What I realized during a day of solo parenting: July 5th

😂 The price for yesterday was... a day of solo parenting!

Yesterday, I went out drinking with friends after lunch and didn't get back until after the baby was put to sleep.

So, first thing this morning, Mom said one thing to me.

"As penance for that, you're on solo parenting duty all day today! 😊"

......That's harsh!! 🤣

But since I got to take it easy yesterday, today it's definitely Dad's turn.

Since I'm at it, I think I'll record the real flow of a day in our household right now.

🌅 The morning starts at 7:00!

At 7:00 AM, the baby wakes up.

First, it's a diaper change, getting dressed, and moisturizing.

After that, it's our daily bonding exercises and tummy time 😊

Since the baby's neck has gotten stronger, we've been able to make tummy time a little longer each time.

Then, feeding.

After finishing, I hold the baby upright for about 10 minutes to burp.

The baby looked a bit sleepy, so it was time for a morning nap.

Lately, the baby doesn't go down for morning naps easily.

Today, it took about 30 minutes of patting.

Finally, the baby fell asleep on the mat 👏

Slept for about 30 minutes and woke up.

😊 Happy time is the golden time for chores

After waking up, there's about an hour of happy time ✨

During this time, Dad has breakfast.

After eating, we play together with maraca toys and crinkly fabric.

Lately, the baby has a strong habit of looking to the right, so during the day, I consciously try to talk to the baby from the left side.

When the baby is in a good mood, I also use a towel to create time spent facing left.

It's the little things every day to help keep the head shape nice 😊

😴 Putting the baby to sleep is a test of physical strength

When happy time ends, sleepiness sets in and the fussing begins.

From here on, it's the usual upright-holding squats (lol).

It took about 20 minutes, but I succeeded in putting the baby to sleep 👏

The baby slept for about an hour.

When the baby woke up, it was time for another feeding.

That's how the day just keeps moving along.

🛝 Off to Appy Azabu

In the afternoon, we went out.

Today, we went to Appy Azabu.

It's a child-rearing support facility run by Minato Ward, an indoor space where infants can play safely 😊

I've been visiting various children's centers, but this one is a big favorite.

There are two slides, so I'm sure it'll be fun once the baby gets a little bigger.

The toys and play equipment are well-stocked, and it's a nice bonus that it's close to Azabu-Juban Station.

After playing for about an hour, the baby started looking sleepy.

We changed the diaper and decided to head home.

🚼 A nap in the stroller for the first time in a while!

On the way home, something happy happened.

The baby, who had been rejecting the stroller lately, finally fell asleep in it for the first time in a while!! 👏

"Yes!"

I did a fist pump in my heart (lol).

I'd be happy if the baby starts liking the stroller again like this.

......Or so I thought.

The moment we arrived home, the baby woke up 🤣

Diaper change.

Feeding.

And then more upright-holding squats.

The baby slept for about 40 minutes.

After waking up, while the baby was playing with the Winnie the Pooh mobile, I put away the laundry, cleaned up, and prepared for tomorrow.

Happy time is truly precious 😊

🛁 Trying bath time alone too

Before I knew it, it was 5:00 PM.

The baby got a little drowsy for the night.

I spent 30 minutes putting the baby to sleep, let the baby sleep for 10 minutes, and then went straight to the bath.

Today, bath time was also solo.

Mom was watching over us, but basically, it was all Dad's responsibility.

When you're alone,

preparing the clothes,

preparing the moisturizer,

washing while thinking about your own movements...

there's really so much to do 😂

I'm truly grateful that we can do it together.

I thought that once again.

🍼 Night routine

After the bath, it's feeding time.

And the 40ml of formula is Dad's job.

Putting on the swaddle,

feeding the formula,

burping,

and putting the baby to sleep.

In about 40 minutes, the baby was safely in dreamland again today 😴

I checked the sleeping face and finally felt relieved.

After that, I made dinner, and we had some quiet time as a couple.

This time after working hard all day is truly a relief 😊

🌙 A word for today

Today started with being told, "Try doing solo parenting!"

Even though Mom was home, just being the one in charge of childcare alone was really tough.

But, because of that, I had many realizations.

Childcare takes both time and physical strength.

That's exactly why I think it's so important to decide what to prioritize in life.

Work is important, of course.

But the time I have with the baby right now is just as important.

I don't want to waste this paternity leave, and I want to cherish each and every day with my family.

It was a day that made me think about that all over again 😊

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