This morning, after going to bed at midnight, my daughter had me up at 5:15am. Not a surprise really, since that is her regular wake up time, but you always wish, when you have been foolish enough to stay up late, that they might grant you with an extra hour sleep.
It’s never the case though.
So, we came downstairs and I got her some milk in her sippy cup and we went into the den where I put my head down on her little Tinkerbell couch in hopes that she might follow suit and possibly, just maybe, she might fall back to sleep.
She did join me for a moment, laying down beside me for a brief snuggle. Then, not knowing that touch can hurt, she used my head as leverage to get herself up.
I laid there, head near the floor; It smelled a little like dog. I bet he sleeps on that couch when we aren’t looking. I watched her toddle away, and then back. She laid her head on mine and gave me the most perfect, drool laden smooch, and she was gone again.
From my vantage point, I could see her walk into the kitchen and check out the alphabet magnets on the fridge. I could also see the movies she had taken from the tv stand and strewn across the floor, the missing measuring cup that has been hiding under the couch for God knows how long, and the shoes she had taken from the front hall and relocated to new and curious places.
She talked as she went. Not forming any words, but definitely having a conversation. I’m not sure if she was talking to me or the dog, but I listened in.
Again, she returned to me, this time for a hug and some milk.
Finally, I dragged myself from the floor, and started making lunches for the big kids. She followed me to the kitchen and indicated that she would like to eat by grunting at her chair. So, I gave her some berries, bits of clementine and some flat bread.
She chattered away while I prepared the lunches, perhaps offering suggestions to her mommy, but the message was lost in translation.
As I explained to her my disdain for making school lunches, she smiled knowingly and shook her head to let me know I was making too big a deal of it.
And this is how my day begins. Early, simple, and yet, somehow, amazing.
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