How do you organize your baby's routine?

I'm really wondering how all of you moms out there stay organized. It's weird. You see, I seem organized, but I'm actually terribly disorganized. For example, when I was in grade school, I would always run out of hot water in the shower. Like every time! So finally my mom suggested that I go about showering in an organized fashion. You know, wash your hair first thing, then wash your body, then get out. It was a complete revelation to me. Do you realize that before she clued me in, I was just hanging out in there looking around, singing, dancing and enjoying the warm water? By the time I thought to wash, the water was already running cold. Unbelievable!

Now, I feel the same way as a mother. I'm just enjoying my little baby, hanging out with her on the grass by the lake, loving her to pieces, and instead of running out of hot water, I run out of time. Like everyday! So I want to hear all about it moms: How do you organize mealtimes, bedtimes, shopping, cleaning, cooking, and so on? 

Chez nous, things just seem to get worse. One problem is that I like to cook. Over the past few days we've eaten dinner at later and later times. Tonight was the last straw. J got home late from skiing, completely exhausted. Coco wouldn't go down. Finally, I ended up eating the most beautiful, puffy, gorgeous soufflé I've ever seen in all my life, all alone. At 10 pm. Oh dear! :( So clearly something has to change here.

But first let's talk about the soufflé.

The soufflé not only looked good, it was absolutely delicious. Of course I had planned to have it ready when J got home at 8:30. But then, between Coco's fussing and trying to put her to bed several times and other interruptions, it ended up taking several hours to make. I enjoyed it nonetheless. After all, only truly wonderful things start with shallots and that much butter.

Murphy's Law, the only law that seems to govern my life these days, was in full effect and everything came together effortlessly given that no one was watching (or even eating it) besides me. When I opened the oven to take it out, I was awestruck. Now, let me just add here that this was my very first soufflé. I'm proud of it, even if it was a complete fail in every other way.

So back to the routine problem. How do you moms do it? If I'm honest, I find the whole issue of routines repulsive. Naturally, this is part of the problem. And it is absolutely ridiculous because as a Montessori teacher, I know how important structure and routines are for children, and everyone! Yet somehow, it feels like imposing structure on my life at home defeats the whole purpose of freedom. Tonight's soufflé incident got my attention, however, and if structure means I get to eat dinner with my husband and go to bed at a reasonable hour, I'm in. 

Please help! I need your tips, tricks and favorite book recommendations, pronto! Otherwise J will keep going to bed hungry, I'll continue eating alone and Coco will grow up in chaos and have dark circles under her eyes. And we can't have that! ;)

Thank you for chiming in on this one! I really can't wait to hear your thoughts. xo