fantasy vs reality

Fantasy: mr. flea is offered post-doc in Bordeaux; we accept and move to France in January. Casper attends free state-sponsored preschool, learns French, mystifying her father. Dillo attend day-care part time. I complete on-line MLS. We lead simple life without much stuff to burden us. We travel, eat well, are sophisticated and, you know, French. Everyone sleeps through the night. 18 months later return to US, get jobs, buy house, Casper in kindergarten, Dillo is 2. Maybe in Santa Fe (way cool but far from family), Cincinnati (1950's town but close to family)?

Reality: Casper pooped in the bath last night. She is fully potty-trained at school, has some pee accidents at home, will only poop in a diaper or her panties (or the bath), whatever she happens to be wearing. I go back to work 20 hours a week on Tuesday; we need to get serious abut child care. Don' wanna go back to dumb boring low-paying job. Dillo has been really cranky every evening this week. Casper back to whining more now that Daddy is home. Cleaned fridge, did Quicken so far; still to do today: laundry, grocery list, vacuum, de-clutter bookcase of doom. Maybe make quilt progress. Dillo slept 8-12:30, 12:45-3:30 before getting awake and restless last night. Cool today despite tropical-strom induced humidity.

some excellent progress

In view of returning to work starting Tuesday,

1. mr. flea gave Dillo a bottle. Despite much squalling and a huge mess, Dillo took about an ounce. This is a start. Especially since the first time we tried, he wouldn't take anything at all.

2. I nursed Dillo after we were done, then thought, heh, he's sleepy, let me try enforcing a real live nap. So I wrapped him up tight in a blanket and put him in the pack n play (which is in our bedroom, intended to be his bed eventually, but up to now he's slept nights in our bed and naps mostly in his carseat, which we use as a portable chair). Set up his little monkey to dangle above his head, and left him there. It's been nearly half an hour now, and he's quiet, if not asleep (was awake at last peek).

more progress

Well, first we backslid. Parents attempted to have sex so of course the Dillo woke up immediately from his real live in the crib nap.

But then neighbor called and brought over a swing, a bouncy seat and a boppy (none of which we had - we are parenting minimalists). Dillo seems to looove the swing, and has now - fallen asleep in it!

Hmm. Should we try again to have sex?

Also, I vacuumed, did 2 loads of laundry, and decluttered the bookcase. It's amazing what I can accomplish when it is magically 68 degrees out.