Early Morning Music

I woke up to feed Noah at his usual 6:30-ish, and was privvy to a morning serenade. Maddie was already up singing at the top of her lungs. Not a care in the world, just her and her 25 stuffed animals that she sleeps with, singing. She has developed a routine of asking for her stuffed animals that she needs to cuddle with each night. Baby Sue is tops, quickly followed by Rocka and then, of course, Elmo. There are tons of other friends in her crib, whom occasionally get named for the cuddle. Heaven forbid one be missing, she'll ask for that one for sure. She has three Baby Sue dolls. You can tell which one she got first, second and third based on the progress of their dreadlocked hair. She has a thing for hair. She has twiddled, and widdled these babies hair to lovely dreads. She ALWAYS prefers the newest (i.e. least dreaded) baby Sue. When without Sue, her hair becomes a target. I've often gone to check on her before I go to bed and her fingers are still gracefully twirling her hair as she sleeps. It is really quite cute. The singing this morning was equally as beautiful. Only about 1/2 I could understand, but she was having a great time and luckily not waking up Jack so I was cool with it.

Her solo lasted about 20 minutes and then Jack did wake up to join her. Once we moved Maddie into their room, it took them SEVERAL months to realize that they shared a bedroom. When they did they started to have these great conversations which generally turn into fights that require intervention. It took them even longer to realize that they could throw things at one another from their beds. Jack is at a significant advantage being in a lofted bed, but Maddie has the lung power to almost make it unbearable to him if he does nail her with a toss. This morning was no exception. They started singing at one another and then laughing histerically. As much as I wanted to drift back to sleep it was impossible, and as much as I wanted to understand exactly what they were laughing at, that too was impossible. Inevitably it did turn into a fight, well actually a bathroom emergency. Jack was yelling that he needed to use the restroom and Maddie began yelling "I have poo-poo's". This phrase she KNOWS will get our attention very quickly and is the surest way out of the crib, true or not.

John got out of bed to start the day with the big kids, while Noah and I got to lay and cuddle a little while longer. I was able to reflect on the simplicity of Maddies songs this morning. Usually lack of awareness is regarded as a negative attribute. However with kids, I think it is something to observe, cherish and protect. She didn't care that it was too early to be awake, that her brother was sleeping in the bed next to hers or that her words didn't rhyme or that she wasn't in tune. All she knew is that she felt like singing and damn it she did!!