I ended up taking three <i>months</i> off (after thinking it might only need a couple of weeks!) and even then it was hard work getting a good schedule back due to everything that needed doing. Having a baby is hard work, especially when you take on an equal share of the work (or more in the first six weeks for me - the wife had to have a C section and all housework/transport/carrying baby about was my pleasure).<p>As a work-at-home type, it was only after about four months that things clicked into place. I work till about 7am dealing with the baby's feeds/changes overnight (only one of these now at 9 months, but it used to be 2 - 3 times) then sleep till early afternoon.
New parentage and development are a rough combination. I'm on #3 and while the routine is more familiar, the workload increases almost exponentially with each new one, especially when they're spaced close (<18 months apart) together. It will improve, but the OP's ruthless time management tips will serve him and any new parent well.