At 7:15, I was supposed to be at Carter's house to take care of him while his parents were at work. Three or four kids from his day care have RSV and they didn't want to take a chance that he would catch it. I was a little late, partly because of traffic and school buses. Who knew there were so many people out and about at that hour?

Anyway, Kelly rushed off after filling me in on important details like the right thing to use for his diaper rash. There I was, alone with a baby. Hmm, they must have a lot of faith in me. He watched me with his big eyes, but didn't seem too worried. He spent a lot of time on the floor, kicking and rolling over. He's not crawling yet, so it is pretty safe to leve him to his own devices and he has tons of age-appropriate toys that have different patterns and textures. Sometimes I sat on the floor near him and sometimes I sat in a chair, glancing at him and at my computer. He hadn't slept very well the night before, his Mom said, so he went early for his morning nap...but woke up again at 10. He seemed really hungry (after I changed his diaper). The bottles were in the fridge; I thought they should be warmed up, but I knew not to put them in the microwave...there was no evidence of any bottle-warming gear and he didn't want to wait. The termperature did not seem to faze him. One bottle chugged down without stopping. He really didn't want me to take the time to burp him. At the end, a little came back out. Then he played happily some more. It was cold in the house, but he seemed fine...I kept checking his neck and his hands. I found a little jacket and put it on him...then I looked for some tea. Hot chocolate, even better! I ate my lunch. I put him in a special exercise chair that he has. I could hear him playing happily until suddenly it got quiet. I went to look and he was asleep again, head down on the tray. I put him back in his crib and he slept for three hours!

This was good news, I should have been able to get a lot done on my paper, but somehow I still have a ways to go! I have lots of information, but it lacks focus. I am running out of time, but today is not the day.

He woke up not long before his Mom was due home. I tried to feed him some cereal and fruit, but he was not having any of it! Another bottle--this time I ran it under warm water for a little bit before I gave it to him. Glug, glug, glug, down the hatch, watching me all the time. Another diaper change and a little time in the stroller outside. She was about half an hour late, but that wasn't a problem.

I was home at 5:30--a long day. Then we got back in the car and drove Elisa to the school for the play again, turned around and went to Nancy D.'s house for the Democratic Committee holiday party. I realized when we got out of the car that I had not changed my shoes and was wearing casual brown shoes with colorful socks with my party dress, instead of the boots I had meant to put on. No help for it, put the best foot forward, and pretend I was a trend-setter. Many people we know, lots of food and drink. But all disposable plates, cutlery, and cups. No wine for me. I grazed, eating things I could pick up so I didn't need a plate. Ham in a roll, dips on crackers, cherry tomatoes...When Ray finished with his plate, I got some salad and a piece of amazing cheese cake--a small piece.

Back to Clarke Central, we saw about half the play for the second time, with Becky and Kent, who had come to see Elisa. It was better the second time, although there was an issue with a microphone being dragged around the stage.

Home and to bed. I should have slept longer than this...stress?