A Day in the Life

A day in the life of the Vasquez Tribe,

as told by the one they call "Mama"...

6 am:  Daddy is up and ready for work.  Brees wakes up right with him, slobbering on
Mama's face and giving sweet baby kisses.  She nurses and Mama drifts in and out of
sleep.  We kiss Daddy bye-bye and cuddle in bed for a while.

7 am:  Reluctantly out of bed we go, settling in the living room.  Brees has just discovered
TV and likes to glance at it from time to time while she's crawling around.  We had to
put a quilt on the fireplace because she has started pulling herself up into a standing
position and her favorite spot is the brick fireplace.  ER visit waiting to happen.  We
play on the floor and wait for Isabelle to wake up.

8 am: Isabelle AKA The One Who Sleeps comes down the stairs and is greeted by a
very happy little sister.  They play together while I get breakfast ready.

8:30 am:  Brees is ready for her morning nap.  Off to bed she goes.  Isabelle and I sit
down and have breakfast together.  I drink my first cup of tea and will the black circles
under my eyes far far away.  Isabelle watches a few morning cartoons, I catch up on
emails and blogging, laundry and dishes.

10 am: Brees is up, nurses, we all get dressed and ready for the day.  We put her in her
Jump Up in the bathroom doorway.  Otherwise, I would be wearing my old Grateful
Dead t-shirt and dirty hair all day.

10:30 am:  Off we go to run errands.  

Post office, bank, grocery store.  Riveting stuff!  Isabelle asks me a million and one
questions and tries to convince me to buy everything in the store.  I forget the Ergo
and am too germaphobic to let Brees sit in the cart so I put her in the infant seat on top
of it.  Germaphobia goes into overdrive when every single passerby then walks up to
our cart and touches her.  She seems pretty happy with all the attention.  

12 noon: We arrive home and have lunch.  Isabelle feeds the baby while I get
everything ready and unload all the goods.  Thank God for little helpers!

1 pm:  Brees goes down for her afternoon nap.  I sneak in a few more chores.  Belle and
I head up to her room to play a game of Monopoly Junior and discuss important topics
such as her love for Justin Beiber and what color she wants to paint her nails
after bath time.

2:30 pm:  Brees wakes up, nurses.  We do some laundry and play in the
girls' rooms.  Brees likes to crawl back and forth between her room and Belle's, when
she's willing to unglue herself from my hip, that is.  

3 pm:  We head outside for a swim.  We live in Louisiana where its 97 degrees outside
with 100% humidity.  The water is our only salvation.  

4pm:  Brees goes down for a nap.  Isabelle and I grab the baby monitor and head
back outside.  I read a book and/or write while Isabelle rides her scooter on the drive
and plays with the dogs.

5:30 pm:  Brees wakes up, nurses.  We gather in the kitchen.  The girls play while I do
dishes and prepare supper.  This is what I refer to as "The Witching Hour".  It's loud and
a bit chaotic.  I do my best to keep them entertained, thus avoiding any melt-downs.
When in doubt, bribe them with treats.

6 pm:  Daddy's home!  He is smothered in hugs and kisses and then grabs a quick shower.
We gather around the table for dinner.  That night was pizza night,
Isabelle's favorite.  

6:30 pm:  Bath time for the littles.  

7 pm:  Time for a little music before bed, courtesy of the very talented Daddy.  We all
lounge around the living room, talking about our days, reading, singing, dancing, watching
the few and far between family appropriate TV shows. 

7:30 pm:  Bed time for the littles.  Teeth are brushed, stories read,
lullabies hummed.  

8 pm:  Shower for Mama.  Time to hang out with Daddy, catch up on our day.  We
usually watch a little TV, Shawn plays guitar, I catch up on emails/blog, we read.  No
photo for this one, Daddy is tired of my camera.

10 pm:  Brees wakes up to nurse one more time before its officially lights out.  We all
climb into the big bed, Daddy leads us in our prayers, we kiss each other good night,
and get ready to do it all again the next day!