Cuddle-Monster

This morning Amy awoke quite early. She has always been the early-riser of the family, but thankfully she's been sleeping a bit later since daylight savings last weekend. But today I heard the stairs creaking at 6:15am, as she slowly crept down to greet me.

Sometimes I simply turn her back around and send her back to her bed. There, she'll cuddle under her blankets and read books, and occasionally fall back asleep again. But this morning she asked the same question she asks many times each day..."Please, I can I hold you?". The house was quiet, Dan was already at work, and I decided to spend some time with Amy.

We cuddled up under a blanket on the couch for almost 45 minutes. As we sat there, I could smell the blueberry-scented shampoo that she and Beth begged for at the store last week. Her blond curls were sticking up every-which-way. We didn't talk much, but just enjoyed being together. And as we sat there, I was struck by how different each of my children are from each other. Beth and Erin couldn't sit still like that for more than 2 minutes. They are both constantly on the go, and it's not easy to get them to stop for more than a quick hug. But Amy...as most of you probably know, she is our cuddle-monster. She constantly begs to be held, and there have been many times when I have been known to cook dinner with this 32-pound three-year-old balanced on my hip, while the baby plays happily by herself.

Sometimes her requests for "holding" come at inopportune times. Sometimes I have to tell her that she needs to wait, which always results in outbursts of tears. But this morning, there were no distractions, and I'm glad that we spent that time together.

Perhaps that's why she is always such an early riser. Maybe she knows that those early-morning hours are the time when we are most able to spend alone-time with her...the only time that she can be guaranteed a long hug. So maybe, next time I won't be so quick to send her back to her bed. Cuddling with a 3-year-old is not such a bad way to spend a cold winter morning.