A day in the life of Isaaq Yuusuf

My day starts around...oh lets say 4:45AM. I wake up and see if I can awaken my snoozing mom to come in and give me a milk snack. She knows that I actually really don't NEED one at that time, but sometimes, she doesn't realize what time it is and comes in and feeds me. She probably thinks it's like 7:30AM. Halfway through the feeding she comes to her senses, realizes that it's definitely not time for either of us to be up yet, and she puts me and herself back to bed. I don't really mind going back to bed. Sleep is very important to me. I inherited this trait from my dad. We're both very good at sleeping, except in cars.

After my brief morning catnap, I wake up at 7AM. I usually have to make repeated squaks to rouse my mother from her REM cycle. While I wait for her to embrace consciousness I make good use of my time by pulling the sheets off my bed and dream of the day I will be able to crawl out of my bed.

Mommy comes in and gets me out and she changes my diaper. This bothers me. We're talking about a brand new day people! And she tries to waste my time by changing my diaper!!! The nerve. I have dirt to dig in, papers to destroy, and toys to steal (from Eden)! And, then... she has the nerve to try to feed me breakfast! I've recently decided that I am much too old to be sitting in the booster seat, my mother has decided that she's much too lame to let me sit in a regular chair- so after hours of debate, we compromised- I sit in the booster chair, but instead of using the attached try, I sit at the table, and eat from a plate, just like everyone else.

Mommy feeds me yogurt and bananas, or bananas and oatmeal. She's wonderful. And, she makes the best milk in the whole world! Then, on Saturdays, Eden and I have our weekly quality control meeting, when we analyze the ways in which we could more effectively control our parents. This week Eden is hosting, and I hear she's bringing whole wheat muffins for treats. Delish!

Then around 10AM I take my nap. This is an important time of the day for me. If it's getting close to my naptime and my mom is too busy watching soap operas or painting her nails to realize what time it is, I'll be the mature one, and I'll go find her and ask her to pick me up. I've trained her well, she knows this means its my naptime. She changes my diaper, and I love to look into her eyes. I smile and pretend like I enjoy all the ridiculous songs she sings (it makes her feel good about herself). She puts my stuffed dog in my bed with me. I think she really must like that dog. And, because I know she likes that dog so much, I wait until after she leaves the room to throw it onto the floor. And then I sleep.

And the best thing ever happens when i wake up from my morning nap. Daddy comes home. I hear his car pull up and I lose my normally quite stoic composure and start saying "Dad! Dad! Dad!" and run over to the door and try to open it. I love it when Dad comes home. I really need a break from all these women and kisses sometimes. He knows I need a little roughhousing and wrestling. Then we all have lunch together. Because my schedule is so packed, I have to take my art appreciation class over my lunch hour. Seurat's post-impressionistic pointillism work is fascinating. I try to replicate his work by spreading my rice all over the floor. It's amazing what you can do with your hands. Paintbrushes are overrated.

Then, we have some tea and cookies. I love the cookies. I again, lose my regal composure when I see Mommy bring in the tray of tea and cookies. I squak with joy and anticipation. I just love sugar. Then we all sit down and play a game. They play and I destroy. I love being one. Then, its time for Daddy to go back to work. Eden and I each pick out a naptime story. Recently, I've really been enjoying the countine book entitled "Doggies". My mom makes the best dog noises that I've every heard. Generally, I don't find her humor to be all that amusing, but boy, every time she goes "bark bark bark... ar roof! ar roof!... nnn..nnn...rowff" I just can't contain myself. It's just too funny. I giggle like Eden does when she... well she giggles all the time, now that I think about it. Then Eden I take naps.

My afternoon nap isn't nearly as important to me. Sometimes I'll try to keep Eden awake by making lots of noises and running around in my crib. We laugh and have lots of fun until the warden comes back and tells us to take naps, which I usually end up doing, much to my own embarassment.

After naps, Mommy takes us outside to play with the goats or go on a walk. Seriously, I love goats. They are awesome. They don't even care how much I pound on their backs or pull on their fur. Best pets ever. We talk to some of our friends, they tell me how cute I am, and I just smile and say "I know."

Then we go inside and have supper. I always hope for oranges. Just oranges, nothing else. Oranges are the best. I've only encountered one orange I didn't like. I gave it to the goats. After supper I choose one of three activities 1) terrorize Eden by taking her toys 2) complete my daily dirt inventory ("grunge" is hot hot hot right now folks) 3) wrestle with daddy. On days I'm feeling especially ambitious I'll choose two of them.

Then its bedtime. I usually make mommy chase me around for a bit, so she can get some exercise. It's in the best interests of her health. Sometimes I'll let her change my diaper and I'll let her look into my eyes (I really love my mom) or sometimes, depending how much exercise I think she needs, I'll make her tackle me to get my diaper changed. Then we're off to our nightly feeding. Daddy comes in and says goodnight. Eden comes in and gives me a kiss. Mommy and Daddy sing to me, pray for me, and put me into bed. I smile at them and tell them how much I love them. Sometimes, if I'm feeling generous, I'll give them kisses. Then, in less than 2 minutes (Eden timed me last week) I'm asleep. I love my life.