The Daily Hailey

Dekker is the best in the mornings. Of course I love my son at any time of the day, but he is clearly feeling on top of the world most mornings. This morning was an uncomfortably early one for me. Both Dekker and Laela were awake at 7:30. Laela was making her cute little sing-songy sounds, and Dekker was telling jokes and laughing at himself in the mirror, I’m sure. At least they’re cute, right?

So I sat down at the breakfast table with Dekker while he ate his ever-requested Life cereal. As per usual, he reminded me to make myself some tea. I say “reminded,” but he gets mildly agitated if I don’t have a drink. Creature of habit. So I made a pumpkin K-cup cappuccino and sat back down with him. He looked towards my mug, and seemed to sort of lean to look around it. It scanned the table for a few more seconds before saying “Mom’s pills?” I hadn’t taken my vitamins or my fish oil pills yet, and he noticed. Remember when I asked that someone email/text.hound me about doing these things? Turns out I don’t need you after all. I have Dekker.

I got my pills out of their container on the counter and came back to the table. Then and only then did Dekker settle in for his cereal. We chatted a bit and made funny faces and generally enjoyed each others company. When his cereal was gone, I asked him what else he was hungry for. He basically knows his options, and lately, it seems to frustrate him if I push and suggest them all. So I just asked, and he thought for a few seconds before choosing an orange. I grabbed two little mini mandarins out of the fridge and peeled one for him. I always just give him one at a time, but he always eats both. He took the pieces of the first one, lined them up in a straight line (which is a very Dekker thing to do) and then ate them slowly. The second he had the last two pieces shoved into his mouth, he pointed and asked for “more ernsh.” So I peeled it and gave it to him to line up. When he was just about finished his second orange, he held up the final piece and looked me fairly sternly in the face and said said ‘Mom. Last ernsh.” And then plunked it in his mouth. I couldn’t help but laugh my face off. That kid is becoming funnier every day, and I’m actually thoroughly enjoying the mimicking stage. It does bring to light how he views me, though. It made me think he views me as a bit of a stiff person, or very strict. I am that way about some things, and I know that. But he also got a lot of his funny faces from me, and his little jokes and mannerisms. I think we’ve struck a decent balance around here 🙂

It was an enlightening breakfast with Dekker this morning. After all the talk and food, breakfast is always ended very abruptly with a “Done!” and a “Say soo, suppa, mom!” That means “thank you for supper” around here, but I think it counts. And then my little milk mustached boy is off, running towards the living room, shrieking “Pay toys!!!”

My kids are the best way to start my day.