop (Pink Loves Brown), but she also watches Eleanor when there aren’t a lot of orders to fill.

A Day in the Life

9:05 – I take Eleanor upstairs to get her dressed, nurse her, and put her down for a nap.

A Day in the Life

9:30 – I work. I write blog posts, respond to emails, edit photos, do shop maintenance… whatever needs to be done that day. Today I began writing a new post and also setup a little photo shoot for it.

A Day in the Life

10:30 – Eleanor is up from her nap. Today Erika has finished everything for the shop so she hangs out with Eleanor for me so I can continue working.

A Day in the Life

11:00 – Lunch for Eleanor.

12:00 – Erika’s done for the day. I nurse Eleanor, then it’s lunchtime for me.

12:30 – It’s not too bad out, so it’s time for a little walk!

2:00 – I nurse Eleanor again and she takes a second nap. I finally finish the post I had been working on (“Thinking About Food”) and publish it.

Thinking About Food

2:45 – She’s up. Not the longest nap, but not bad. I’m just happy she took one at all — she often skips the second nap. Now we play. And cuddle. And read books.

A Day in the Life

4:00 – I nurse Eleanor again.

4:30 – I’m feeling productive so I try to fit in a little tidying up. I don’t get around to everything though, including the basket of laundry that has been in the living room for the past few days.

A Day in the Life

5:15 – Brandon’s home!

A Day in the Life

5:30 – We start preparing dinner together. We’re making falafel from a recipe in a magazine which claims to be ready in 20 minutes. It always takes us an hour.

A Day in the Life

6:00 – Eleanor gets dinner. We’re still making ours.

6:45 – Well that took even longer than expected. We finally get to eat.

A Day in the Life

7:00 – Brandon and I take Eleanor up to bed. We change her, she nurses (again), and then she goes to sleep for the night.

7:20 – I change into pajamas, wash my face, and brush my teeth. I started getting ready so early a few months ago because I would put Eleanor down, get ready, and then go in to check on her and make sure she fell asleep. Now she goes to sleep without any problems, so I could probably start pushing this part of my day back, but it’s kind of nice to relax in my pajamas!

A Day in the Life

7:30 – I put that basket of laundry away that was on the chair downstairs.

7:45 – Brandon and I looked at a few jackets for him online and he reminded me that I needed to get back to someone via email. Back to work for a while.

9:00 – I’m sleepy! No, I can stay up a little longer. *yawn* I’ve finished up my work, so Brandon and I hang out on the couch, watching TV and chatting. I had to move someone out of my seat.

A Day in the Life

10:15 – OK, now we’re both sleepy. Good night!

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  • Dallas Landrum
    March 31, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    Sounds like a full day!
    Those 20 minute recipes always taunt me, I can never prepare them as quickly as they say I should.
    Eleanor’s schedule of naps and feedings sounds oddly identical to my son’s.

  • Kate at Centsational Girl
    March 31, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    What a lovely peek at your life, thanks so much for sharing ! And yes, nursing round the clock takes time but she’s worth it! Great insight into your sweet life !

  • Joi
    March 31, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    Thanks for sharing! Your E is a doll!

  • Lisa
    March 31, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    Very inspiring! I have a baby too (9 months) and a remarkably similar schedule but I am jealous of the time you get with your husband.

  • beth
    March 31, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    OMG….. your cats. So cute. I have a fluffy black & white longhair too. There’s something about that combo that I’ve always loved. And, of course, Eleanor is also adorable.

  • Lisa
    March 31, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    Forgot why I was commenting which is that I wanted to know how you take acre of all your animals and still keep the house nice.

  • nicole
    March 31, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    thanks for sharing your day.

  • robin
    March 31, 2010 at 11:09 pm

    so cute… kinda makes me want to make one for our day too. just for fun :o)

    • Making it Lovely
      March 31, 2010 at 11:12 pm

      Do it! It’s really nice to have a whole day’s worth of photos. I have a million more that I took that I didn’t post here, but I like looking at them all. :)

  • Elizabeth
    March 31, 2010 at 11:23 pm

    Having naps really makes things easier… my kids LOVE that book “Are You My MOther?” But we have it in spanish. Its the cutest little book and so is Eleanor!

  • Sara@AugustFields
    March 31, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    what a fun post! it is amazing to SEE what can actually get accomplished in one day :) you are a good mama!

  • Audrie
    March 31, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    The waking up at 6am thing blows my mind hehe Lovely to have a peek into your daily life :)

    • Making it Lovely
      March 31, 2010 at 11:55 pm

      I know. It’s not by choice! And now here it is midnight… I have to go to sleep so that I can hopefully get about six hours in. Maybe tomorrow I’ll fit in a nap when Eleanor takes hers. ;)

  • EvY
    April 1, 2010 at 12:21 am

    I counted six nurses. And when you mean lunch and dinner for the wee one, does that mean real food or nursing as well? ‘Cause that would take the tally up to eight. I’m glad you shared the tally, it makes it realistic what a mommy does to feed her baby.

    • Making it Lovely
      April 1, 2010 at 8:33 am

      She nurses six times a day (seven if she wakes in the middle of the night). She eats “real” food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

  • dana
    April 1, 2010 at 12:24 am

    Thank you so much for giving us a peak – the photos are spectacular! I love the colour and light in your home and the crispness in the photographs – gorgeous – and something lovely for Eleanor to look back on in a few years!

  • Amy
    April 1, 2010 at 12:27 am

    First – love the look behind the scenes. Second – that picture of you and Eleanor is ADORABLE, and I *love* your hair!!

  • Emily
    April 1, 2010 at 12:30 am

    Eleanor is so cute! I love that little dress. :) Thanks for sharing a day in your life. Oh and twenty minute recipes never take me twenty minutes either unless it’s just throwing things in a crockpot.

  • hayley blease
    April 1, 2010 at 12:43 am

    love it….. busy day, but fun and how could it not be with miss adorable Eleanor by your side all day! My washing sits in my lounge room for days too. So glad I am not the only one that dances around it with my 2 children!

  • Dana @ House*Tweaking
    April 1, 2010 at 12:59 am

    What a lovely diary of your day! Is that your new kitchen wall color I spy? If so, I love it and want to know what it is!

    • Making it Lovely
      April 1, 2010 at 8:35 am

      Nope, same color still (Benjamin Moore’s Bronzed Beige). It’s just hard to get the color balance right in the kitchen because we have flourescent bulbs. Usually I take photographs without the light on, but because we were just snapping away we didn’t do the whole room staging/lighting thing.

  • Jujube
    April 1, 2010 at 1:38 am

    Thanks for your post.
    Woo, you have a busy day but definitely fun and loving :)

  • mrsjling
    April 1, 2010 at 1:47 am

    Great post! Keepin it real huh? Thanks for sharing that. Lovet it.

  • paty fontes
    April 1, 2010 at 2:04 am

    It was great! I am afraid to post my schedule… completely crazy! Is Elenor waking up during the night?Barbara is, not so funny. So our schedule right now is crazy crazy crazy!!!!

  • Jean
    April 1, 2010 at 2:10 am

    My son is almost four, but reading your daily schedule brought back so many memories of life with an infant. Enjoy Eleanor’s naps now; you’ll be amazed at how quickly she decides to give them up.

    Your first photo reminded me how much I adore your red hair. I’m a natural redhead, but my color isn’t nearly as fun as yours. If I weren’t trying to pinch pennies right now, you’d undoubtedly inspire me to color my hair to be a bit more vibrant. Are you getting good feedback from people you meet?

    • Making it Lovely
      April 1, 2010 at 8:36 am

      People seem to like the red hair! I have to go back in and get it colored again though – it has faded a lot from where it was initially.

      • Alana
        April 1, 2010 at 9:31 am

        FYI, from a “former redhead”. There are shampoos out there that replace a little of the red pigment when you wash, and slow down the fading. Paul Mitchell makes a good one.

  • Joy_UK
    April 1, 2010 at 3:43 am

    Wow I love this post!

    What a lovely day :)
    Eleanor is such a cutie and you always look impecable even at home. How is that possible? hahaha
    One of my fave bits was the pic of you in your pjs! LOVE the red toenails btw, lush lush lush!

    You should def post more pics of your day for us :)

    Hugs xxx

  • sharon
    April 1, 2010 at 5:02 am

    fun look at your day:) what a lovely “job” nursing is and how nice to be able to stay home and fit it in with your other job – i have been so thankful to stay home with my kids, make art, do what i enjoy and not miss out on time with them!

  • Ulrike
    April 1, 2010 at 5:41 am

    So wonderful to read your nursing eleven months old
    Eleanor! What a beautiful girl!
    I know that nursings from my three (now grown-up)
    children. They remember it, too. And soon, when they
    will be parents by themselves, they will do it like
    I did it. Isn’t it wonderful! Congratulations! Here
    in Germany only the best nurse until first birthday
    or longer.

    Best wishes! I love your blog.
    Ulrike (La Leche League Leader, lecturer/scientist
    and mother of three, 43 years old)

  • Laura Gaskill
    April 1, 2010 at 6:49 am

    What a lovely post, Nicole – this is giving me a preview of what my own day will look like in just a few more months when my little one is born!

    P.S., I love Brandon’s floral tie!

  • Katie @ goodLife {eats}
    April 1, 2010 at 7:31 am

    This post really makes me miss the simplicity of life with only 2 child! It probably doesn’t feel simple to you and it didn’t feel simple to me at the time I was in that position, but now with a 2 1/2 yr old and a 5 yr old my days are so busy! I get up at 5:30 every day just so I can have some “me” time before my kids get up.

  • Laurie Jones
    April 1, 2010 at 7:34 am

    I love getting a glimpse of people’s lives, I’m a big biography fan and nerd and have always said I’d love for them to do shows on people that aren’t movie or rock starts, etc., it seems that everyone has a story to tell! Loving your new hair, am blown away at how fast Eleanor is growing up and I too really loved your husband’s tie!! Super fun read!

  • Emily
    April 1, 2010 at 7:45 am

    What a lovely post about your daily life. It looks like sucha a fun life you have. I have to say I love the pictures that have your kitty cats in them. I just lost my cat this weekend and love seeing pictures of happy healthy kitties. Thank you for sharing your home and a little bit of your life.

  • Kalee
    April 1, 2010 at 8:20 am

    I love this look into your life! And Eleanor sleeping is so sweet.

  • RisaJ
    April 1, 2010 at 8:54 am

    it was fun reading about your day…E is so super cute.
    the rug (in the picture with your pj’s), where did you get it from? i love that rug…

  • Nicole
    April 1, 2010 at 8:57 am

    Fun account of your day!

  • Tamara
    April 1, 2010 at 8:57 am

    Thanks for sharing. Your baby is sooo cute and I love your hairstyle!

  • kelly
    April 1, 2010 at 8:59 am

    your hair is really pretty, i love that color! eleanor is so adorable too! you really seem to have a nice schedule going on. those supposedly quick 20 minute meals always seem to take me a longer time too! i think they lie!

  • Amy Kelly
    April 1, 2010 at 8:59 am

    Thank you for the little peek into your day! It’s inspiring to see how productive you can be with a little one.

    I absolutely adore the little green flowers you have on your kitchen counter. I can’t tell–is it a potted plant or a vase? The pot/vase is such an interesting shape, I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

    • Making it Lovely
      April 1, 2010 at 9:14 am

      They’re flowers in a vase from west elm that I bought several years ago.

    • Robin
      April 1, 2010 at 10:19 am

      Those look like green button mums – that is such a pretty setup by the sink! I am inspired to do something to mine so dishes are perhaps less of a chore. Thanks for the look into your lovely home!

  • Nicole
    April 1, 2010 at 9:01 am

    Nice rug by your wardrobe! Where is it from??

  • Marla
    April 1, 2010 at 9:03 am

    Tell me about the adorable rug/floor mat in your kitchen. All the nursing reminded me of the good old days when my girls were little. Enjoy. It will be over in the blink of an eye and you’ll be buying women’s size 9 shoes for your eleven year old.

  • Leslie
    April 1, 2010 at 9:05 am

    Great post and fun idea! Thanks for sharing!

  • jodi
    April 1, 2010 at 9:20 am

    super fun post!

  • Jessie
    April 1, 2010 at 9:26 am

    My son is exactly the same age as your daughter.. to the day, so it’s fun to see what E is up to and compare notes. Is she sleeping through the night? My son isn’t (so I’m not trying to judge)…

    • Making it Lovely
      April 1, 2010 at 9:54 am

      Eleanor usually sleeps through the night, but sometimes she regresses and wakes up every night for a few days.

  • Alana
    April 1, 2010 at 9:27 am

    I am so impressed at how organized you are. You’ve worked out a really nice work/life balance. And your career has worked out so well for your daughter. Very cool! May the blessings continue. :)

    I always feel a little like the Broom Hilda cartoon character, like there should be a poof of hairpins behind me wherever I’m going.

  • Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife
    April 1, 2010 at 9:48 am

    This is an unbelievably fun post. It’s inspiring to see how other working moms balance their time and keep a schedule!

    Thanks for “spending the day” with us! = )

  • Rebecca
    April 1, 2010 at 10:01 am

    I have to admit I read your blog everyday and when I miss a day you can bet I go back and read through every blog I missed, normally I’m one of those silent blog readers but today I noticed that on your fridge in the very first picture there’s a little egg timer! I squealed with delight a little bit because I’m pretty sure it’s the same one I have that I picked up at Pier 1 a few weeks ago except mine doesn’t seem to work and for now is a for looks only thing so I was wondering; does yours work?! Or am I doomed to have a very cute non-useful egg timer?

    • Making it Lovely
      April 1, 2010 at 11:37 am

      Ours came from Anthropologie, but it doesn’t work either! We leave it on the fridge because Eleanor loves to play with it.

  • Samae
    April 1, 2010 at 10:31 am

    E is adorable! I need me some super cute polka dot PJs. Too cute. Thanks for posting!

  • Erika
    April 1, 2010 at 10:34 am

    Thanks for the little peek into your life…I’m always interested by other people’s schedules! Eleanor is a doll! Glad you threw in some pics of the kitties, as well :)

  • Alana
    April 1, 2010 at 10:44 am

    How do you keep you house so hair free with two fluffy cats. We have a dog and a cat and it is always a struggle for us!

    • Making it Lovely
      April 1, 2010 at 11:40 am

      Actually, we have three cats! Plus the dog. ;)

  • Grace
    April 1, 2010 at 11:21 am

    This is a very sweet post. I really enjoyed it.

  • luuve
    April 1, 2010 at 11:24 am

    so nice to see! enjoy being a wonderful mother!

  • Mrs Soup
    April 1, 2010 at 11:30 am

    So inspiring…if you can do it, so can I! Here’s to getting my house to look as lovely as yours and keep it that way!

  • jbhat
    April 1, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    I LOVE a good day-in-the-life post. Be sure to do one for Eleanor on her birthday. On our kiddo’s birthday, we do all his favorite things–favorite foods, outings, clothes…and take pictures along the way. Fun to look back on, and to see how his interests have changed.

    jbhat

  • Cardboard
    April 1, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    I can’t believe you brush your teeth at 7:20. I can’t even imagine it! I’m not even home from work at that time. Ever. And yes, I’m totally jealous.

  • Alisa
    April 1, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    This was such a great post! Your life seems well-organized, peaceful & idyllic. I would have liked to see a photo or two from your & E’s little walk-adventure outdoors.

  • Julie
    April 1, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    That first picture of you is stunning! Best of you I’ve ever seen. I have a 10 month old son so it is really fun to see how your days pass as compared to mine. Thanks.

  • Nuit
    April 1, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    This post was so fun!! thank you for sharing!!! I love Eleanor’s smile, so adorable! xo

  • Tra Knox
    April 1, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    Beautiful! Thanks for sharing your day with us! Always,always and inspiration!! x

  • Licia
    April 1, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    I love this post. Thank you for sharing your day with us. I loved seeing how your home is throughout the day!

  • Lisamarie
    April 1, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    I am trying to decorate my recently purchased condo and always come to your blog for ideas! I love the containers you have on your kitchen counter with fruit painted on them and a little bird on top! Can you please advise where you purchased them? Thank you in advance!

  • Tamsin
    April 1, 2010 at 3:18 pm

    it’s always wonderful to be able to peek in someone’s life that you follow on the web, it makes it seem more personable… so thank you for that…
    i have a quick question (you might have already done it), i was going through some of your older blogs and saw your kitchen curtains that you hand made and is being held with a tension rod…well i wanted to see if you can find time to do a step by step on how to make those beautiful ribbon curtains… i am in need of the exact thing for our kitchen curtains…. thanks for any help you can give…

  • lucy
    April 1, 2010 at 3:45 pm

    your hair is so awesome. i actually love the faded color.

  • Kristi @ Visible Voice
    April 1, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    That was super fun. And this is why I love peeks into peoples lives. It’s the day to day that I always wonder how people do things. Really fun to see.

  • Sarah
    April 1, 2010 at 5:33 pm

    Sounds like a full day! I love your blog. Random question…I saw your picts of your adorable nursery. Where did you find the pink toy basket? I am looking for something similar for the nursery I am currently putting together. Baby girl due in May!

  • Jenna
    April 1, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    I love this post. I am always interested in how others spend their day. Also, you are gorgeous and I love your hair. I want the cut.

  • jessica
    April 1, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    Thanks for the peek!

    20 minute recipes are a scam, I swear. As are the (infamous) 30-minute meals. I’m pretty sure they’re only 30 minutes if you have about 6 go-go-gadget arms.

  • Natalie
    April 1, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    Thank you for sharing your day with us!

    What a blessing to be able to stay at home with your little girl.

    Hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend! :)

  • Pencils
    April 1, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    You left out: 6am, changed wet diaper. 8am, changed diaper. 9am, changed dirty diaper. Etc. ;)

    Sounds like a nice day. Must be wonderful to be able to stay home with your sweet little girl and also run a business.

  • Tatyana
    April 1, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    Thanks for sharing your day with us. I’m a little jealous (in a good way) that you get to work from home and spend time with your girl as well as get help…but I’m sure it’s not all as easy as I imagine it.
    I just love your hair and your husband’s tie – where did you/he get it?
    As for the 20-min meals: I think they count the time if you have all the ingredients chopped up and measured (like they show on the cooking shows)… but who has all that stuff prepared and ready aside from the cooking shows?

  • Haley
    April 2, 2010 at 2:25 am

    Great pictures! I love the more toned down strawberry blonde your hair is now, it really suits you.

    I love that zig zag rug so much that I had to buy the same one!

  • peggy
    April 2, 2010 at 3:00 am

    I like this post. You have a very wonderful life. Imagine if you had to sit in a cubicle for eight hours (like I used to). It’s death. You really don’t work all that many hours, so you must be working smartly. I envy you that.

    I am always amazed that you look so chic and put together. Since I’ve been working from home, I look like a slob. I’m going to change that though. Makeup really makes me feel better. I’d been wondering how it was that you always had pretty makeup clothes and your hair done. I see it’s because you have three hours before you start work. I had trouble putting on makeup when I was in an office because I always had to rush out the door. It doesn’t seem that you are rushing at all. It’s not that your day is not full, it just doesn’t seem chaotic. This is a much healthier lifestyle, we could all learn from.

    The other thing I am always wondering about is the source of your happiness. You always seem so happy. I admire that. Do you think your life is going so well (great career, home, husband, etc.) because you are happy? Or are you happy because you have such a great life? I’m just wondering, have you always been a naturally happy person?

    Thanks so much for sharing. I really enjoyed this post.

  • Jenny
    April 2, 2010 at 8:11 am

    What a cute picture of you and Eleanor! And I really like your hair color in that one, much better than the bright orange actually.

  • Amanda
    April 2, 2010 at 11:16 am

    This is such a cute post.

    I’m definitely with Jenny on this one, I enjoy and thinks your hair (in the first picture) suits you so much better then (say in your “about me” picture) it definitely looks to be more natural.

  • Amanda
    April 2, 2010 at 11:25 am

    OH by the way, where on earth did you get those adorable pajamas?

  • Brandy Bell
    April 2, 2010 at 11:59 am

    Sounds like a lovely and productive day. I’m jealous of how much Eleanor gets to sleep. How come grown-ups don’t get naps?

  • A Merry Mishap
    April 2, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    Wow, I have got to get myself and Israel on a better schedule! 6 am? How early?!

  • Kenziepoo
    April 2, 2010 at 1:07 pm

    Inspiring! Thanks for sharing your daily schedule with us!

  • Aaron Greenwood [female]
    April 2, 2010 at 3:28 pm

    I think that was such a neat thing to see. I also think it would be lovely if you featured a day in the life regularly of other multi-tasking mommies :)

  • dv
    April 2, 2010 at 3:39 pm

    thanks for sharing this =) your hair looks like it’s getting lighter (almost blondish). is it the lighting? or did you lighten it?

  • Emily Barefoot
    April 2, 2010 at 4:57 pm

    If you go back to brown hair I might have to quit reading your blog. You are a fly mamacita with that red hair!! I love the fade too.
    Get it girl!!

  • Seleta
    April 2, 2010 at 9:11 pm

    This was impressive. I could learn to be much more efficient from you. Sounds like you might be a virgo. ;-)

  • Mary Jo
    April 2, 2010 at 10:10 pm

    this sounds like my life! minus the cool business…i’m taking pictures of my little one which are similiar to your monthly ones of E. have you thought how you’re going to compile them at the end of the month?

  • Erin
    April 2, 2010 at 11:37 pm

    Okay, I’m seriously jealous! My son took 45 min to nurse and did so every 2 hours- so I’d only have 1 & 15 minutes or so between feedings- and that lasted until he was almost 10 months old! And he didn’t sleep more than a 3 hour stretch at night until he was 17 months old. Ugh! I love him to bits and bits but would have loved to have gotten him on a schedule like yours. I would have been a much happier mommy that first year! You are so inspiring!

  • Amber
    April 3, 2010 at 3:14 pm

    I so miss the business of raising children. Exhausted but fulfilled, there is nothing like it. Savor this, it ends far too soon.
    Now I am sure you are a fabulous cook, but girl you have got to eat real tomatoes. From the garden, vine ripe, red and juicy, the ones that smell of sunshine.

  • justme
    April 3, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    I just love your blog- this was great!

  • Christina
    April 4, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    Hiya…

    I just want to say how proud I am of you for nursing. I know, I know, not much from an anonymous stranger. I nursed my son till he was 18 months, and I cried when the final day came. If you can get through the tough times, it is so rewarding. I feel like it’s a dying art and I resent the cow powder companies. I know it’s for people who have trouble latching on, but I sometimes think people are just lazy.

    Here’s a useful tidbit: I always knew nursing would be good for developing baby’s allergies, but I found out at teacher training (about the brain) that every time mum kisses baby or touches them, they pick up the germs that are on baby, then the mum’s antibodies are tailor-made for baby’s germs and put in the breast milk. I thought it was interesting and I hope you do too.

    I know it can be tough, but it looks like you have a fabulous life and are very lucky. I know we’re glad you can be a mum and keep feeding US stylish posts. Wow – timetabling your shower. I wish I had done that… built it into routine. I was a zombie and barely took care of myself. But you are much more organized than I’ll ever be.

    You’re a supermum!
    Take care…. Christina

  • Dani
    April 4, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    Hi! I have a suggestion for Eleanor not taking her second nap…..I have two kids who were EXCELLENT sleepers and when each of them stopped taking their afternoon nap I decided to try to move them to a one nap a day schedule. It took about a week but that seemed to be what needed. I just kept moving there early nap up by 30 minutes. Eventually, rather than taking two short naps they took one long nap. It was great! They slept for about 3 hours (11-2) and I got so much work done!

  • Desiree Fawn
    April 5, 2010 at 12:14 am

    Awe, so fun! I love this little glimpse into your life!

  • Anja
    April 5, 2010 at 5:55 am

    hey- your hair changed to orange. I like it.
    And Eleanor´s eyes are exactly like yours! So cute!

    So you enjoyed taking pictures throughout the day? You can have it every month. Do you know 12 of 12? Take a look:

    http://chaddarnell.typepad.com/runchadrun2/12_of_12/

    and there are some lovely ladies in Germany take part every month:

    http://www2.blenza.com/linkies/links.php?owner=CaroJoTh&postid=12Mar2010

    Sometimes it´s funny, sometimes it´s beautiful, sometimes boring- just like days sometimes are.

  • Brooke
    April 5, 2010 at 11:30 am

    I love this post… your family is so cute!

  • Frances
    April 5, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    Hmm..Erika may have the best job ever!

  • Piper
    April 5, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    I loved reading this post! It was so cool to get a peek inside a day in your life…what a great idea, I think I may need to do this :) It would be cool to record a day via pictures. btw, eleanor is such a cutie!! and your house looks great with the fact that you’re home and have a baby! i wish i had an excuse :)

  • Sylvia
    April 6, 2010 at 7:01 am

    This is such a cute post! I never comment but I just had this overwhelming need to add to the showers of praise with my own inane comment. :)

  • sarah
    April 6, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    Nicole,

    This was an interesting post, it was fun to hear about a day for a Mom that owns her own biz, does it from home and still has to take care of a child. Thanks for sharing.

  • cristina
    April 7, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    wow!!! bellissima !!! mamma e figlia stupende !!!

    cristina

  • Kristen
    April 11, 2010 at 8:44 pm

    I enjoyed reading your post! I noticed the 2 books you have in one of your photos. Did you get to read them and if so, how were they? Right now I’m reading “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer. Maybe you’d like it. I’ve heard a lot of great things about it. Thanks for all your wonderful blog entries! Eleanor is beautiful by the way.

  • Joy
    April 13, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    Thanks for sharing this! My little lady is 10 months old and still nurses about every two hours during the day, it’s nice to see that I’m not alone.

  • Megan
    April 14, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    It’s so nice seeing someone else who is nursing! My daughter is 10 months and she nurses so often during the day too! Hope it continues to go well for you!

  • Ashpea
    April 17, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    Best post! I love learning about the average day of people, especially those who look like they have it all put together!

  • Anna
    April 18, 2010 at 11:57 pm

    I love your “new” hair Nicole. It really suits you. Thanks for sharing your day with us. My 11 month old nurses frequently too (including at night still)…it is nice to know that this is normal from a mum who doesn’t pretend. :) Thank you.

  • The Editor’s April Favorites « TodaysMama
    May 1, 2010 at 2:18 pm

    […] A Day in the Life from Nicole Balch of Making It Lovely. We share similar schedules…only she looks super fab. Me – not so much. Comforting nonetheless. […]

  • Mandy
    May 4, 2010 at 9:40 pm

    Are You My Mother? was my favorite book when I was little. :) Eleanor is adorable! What fun, special times she gets to have with you!