Routine. Schedule. Maintain. Just some of the words I hear as a mom, on a regular basis. The three words I have loathed for nearly the whole of my daughter's life. I am not one for routines, it is nice to maintain variety and change, not routine. My daughter was nearly one year old by the time I finally grew to be more open to maintaining a schedule and it has proven to be very helpful. My excuse before routines entered our lives? "I can't make her tired, or hungry or want to go to sleep." Finally, after my stubborn self decided to try this "routine" thing moms are always talking about, she sleeps and eats pretty regularly now: 6:00 am: Wake up 6:30 am: Eat breakfast 7:45 am: Drop her off with her grandparents; at some point, she eats another meal 9:00 am: It's nap time! 12:00 pm: Time to get my love bug from grandparents 12:30pm -1:00 pm: she eats another meal 3:00pm - 4:00 pm: Nap time again! 5:00pm - 6:00 pm: It's dinner time! ...