how do you balance everything?

Well its possible but i don't really know how i do it myself. I have a 9yr, 5yr, 2yr, 4 month old and my husband is in Iraq for the next year. Along with that we have boy scouts and bowling to do and i do a lot of volunteer work for the FRG to support our deployed soldiers, I have no family here so  have no help and i do manage. I put everything down on the calender and on my super busy days i use time frames. I think the key is organization, otherwise its just a mess! Don't get me wrong though the system can break down but its worth a try....

Ellen just turned 2yr when Viktor was born. I have been home since she was born, my husband also worked strange hours depending on the deadline of the project, he goes into over time and sometimes needs to work weekends too. Since I'm at home, I pretty much take care of everything from laundry and cooking to groceries and managing the family finances.

Here are a few tricks I've been doing to make things more smooth:

Wake up ahead - I try my best to wake up about 30min before the kids do. I'd make coffee and at the same time start preparing the children's breakfasts. That way, things will be ready when they wake up, I just need to clean, change and feed.

Prep in bulk - I like to clean, cut and pre-pack the meat I buy. Sometimes I'd even marinate the meat right after I get home, I split them into smaller sizes and seal them. It really helps cut down prep time to cook since most of the prep work is already done, just need to defrost and start cooking.

Slow cooker - I use it quite often. On days when I know it'll be busy (doctor visits, grocery shopping, etc) I use the slow cooker to make meals. I just put everything together and leave it! By dinner time, foods done and I was only in the kitchen for 20min!

Laundry can wait - Unless necessary I always leave laundry for the weekend or on husband's day off. He can entertain the kids while I'm in the luandry room.

Use my laptop - Although we have a regular PC I like to utilize the laptop a lot. Since I do all the finance and banking, I'm always online making payments, balancing the accounts, etc. I like to have the laptop because I can be in the same room with the kids, although I may not be physically playing with them I still talk to them and can watch what they are doing.

Finger Foods - For my 3yr old daughter, I try to prepare finger food meals for her during lunch time. It's easier for her to feed herself while I feed the baby.

These are great tips! My youngest is 2 but i do plan on having another in a year or so, so these are most helpful. I found that when my youngest would wake up early in the morning around 7 or so, id make myself get up and do as much as i could while the hubby and my toddler slept. Id do any dishes that needed to be done, and even if i didnt do any loads of laundry id get it ready to do whenever i could. and with the school work im in school full time now as well so i do as much school work as possible after bedtime and during nap time.

Quoting mommy_mpoon:

Ellen just turned 2yr when Viktor was born. I have been home since she was born, my husband also worked strange hours depending on the deadline of the project, he goes into over time and sometimes needs to work weekends too. Since I'm at home, I pretty much take care of everything from laundry and cooking to groceries and managing the family finances.

Here are a few tricks I've been doing to make things more smooth:

Wake up ahead - I try my best to wake up about 30min before the kids do. I'd make coffee and at the same time start preparing the children's breakfasts. That way, things will be ready when they wake up, I just need to clean, change and feed.

Prep in bulk - I like to clean, cut and pre-pack the meat I buy. Sometimes I'd even marinate the meat right after I get home, I split them into smaller sizes and seal them. It really helps cut down prep time to cook since most of the prep work is already done, just need to defrost and start cooking.

Slow cooker - I use it quite often. On days when I know it'll be busy (doctor visits, grocery shopping, etc) I use the slow cooker to make meals. I just put everything together and leave it! By dinner time, foods done and I was only in the kitchen for 20min!

Laundry can wait - Unless necessary I always leave laundry for the weekend or on husband's day off. He can entertain the kids while I'm in the luandry room.

Use my laptop - Although we have a regular PC I like to utilize the laptop a lot. Since I do all the finance and banking, I'm always online making payments, balancing the accounts, etc. I like to have the laptop because I can be in the same room with the kids, although I may not be physically playing with them I still talk to them and can watch what they are doing.

Finger Foods - For my 3yr old daughter, I try to prepare finger food meals for her during lunch time. It's easier for her to feed herself while I feed the baby.

 bump

I have a four month old at home as well as a three yr old.  Since your newest addition is only two weeks old, please try and relax!  I know it doesn't seem like it right now, I promise your new family of four will fall into a routine together eventually, but just know that it won't happen overnight.  Trust me. 

I had a routine for Maternity Leave, which changed when I went back to work after 8 weeks of staying home.  Which will change again once my youngest starts sleeping through the night, etc!  The best thing you could do for your whole family is not to try and be superwoman right now.  Let others help you, allow some clutter here and there, get take out, the whole nine. 

Oh, and by the way.....Congratulations!

The only reason I get anything done is thanks to my mother and my wonderful sister-in-law that babysits.  I work 35 to 40 hours a week, mix of day and afternoon because I work retail.  My sister in law babysits at my house during the week.  She does dishes and straightens the house somewhat.  I mainly have to cook and do laundry.  My mother usually wants to have the baby for a while on Saturdays so my husband still gets some break.  He usually works 10 hour days during the week.  I don't think I could handle doing it all.

I do what I can before my son wake up every morning, after that I check and cover all his necessities like diaper, food, time, love and others when he take he's first nap during the day I manage to clean and do house stuff, after that his all my son's time again, during he's second nap I make food and check my other chores or appointments for the day, after that I pick up my DD to school and receive hubby from work and is family time. When my kids sleep I do laundry and prepare everything just in case I have to go out the next day. And last I fool around with hubby hahahahaha we have our TIME alone.