Day One

Woke up to an alarm clock instead of a Quynh fussing or Tai announcing, "It's time to wake up!"

Showered.

Put on maternity pants (sigh) and long loose fitting top carefully selected to hide belly, and fact that pants are intended for pregnant women.

Finished packing four lunch bags just in time to hear Tai emerge from his room.

Breakfast.

Took way too long selecting Quynh's outfit for the First Day of School, all the while knowing how ridiculous I was being. Somehow, it had to be cute, but not so cute that anyone would know I had put thought into it. I wanted her to be able to pull off the coy, "oh, this old thing?" look.

Nursed Quynh. Burped Quynh. Spit-up everywhere. Changed self into Carefully Selected Outfit #2. Changed Quynh into Outfit Number 2, less carefully selected.

Family of four out the door, only 15 minutes past Goal Time.

Arrived at work.

Chatted.

Pumped.

Tended to personal emails. Read work emails.

Ate "lunch" (10:30am).

Read more work emails.

Pumped.

Chatted. Looked over work To Do list (updated last on May 27th) and tried to remember what it is I do for a living.

Took care of a little online shopping.

Pumped.

Picked up kids. Went home and played with Tai. Nursed a hungry and exhausted Quynh.

Dinner. Playtime. Bathtime. Bedtime.

Washed a mountain of dishes, bottles, and pump parts.

Fell into bed and was asleep before my head hit the pillow (oh wait....not yet...maybe in about 30 more minutes).

The Beatles

Tai is in a huge Beatles phase at the moment. It started when he heard Yellow Submarine at school and has blossomed from there. Let me state for the record that I much prefer listening to the same 10 Beatles songs over and over in the car than just about any kids music. So I can't complain.

The other day, while Eleanor Rigby was playing, Tai suddenly said, "Mama, they have no friends." I asked who he was talking about and he said, "all the lonely people."

Milk Brain

They say nursing makes you spacey. It just might be true.

Last week I put both kids in the car, started the engine, rolled up all the windows, cranked up the AC, and was about to back out of the garage when Tai said, "Mama, close Quynh's!"

Although I was sure I had closed all the windows, I obliged him by hitting that button again, without looking back. I told Tai her window was closed and then put the car in reverse and was just about to back out when Tai explained, "No, Mama. Close her door!"

I had, indeed, neglected to close her car door. Good thing I keep Tai around to keep an eye on things.

Tai's Third Camping Trip

We're just back from our third camping trip as parents. Each year we manage to get to the DAR at least once and each year it presents new joys and unique challenges.

2007: Tai wanted nothing more than to roll around on the ground and practice trying to crawl. This proves difficult on a rocky campsite. He had to settle for sitting in camp chairs.

2008: Being 18 months old and walking, Tai had a much better time camping. He also got to bring a friend. This year's activities consisted of hikes in the ergo, collecting acorns, and throwing sand into the lake.

2009: Tai was once again accompanied by his good friend Natasha, but this time also by his 11-week-old sister, Quynh. Tai and Natasha hiked on their own feet, rode in a canoe, splashed in the lake, and imagined up all sorts of games around the campsite. Quynh happily sat in a lap, rode in the ergo, or relaxed in what is now her camp chair.