Date: 9.28.06
From: Laura S.
Subject: Sleep Post
To: Mary PSooo... how's the next installment of the sleep series coming along?
Now why's she sending me that? It's only... SHIT! It's THURSDAY! How'd it get to be THURSDAY already? The baby in my arms jumps a bit. Oops. Did I say that out loud? No, I just jumped. It's not easy to read your email with a baby in your arms, but it's possible. Anna has been in my care three days so far. She's a little uncertain just yet. Needs a lot of comfort and reassurance. Only to be expected.
"Shhhh, sweetie, it's okay." Mary only thought "shit", she didn't say it. "Shhhh."
But I really do need to pull together that post. Okay. Topic, modified CIO. That means I'll need Weissbluth, Ferber... and maybe that new Douglas book I've found so sensible and even-handed. Let's see...if they're in the shelves in the living room, I can at least bookmark the bits I might use. If they're in the basement, it'll have to wait till nap time.
But they're probably in the -- "Timmy! Timmy honey, the kitty doesn't like it when -- Timmy, let go of -- Okay, baby Anna, I'm just going to set you down now, so I can rescue the kit--"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
"It's okay, Anna. I'm just going to help the kitty. Poor kitty. How's your tail? How about we put you in the kitchen, safe on the other side of the babyga--"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
"It's okay, Anna, I'm just going to the kitchen for a sec." Kitten deposited in the kitchen with a ball of tin foil, I return to the baby, who is still--
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
"Hey! Weissbluth and Ferber are BOTH in the living room! What are the odds of that?" It's not easy to check the bottom shelf of the bookshelves with a baby on your hip, but it's possible.
Baby Anna makes a grab for the books. I'm way too skilled. She misses.
"Weissbluth and Ferber, and... where is Douglas?" It's no simple matter to rummage through piles of books with one hand and a baby on your hip, but it's possible. The Douglas book isn't there, though. Nuts.
"Mah-wee!" Nigel tugs on my leg. "Gotsa kitty! Baby gotsa kitty!" Gah. So he does. Again!
"Timmy, come out from under the couch. Drat you, kitten. Can't you stay out of harm's way for five minutes?" It's awkward, fishing one baby out from under the couch while holding another on your hip, but it's possible. "Timmy, let go of -- oh, good BOY, Timmy! That's just what I was looking for!"
I blow a dustball off Ann's cover. Perfect. My source material, all gathered. I'll just set it by the laptop, so I can finish that task off during naptime. If I can get an hour to focus during nap time, I should be able to bang out something presentable. Right now, though, I need to make lunch.
"All right, little Anna, I'm going to have to set you down to make lunch. How about we all have some nice--"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
"Yeesh. How about you watch me from the high chair?" It's not easy, lifting a high chair over a baby gate with a baby on your hip, but it's possible. "We'll just put you in the high chair, and you can watch me--"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
"Sorry, baby girl. You watch from here or you can be alone in the other room. I have to make lunch now."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
The other room it is, then. Not that an open doorway really muffles the sounds. Thankfully, she's an enthusiastic eater. Macaroni and cheese and peas and cucumber magically restore silence. Silence continues through diaper changes. Did you know that you can change one child's diaper on the floor while holding another child on your knee? Not easy, but possible! And then naptime. Up the stairs, three times. Once with Timmy AND Anna both, one on each hip. That's easy. (Me strong voman.) Return down with Anna. Back up with Nigel and Anna. Nigel, bless him, can manage the stairs on his own. And then Anna.
Silence. Blessed, blessed silence. Now to that post. Only first, I'll just throw in that load of laundry. Oh and do the lunch dishes, scrub down the dining table, sweep the dining room floor. Oh, and let's toss the toys back into the bins, sweep under the couch. Hey, and now the washer's finished, so throw the laundry in the dryer, take the garbage out, feed the kitten. Okay, now. I'll gather up my notes, get my cup of tea, find that section in the first book, and I'm all set to start that sleep pos--
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
Oh, it couldn't be an hour and a half already! Oh, yes it could. Same way as it's Thursday already. And you know what?
It's not easy to write a post with a baby on your lap --
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!
Date: Sept. 28
From: MaryP
Subject: Re: Sleep Post
To: Laura SMonday. Don't ask.
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