My baby wakes up early. So do I. We play and read books and clean ourselves up.
Denver commercials are pitiful. I hear them in the background while the baby dolls are wrapped in blankets at my feet. The blankets are rewrapped about 20 times. Sometimes I intervene to show her how to burrito wrap the doll. Keeps it warm longer. Less easy to unwrap so sometimes she gets frustrated and the baby doll lands out in the hall or is abandoned for Elmo.
It’s winter now. Officially tonight. We’ve already had six snowfalls. Another coming by the evening rush. A lot of my background noise turns into weather reports as my baby and I forget baby dolls and turn to books. So much more substantial, effective and training her for life. Dollies don’t do that. I found her the other morning stuffing blueberries down the pee pee dolly’s mouth. But I choose to believe reading Corduroy on repeat is giving her the skills. Everyone and everything knows how to consume. Even flowers.
Hmm. The video monitor reveals she is only rolling about and hasn’t fully wakened. I’m surprised. She wakes up and is up. No dozing. I doubt we’ll even need an alarm clock when she becomes a teen. I never used one. I never oversleep. In fact, I rarely sleep.
It means I have a few more minutes to record my life in a public environment.
Once we finish with books and I need a shower it comes time to introduce TV. Little Bear is powerful. I love to watch with her. He was one of my favorites. Except the other morning Little Bear pretended with his friends and they acted out little red riding hood. The wolf actually ate the grandma in the cartoon. I felt certain they’d hide that but I was wrong.
So, it’s a nice, peaceful distraction while I dress and load the dishwasher and stuff. But watch out when it’s time to go bye bye. I have a whole method for extracting her from the TV. It’s a fine art. I bribe her with food and joyful tales of daycare, where she is headed.
It’s the most awful part of the day. I hate taking her anywhere I must leave from without her. Wish I could be at home with her. Wish I could be a solid educator slash life coach slash bodyguard all day everyday. But I can’t.
That part isn’t getting easier. But the pickup is like Disney world the first time and I’m getting damn good at grocery store checkout. I might be getting my wings here. Finally.
