the morning parade

in the still, dark hours of the morning, a small noise wakes me. baby d is up and bouncing in his crib. i reach for my glasses. the tiny, familiar sound rouses the dogs, who add the clatter of their paws to the "ah-ah-ah" of the baby in the next room. i slide out of bed and my feet touch the cold wood floor. i throw on my robe and shuffle to the baby's room.

baby d smiles a squinty smile as i turn on the changing table light. i freshen the little boo's diaper, and carry him out to the kitchen. i plop him into his highchair and give him a handful of cheerios to occupy him for a moment. the dogs stand by the back door, their nervous prancing speaks of night-full bladders. outside, the cats meow frantically , eager for their breakfast. i open the door and a melee ensues as the cats and dogs wrestle past each other. i go to the cupboard where the pet food is stored. the cats, purring, weave dangerously between my feet. a cat never loves you so well as right before it's fed. i prepare four bowls of food, then return to the backdoor, where the dogs, relieved, wait to come back in. they head to their bowls. the dominant old spitz digs right in while the younger sheltie waits patiently until the other is finished.

by now, the baby is out of cheerios, so i give him a bottle of milk. i clean yesterday's grounds out of the sleek black coffeemaker. i pour in 6 cups of water and enough whole beans to make a glossy, opaque brew. while the coffee brews, i prepare the baby's breakfast of yogurt and rice cereal. he watches intensely. he knows which cabinet has his bowls, his food, and he knows that what i'm making is for him. i sit down and fasten a bib on him. i can't shovel the food in fast enough to suit him at first, but have to coax him to finish the last few bites. i clean him up, and bring him down to the livingroom to start his day of play. he immediately heads to the toybox and begins strewing around bits of brightly colored plastic. he seems to take a special joy in finding his toys all neatly arranged, like an endless christmas morn. while he dumps out his alphabet blocks, i turn on the laptop and pour myself a cup of coffee. i have, finally, a moment to myself.

crap. i forgot to feed the fish...