The Mind of Mr. M

I just thought I would share a ritual I have. At least once every night my littlest wakes up and wants me to take her down stairs to get her cereal. It has formed into a very organized ritual from which we never deviate. Here it is.

First, she wakes up and runs from my room as fast as she can to insure that neither Rachael or I can stop her. Then she stands at the top of the stairs yelling, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" She will wait there until I wander bleary eyed out of bed to pick her up and take her downstairs.

Next, we go into the kitchen and open the cupboard or dishwasher to find my blue ceramic cereal bowl. It has to be that specific bowl or else we have to go back up stairs and start over. I once pulled out a white ceramic bowl of the same size and she had nothing to do with it...once I chose the right bowl she giggled and point to the pantry where the cereal lives.

Then, I place the bowl on the counter and go into get cereal, for the early morning feeding it has to be Golden Grahams...nothing else will do. We actually check to make sure we have Golden Grahams before going to bed, because I live in fear of what would happen should I have to tell her we are out.

Next, I pour the cereal in the bowl fill it half way up the cereal with milk...I have filled it more in the past only to wear the difference when trying to carry her, balance the cereal and complete my next task of finding an Elmo DVD and getting it going on the TV. Once the intro starts to the DVD, she will let me sit down. At that point, I have to cover us up with the fluffy blanket and begin feeding her cereal. She is perfectly cabable of feeding herself, but for this time with Daddy, she wants me to have my arms out in the cold holding the bowl and spoon, while she keeps her arms warm under the blanket.

Now my favorite part, the first few times we had cereal, she would stop eating before it was completely gone and I would, without thinking, finish it off and drink the remaining milk from the bowl...now when she is done eating she wants to drink the milk from the bowl regardless of how much cereal is left. She has now taken up this endearing habit, every time she eats cereal. Let's just say Mom, wasn't thrilled with my sharing this over site in etiquette.

Finally, after about fifteen minutes of Elmo, she beckons me to turn it off and take her to her Mommy to put her to bed...

I just have to say, as much as it disturbs my sleep pattern, I am not looking forward to the day she decides that she doesn't need me for that anymore.