6-6

5:45am: I'm almost running into the grocery store, I left the house late and to a panic of texts because we are running low on milk.

5:53am: Back in the car, I turn the radio all the way up and navigate the dark, empty streets.

6:01am: The car is parked and my boots are off. I put on water for tea.

6:05am: I read through the weekend log notes, smile that they tried out the audubon center I suggested.

6:09am: I put the dried sippy cups away and unload the dishwasher

6:21am: Mom updates me on the weekend and asks me about mine. I tell her about my date and the movie I saw. She seems genuinely interested, even in her rush. We discuss the plans for the day and I tell her to be careful with icey streets.

6:34am: The toys strewn around the living room don't take me long to pick up. I sort through our massive stack of books for the ones that need returned to the library.

6:51am: Dad recounts his version of the weekend and I warn him about the ice and tell him our plans for the day.

6:57am: Dad is out the door and I'm folding my way through a load of laundry. The house is quiet now, but Tiny (18 months and a chatter box) is starting to stir.

7:15am: I make a second cup of tea and get the morning milk cup warmed up.

7:19am: Tiny is up and greets me with a "howdoyoudo!". Her curly hair is wild, but she looks happy and laughs with me as I tickle her and lift her on to the changing table.

7:20am: The laughter is short lived and her giggles turn to loud, dramatic crying for her milk. I hand her the cup after a quick "say please!" and sing our days of the week song as I hurry to change her while she is occupied.

7:21am: When asked what day it is, Tiny answers Monday, as she does everyday. When I inform her that today she is correct, she is delighted and nearly wiggles off the table with glee.

7:23am: I have managed to tame her mane with a pony tail holder and a cute clip. She is busy brushing my hair.

7:25am: I jot down a note in our log and then Tiny and I walk around to all the windows, open the blinds, sing our weather song and make our weather observations and predictions. She loves snowy weather and we sing that verse over again.

7:31am: A neighbor and her dogs walk down the sidewalk. Tiny nearly loses it, running to the window, greeting the oblivious woman with barks, bow wows, hi's and hellos.

7:39am: Into her little purple chair she settles and we take turns picking book after book to read.

8:24am: Chasing Tiny around the living room, tickling her and spinning her around starts to make me dizzy, so I declare it breakfast time.

8:29am: Tiny plays with her babies (named only by the colors of their clothes) on the kitchen floor while I warm up extra french toast I froze last week and cut up a smorgasbord of fresh fruit. Occasional cries for berries or to buckle her baby in it's car seat slow me down, but Tiny waits patiently for the most part.

8:47am: We sit down for breakfast and it isn't long before she is covered in her yogurt. Self feeding is a goal, and that Mickey Mouse spoon is reaching it's intended target more and more often.

9:03am: I snap a picture of the food covered princess and send it to mom and dad with a quick note letting them know our day is off to a great start.

9:18am: We battle over hand and face washing after breakfast, but her joy is restored when she chooses to have her turn first brushing the four adorable teeth she has. I finish up and we head into the nursery to get dressed.

9:30am: Tiny picks a dress from her closet and is mesmerized by the twirling ballerina in her jewelery box while I find leggings and a onesie.

9:34am: Her love of clothes works to my advantage today, as she works to dress herself, pulling her arms in sleeves and chatting with me about the different colors of birds ( talk of purple and turquoise birds has her in stitches!).

9:42am: I recite Chicka Chicka Boom Boom while she flips through the book and I change her sheets and gather laundry up.

9:56am: In the laundry room she watches, awe struck, as I load the washer and turn it on. The water rushing over the window on the front loading machine becomes mesmerizing.

9:59am: I check the diaper bag to make sure it is ready to go (it isn't. I find a gross cup of old milk) Gathering coats, shoes, bags and books is easy as Tiny plays in her kitchen near me and brings me her tasty "salad", complete with cupcakes, corn flakes and a spoon.

10:02am: We dress for the weather and Tiny changes shoes, twice. We make it out the door and I text both mom and dad to let them know we are heading to the library for story time before we leave.

10:11am: Pulling in the parking lot, I hear squeals of "Again! Again! AGAIN!" for the three little kittens song and after I park I text mom and dad, announcing our arrival.

10:16am: Barely in time for the baby story time, we rush into the library. The librarian shoots me a dirty look as I remind Tiny to use her library voice (she is loudly expressing her excitement at our upcoming guinea pig watching opportunities). We take our time as Tiny climbs down the seemingly endless staircase, as I walk backward, holding both of her hands and praising every wobbly step.

10:18am: I'm bored by the lackluster librarian singing along with the cd and whisper about the books in Tiny's ear to keep her quiet and focused.

10:39am: The mom next to me is wowed by Tiny's verbal prowess and is shocked to hear my little vocabulary vixen isn't yet close to two. I wonder if she realizes I'm not mommy (it seems obvious, my light hair and skin and blue eyes are a contrast to Tiny's beautiful Indian complexion and rich brown hair and dark eyes).

10:51: I don't have long for my musings, as Tiny is at the door, begging to see her beloved "gummies" (babyspeak for the library pets).

11:20am: We have gotten our small animal fix, played at the train table, pretended with animal puppets, done a few puzzles together when I start my "bye bye countdown".

11:32am: Even though she had several warnings, when bye bye time comes, so does her (loud) frustration. I calm her with the script from a social story she loves and reward her self regulation and control with an elevator ride. I'm anticipating naptime already.

11:40am: We are both buckled in the car and the three little kittens song is again melting my brain when I text mom and dad to let then know we are heading home.

11:52am: The garage door closes and Tiny takes that as a sign to begin begging for her milk like she has never eaten before. I alert mom and dad to our arrival home.

12:04pm: We are finally settled in the rocking chair, with a cup of milk and a fresh diaper. I take a deep breath and remind myself that these quiet moments alone with her snuggled up on my arm are growing increasingly more valuable (little sister is on her way, Tiny proudly tells all who ask that new baby is coming in June). I try to relax into the moment, as she slowly fades into sleep and her eyes close.

12:26pm: I lay Tiny down in her crib and flip the monitor on. More water for tea, a lovely quiet moment to use the restroom (who knew finding 30 seconds for the bathroom would be so difficult?) and I pop a microwave lunch in to cook.

12:50pm: Kitchen tidied up from the breakfast (did a pint of blueberries explode in here?), laundry in the dryer. I text mom to tell her we are having a good day while I clean out the refrigerator.

1:17pm: Lesson planing for next week is done. I use a thematic preschool weekly program with her, next up, monkeys!

1:26pm: I wipe down counters and the table, lightly sweep the kitchen floor. Laundry is ready to fold, and I text with a friend while folding the little clothes.

1:59pm: I grab a handful of chips and go through the stack of catalogs that came over the weekend. I circle, star and tab the things we need (er...want...) and leave them on Mom's desk for approval.

2:13pm: I'll admit I'm tip toeing around the house and hoping for a three hour nap, I'm tired. I make coffee and pat myself on the back for remembering the peppermint mocha creamer at the grocery.

2:24pm: I start lunch when Tiny starts stirring.

2:40pm: It is a crabby Tiny I find when I go to get her up. She cries without giving reason and tries to kick while I change her. I sing, anything and everything I can think of until she finally calms during the counting to ten song.

2:45pm: In her high chair, I smooth the grumpies over with some cheese and broccoli. Tiny chatters away and I check our log book to see what activities are going on this afternoon.

2:53pm: A quick text to mom has a,trip to the indoor playground approved. And after she finishes, we change clothes, bundle back up and head again to the car.

3:28pm: She hasn't forgotten about the damned three little kittens song. I text parents to report our movement and we head out.

3:35pm: I can't take the kitten song anymore. I flip to the radio and the anguished screaming begins. I loudly point out things we are passing and talk about stop lights.

3:38pm: The screaming has turned back to amiable conversation, I'm smiling again.

3:43pm: I catch myself right before a string of loud, angry expletives come flying out of my mouth in an fit of road rage. She wants her cd back on, I give in and resign myself to a night full of nursery rhymes playing on repeat in my head.

3:51pm: At the indoor play ground, we check in with mom and dad before we check in at the desk. Tiny takes off and I'm following her around as she climbs, scoots and plays.

4:26pm: I try to avoid the basketball area, but Tiny is determined. Several unsupervised preschoolers lob the big balls, and one tries take a ball right out of her hands. I try to help her with the sharing, but the unruly 4 year old pushes me and runs. I look for her caregiver, but all I see is a woman with her ipad out. I'm out of luck.

4:31pm: I console a very disappointed Tiny, purposefully carrying her, shrieking "share share no no no!" on the edge of the court where ipad lady is standing. When she gives us a dirty look, I smile sweetly and say to Tiny, " Some children just don't know how to use their good manners."

4:40pm: Tiny says she wants to swing, so we walk over and I give her pushes while we sing and talk about butterflies and dogs. I start the goodbye count down.

4:53pm: Back in the car, I text mom and dad, start the cd from the top and contemplate the best way to avoid rush hour traffic. We head home, both of us quiet.

5:16pm: We beat both mom and dad home. When I tell her we are back, mom asks me to get dinner together for Tiny.

5:22pm: After a diaper change, I put Tiny in her high chair, text a friend to save me a seat at the bar, I'm happy hour ready.

5:29pm: I'm serving Tiny a quick dinner and writing in the log. I'm watching the clock, Tiny is telling "jokes" and saying all her favorite silly things.

5:35pm: She makes a hilarious face in response to me sticking out my tongue and I genuinely laugh out loud. Dad walks in the door and asks about our giggles. Together we share the highlights of our day with him.

5:37pm: Dad goes to take a shower and I return a text message. Tiny gets annoyed at my inattention and throws some edamame on the floor.

5:58pm: We transition quietly, as dad takes over the feeding and I straighten up a few things and finish the log.

6:01pm: Mom comes home and I fill her in on our day too. We chat for a few minutes. I want to keep talking, but my happy hour time is slowly ticking away.

6:11pm: I kiss the messy Tiny on the forehead, we say our special good bye and I'm headed out the door.

6:13pm: The garage door shuts and I change cds. I turn the music up,glad to be back in grown up world.