Something disturbed my heavy slumber at 4am last night.
What is it this time? I think to myself:
a) the neighbors kitchen blinds banging on the frame in the wind
b) Rio crying for no reason in particular
c) Belize crying for some made-up excuse to get out of bed
I listen for a minute to confirm the cry. It's Belize so I assume its (C). Rio is a very light sleeper and wakes up if you but crack his door, so I turn into "Super Mom" and scramble lightening fast out of bed to Belize's side for fear her cry will start someone else's in a tragic domino effect.
"Mom, I'm hungry."
Really, you got me out of my MUCH NEEDED beauty sleep cause you're hungry? Everyone is hungry at 4am, ESPECIALLY if they barely ate their dinner.
"Belize, it's still night time and when you wake up in the morning you can eat breakfast."
The crying resumes.
(yelling in my mind) Be quiet girl! You're going to wake up your brother!!!!!
"Fine, fine, i'm getting you a graham cracker but while I'm gone, PLEEEESE don't cry"
I get her the graham cracker and then comes the line that will melt your heart but dread because you KNOW its coming:
"Will you sleep with me?"
Why do you have to use that cute little voice?
"Sure, but only for a minute."
I lay down and she snuggles next to me. My hand reaches to pull her in tighter and . . .
hmmmmm, her skin is so soft . . . just what IS my hand on? feels like . . .
I move my hand around . . . its a bare tush, oh no. I dreadingly feel around on the brand new mattress, its wet and cold.
"Belize did you take your pull-ups off?" (She has yet to master nights as apparent by this story and she's a deep sleeper, like unto myself).
"Yeah, and I put them on the floor."
Of COURSE, you did, that just makes sense. I see them lying neatly next to the bed. I move Belize, who by this point is wide awake and just happy to be up, and take off the blankets, then the fitted sheets and the water-proof blanket.
Wait a minute, did I say, water-proof blanket? My bad, I remembered in fine print on the package it did say water-resistant blanket. DANG IT. I feel the bed, that water "resistant" blanket must have been wet for hours because the bed is freezing and a little damp. (SO SORRY Mom and Dad, you can have the other one when we EVENTUALLY give it to you!!) I throw everything into the dirty clothes hamper, wipe Belize down with some wipes and give her a new pull-up. Whew! This is way more than one should exert themselves this early in the morning.
Belize tucked in tightly once again, I snuggle my face in hers for one last "kiss, hugs, noses".
"Mom, your breath stinks. You should brush them in the morning."
YOUR breath stinks AND you just peed your bed! Ha!
"Okay Belize, I love you, good night." I leave, feeling a little dejected and upappreciated for this night time fiasco.
And as I'm closing the door I hear softly,
"Mom, you're the best."
Awwwwwww! That girl knows how to get me . . . and I'm glad she recognizes superior when she see's it. :)
I smile to myself and roll back onto my pillow.
If you click on this pic you can see next to Rio's eye where he tried to gauge his eye out with a straw.
This is one of Rio's best faces yet! He does it all the time.
Belize warms up to Uncle Blair in 2 seconds. He has been doing some trips to Santa Barbara for work and we are lucky enough to have him drop by now and then. Belize LOVES it! He is already a professional Grandpa with 20 grandkids or so.
We found this cool SeaLab near our house. It's kind of like a community aquariam for rescued animals and they take you on a tour behind the scenes- and its FREE! Rio desperately tried to throw himself off Brannon's shoulders into the tanks.
Rio and his friend cute friend, Abbey playing at the beach! 
