Every Single Morning

Every single morning, Syd wakes up to throw her little guys, as Jason calls them, out of her crib. One by one they go, a three foot drop to their doom, where Syd then continues to babble at them. Two bears, a lamb-headed blanket, and *gasp* even Dolly, stare up to mock her before she's finally had enough and starts calling for Dad. "DAAAAD!" "DAAAADY!" "DAD!"

Every single morning, we both quietly listen to the babbles, hoping for just a few more minutes of slumber. But that never lasts long. So up Jason goes, throws her pancakes into the microwave, hit's the John, and enters her room as her night in shining armor. I hear Sydney's excited sequels as he returns her little guys to their rightful place inside the crib and then scoops her up-all 19 pounds of soggy, wet diaper. I hear her chatting away on the changing table as if telling him all the amazing dreams she's had that night, and maybe even about the mockery that went on those minutes before he came to her rescue.

And then they appear. "Good MORNING MOMMY!!!"

My smiling girl, in her daddy's arms, throws her arms out toward me and Jason brings her over for a quick hug and a kiss. And then they're gone. Into her jumper she goes while she shoves a stack of pancakes into her mouth, watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, waiting for Mommy to get her sleepy butt out of bed so Daddy can get ready for work.

Every single morning I get to wake up to and with a smile. I feel my heart grow just a little more each day. I fall in love with her over and over and over again. And she loves me back, unconditionally.

How lucky am I?