The Early Morning Alphabet

I woke up at 12:30 this morning. My mind was racing, fixating on … stuff that this post isn’t about. I finally wound up surrendering to whatever it was that prevented my sleep and got up about 1.

At 2 in the morning I was downstairs sorting socks (don’t ask) when I heard the telltale “thump” from above where Xavier’s room is. I went upstairs and found Xavier snuggling with Laura in our bed.

The three of us snuggled for a little bit, then I took him in and changed his diaper. Then it was back to bed.

It should be noted that Xavier, age 3, shares a bedroom with August, age 10.

I put Xavier back to bed, he complains, but after a few minutes sort of resigns to the fact that it’s 2:30 in the morning and needs to go back to sleep. I leave the room, but sit in the hallway, waiting for the inevitable.

Just a few minutes later the door opens and I see Xavier’s face. I put him back to bed, and there’s an argument about whether or not he wants the blanket over him. He’s the one arguing with himself. He doesn’t want it. He wants it. He doesn’t want it.

Did I mention he’s 3?

Once again I wait in the hallway. Thankfully Xavier stays in bed. The catch? He starts singing the alphabet song. Loudly.

He’s hitting all the letters correctly, and I’m very proud of him, what with only a week of preschool under his belt. But it’s 2-something in the morning and his older brother is in the same room. I go in, tell him he’s doing a great job, but he needs to sing a little quieter.

That was the end of it. I waited in the hallway for a little while longer in case he got up again, but he didn’t. I went back to bed and fell back asleep somewhere around 3:30. I’m not sure when Xavier fell asleep.