Hanging out at home

Today was Friday so I was home with both Allen and Ivan. We had a wonderful day. Ever since the weather got nice and spring arrived, it's been so much easier to take care of both of them. It's been such a joy (except when they both cry and Ivan whines). We hang out on the porch. There is no need to take them to the playground or go out for a stroll. The porch and the yard do the trick. I hold and play with Allen, Mariposa scans the street below barking at every thing that requires the obligatory bark, and Ivan plays. He loves the porch and loves being in the yard.

He spent the entire morning either digging around the yard with his shovels, and performing some very elaborate engineering/artistic/chemistry experiments involving playdooh, playdooh pasta machine, sticks and brushes, water, paint. He was preoccupied the entire day.

The other week, he spent the entire day in the yard pouring water in and out of empty flower pots, and then threw fresbee around.

On Mondays and Fridays I've been home alone with both Ivan and Allen, while the other three days of the week Ivan goes to daycare so it's just Allen and myself.

Day dynamics are completely different when Ivan's at home. I tend to devote more time to him as he needs to involvment and interaction at the expense of holding Allen and "ahhing" at him. Although now as Allen's getting more "awake," he's demanding more interaction and entertainment. I hope I'm not inadvertently inflicting some sort of psychological pain. From what I hear, every mom with a toddler and an infant feels like that: guilty at not being able to devote full attention to either when taking care of both.

When Ivan's at home, I also need to pay more attention to Mariposa to make sure the interaction between the two of them doesn't turn sour. Mariposa comes to him to play and check out what he's doing and inadvertently gets in his way, so Ivan sometimes provokes her, or plays with things that scare her, or tries to scold her, etc... in any case I need to monitor their interaction. On those days, Allen tends to spend more time in his carseat, swing or bouncy chair--none of which he's crazy about--than I'd like him to.

But on Tuesdays, the first day that Ivan returns to daycare, I feel like I'm on vacation. It's just Allen and myself and we get to sleep in and lounge....