Naptime. Now what?

Annalise has always been a good napper. 

In the beginning she was a "cat napper" but now we've actually established a morning and afternoon nap schedule. I slowly tiptoe out of the nursery, stifling a cough from a terrible head cold. Yup, she's down for the count. It's 8a.m. What to do?

8:00-8:10

Experts says "sleep when the baby sleeps," so I lie down in still-unmade bed. Bliss! Shut eyes, think about the dishes on the counter, the folded laundry that needs put away across the room and yesterday's accumulated dirt from the snow melting. I can feel the sun coming through the shades, heart pumping, eyes rolling. Why am I so jittery? Only slept for three hours yesterday--should be exhausted! Oh, had two giant mugs of caffeinated tea since the onset of this cold. Eeek. Did  the experts ever have an infant?

8:11-8:20

Scurry to get the trash out that was forgotten the night before. Clean the litter boxes, change the bathroom trash, break down some cardboard in the garage. I should really make a meal plan for the week. Maybe I'll peruse my cookbooks. No. I don't have the car, I can't get groceries anyway. Breast pump parts and bottles need cleaning. Where is my bottle scrubber? Under the mountain of burp clothes that smell like stale milk. Throw burp clothes in the washer with other clothes, glow with accomplishment. Head back to the kitchen to finish dishes. Open pantry. Dang, guess its oatmeal for breakfast. Again. Sigh.

8:21-8:35

Go online while stuffing myself with steel cut oats doused in honey and brown sugar. Thinking about how miserable my throat feels to swallow but doing it anyway. Typing up a meal plan would be smart. But first...check Facebook. And Twitter. And Instagram. Look, childless friends are vacationing in Florida and Panama for spring break with fruity drinks and sunglasses. Thrilled for them. Vow to read only status updates from other moms. Like. Like. Like. Look, baby of old high school classmate has the same pacifier! OMG. Totally forgot to clean the bottles and breast pump parts. 

Sign out without ever typing up my meal plan.

8:40

Bottles washed. So proud. Second cleaning task of the morning done!

8:45

Have maybe 15-20 minutes left, tops. Call Mom, see if she's left town yet? Would love to but need to fold Annalise's clothes from last weeks laundry day. Who else to call? Work friend? College friend? Would be fun to hear some gossip that didn't involve spit up or a poopy diaper. Call husband? To say what? Washed clothes and bottles? He's at work. Forget it. Hmmm, what about a mommy friend? Have her cell number. Text or not to text?

9:50

Annalise is stirring. Mild panic. Run to use the bathroom and rinse my oatmeal bowl out before she starts crying for real.

9:55

What the heck. Text mommy friend. "Hi! Meet for early lunch, would love to see you!"

10:00

Oh, Annalise awake now for sure. Will feel so good to see her waking smiles and kiss on those chubby cheeks. Wait! Phone pinged. 

10:02

Message: "Busy today, maybe another time." Drat! Oh well, baby's hungry. Maybe next time.