By nap time, however, dishes are washed, floors are swept, twice. Max is clean. Anna was clean. Max has found and eaten several cheerios off the kitchen floor. (Didn't I just sweep twice?) Anna has combed her hair, and I've combed her hair. Anna has brushed her teeth and I think her t-shirt and hopefully not eaten too much Big Bird bubble gum toothpaste. I've started sorting the laundry twice and rescued Max from under the kitchen chair, inside a cupboard, and on top of a stool. Anna has moved her stool from the bathroom to the pantry, reached a box of Fruit Loops, moved her stool back into the bathroom, and poured some Fruit Loops into the sink. (true story) We've gotten all of the toys that we have out and spread them on the family room floor. Dishwasher unloaded, two loads of laundry done. Anna's Grover and Elmo guys have been found twice after moments of panic. Max has crawled all around the house holding a bean bag in his teeth. Anna has combed her hair again and I have combed it again. We have cleaned up the toys, then made the usual, Dino-nuggets and applesauce. We read "How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight" four times, then I push the DO NO DISTURB button on the phone, put Anna in her bed, feed Max a bottle and put him in bed.
Naptime
I eat a piece of chocolate cake in silence. I pay some bills. Then I check my email and read the email parenting tip of the week on how your toddler should be watching no more than ten minutes of television a day and your baby's sleep trouble may be due to a chaotic environment. I find two hundred soggy fruit loops in the bathroom sink and dispose of them. I start on the dishes, but then I hear babies.
After naps I fold laundry, Anna pretends to fold laundry, and Max unfolds laundry. I fill Anna's sippy cup up with milk, then juice, then water. Anna is a sad bunny because I won't let her jump down the stairs. Max gets stuck in more strange places. Anna colors in a coloring book, then not in a coloring book. I strap fussy Max to myself in the baby carrier while starting dinner, turn on another Dora for Anna (she's learning Spanish), then put Max in his high chair. And when Taylor gets home. . .
There are dishes in the sink, formula spilled on the cupboard, one baby needs a new diaper. Max is in his high chair covered in baby food and throwing cereal on the floor, and Anna is watching Dora with scary pigtails. I am tired. Taylor probably is too.
