Tough Love

This morning Juliette woke up at 6:45, fifteen minutes before my alarm was set to ring. I tried to ignore her, hoping she would go back to sleep, but she was calling me loudly with a voice full of perky energy, "Mommy? Oh Mommy? My awake!!!!" I was completely comatose as a result of reading Twilight until two in the morning, and I stumbled into her room. She greeted me with a big smile and said, "Bring me Mommy! My awake." At that moment, I heard some stirring in Bella's room (she at least has been well trained and knows not to bother me before 7AM). I scooped up Juliette along with the four stuffed animals she was holding tightly and asked her the thousand dollar question, "Do you want to cuddle with Mommy or Bella?" Cuddle is a wishful thinking verb as this toddler is ready to "move it move it" the minute she is freed from her crib. With a bright smile, she ran off to Bella's room and I paddled back into my cozy warm bed, looking forward to a delicious and much needed last fifteen minutes of sleep.

Next thing I knew, Juliette was peering into my confused sleepy face, this time holding six stuffed animals. "Mommy, my cuddle with you now. My love you." She ran around to Steve's side of the bed and demanded, "Uppies Mommy. Please. My cuddle with you!" So I moved over to his cold side of the bed and hoisted up my little bundle of affection and her six "babies". The cat fell to the ground and I got out of bed to retrieve it. At that point I was completely awake, but I consoled myself with the thought of the sweet hugs I was about to receive.

I turned to Juliette and opened my arms, she shifted over next to me and yelled out in disgust, "Mommy smelly!" Then she ran back out of the room and went to wake her brother.

So I got out of bed and began my day, hug-less and concerned about halitosis.