Mornings

April 6: Dawn is coming earlier these days.  Spring is creeping its way up toward Madison.
These mornings when the clock shows 6:30, my mind unwraps from its cocoon of woolly sleep to hear the pitter-pat footsteps of one young Andrew as he makes his way from his room over to our bed.  If I’m lying close to the edge of the bed, I’ll wake to a kiss on my nose as he lifts up the blankets and climbs into my sleepy nest.  I’ll doze as he wiggles and pats and snuggles, jiggling more insistently as the minutes tick by.
Before too long, Sylvie rises, and I hear her call, “Mmmmmaaaa MA!  Mmmmmaaaa MA!” She isn’t calling for me per se.  It’s more the one phrase she uses to indicate that she wants something.  In this case I translate it as, “Hey everyone!  I’m awake!  Someone come get me so the party can begin!”  I’ll throw back the covers and go to get her, with Andrew running ahead calling, “HI SYLVIE!  Good morning, sweetie girl!!”  Then he climbs on the side of her crib and attempts to kiss her.  She in turn attempts to dodge his kisses and instead tries to levitate into my arms.  She sometimes reminds me of the way that Toad would jump in Mario II; kicking off and fluttering her feet after liftoff.
I bring both kids back to bed.  Sylvie climbs over me to peer at her dad, tilting her head to the side to examine him.  Andrew lies between us contemplating breakfast (raisin muffin or eggs and toast today?)  Sylvie might have a little nurse in the bed, but she’s often too excited to explore.  Both kids pull back our black-out curtains…full of anticipation about what the day will hold.