Morning Wake-Up

Rolling over I fluff my pillow under my head, stretch my self-diagnosed arthritic fingers, and squint my right eye open. The cable box flashes, "6:45" and I realize I have ten minutes, fifteen if I'm lucky.

Closing my eye, I fade away. I'm walking at Whole Foods, finding the clear plastic case. I press my face against the window and gaze longingly at the display of gelati. Chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, and cookie crumb taunt me, as I attempt to wave down the lady behind the counter.

"Mom"  I hear.

I point to the chocolate.

"Mommy" I hear again. "Mommy"

She has started scooping and my mouth is watering.

"Mommy, I awake! Hold you!"

I turn, open an eye and spy the cable box again.

6:55 a.m.

He rolls over, his snores fills the confines of the room, as I push the covers from my legs.

"Coming baby!" I reassure her, suppressing the yawn, and wiping the drool from the corner of my face.

6:56 a.m.

"Hi Shiny! Good morning Love!" I say.

Her baby fine hair sticks up in every direction as she reaches her arms from the crib, her words muddled from behind her paci, "Hi Ma. Mo s'eepin'?"

"Yeah babes. Mo still sleeping. Let's cuddle in my bed." I say, lifting her up. She nuzzles her head into my shoulder as I breathe her in, puppy in her grasp.

6:58 a.m.

Climbing back into the bed, she lies on top, her head still nuzzled against mine. I hear the familiar cadence of the sucking pacifier and feel her reaching for my hair.

"Close your eyes for a bit" I instruct, as she cuddles in.

I follow suit. Closing my eyes and letting my mind wander.

Before my eyes have a chance to open, the sound of her feet on the hardwoods echo into our room. As the doorknob twists, I slowly open my eyes, looking to the clock again, I see

7:09 a.m.

"Hi mommy. Where's Shine?" she says, standing in the doorway.

"Right here, babe" I say, as she tiptoes in.

Approaching the bed, she spies her little sister who has now taken residence between Bry and I.

"Hi Mo Mo." Maeve says.

Climbing over me like an obstacle at the playground, she smashes into her sister's face, attempting to fit between Maeve and Bry.

"Hurt me!" Maeve cries. "Mo hurt me!" she continues.

Bry stirs.

"Come closer Mo. Share the pillow with me." he says.

The clock reads 7:11 a.m. as I announce, "I gotta pee" as I head to the bathroom, for the rare pee in peace moment of the day.

Returning to the room it's now, 7:15 a.m.

"Let's go downstairs ladies" I begin, "Time to head on down."

"I'm going to stay with daddy and cuddle" Mo coos, Bry pulls her tight.

" 'kay Mom. I coming!" Maeve says.

We head into the kitchen. Grabbing the milk cups from the fridge, I hand Maeve hers.

"I help Mom. I pick bars" she asserts, as I allow her to chose the cereal bars.

She takes her food and drink into the family room, as I put the pot onto the stove top.

7:30 a.m.

The girls sit mesmerized by the dancing and singing on the television. In between sips of milk and bites of cereal bar they sing along to Fresh Beat Band. Walking in, balancing the cup of tea in one hand and the laptop in the other, I sit comfortably in my favorite chair, and put up my feet.

I glance up sometime later as the chorus echoes "We want Bubble Guppies!". The clock reads 7:45 a.m. as I grab the remote.

What happens in one hour of your day? 

This week Stasha , our Listicle Maven teamed up with Stacey, mama extrodinare of Stacey's Mothering Moments answer that. Feel free to link up!