Good Morning, Sunshine

Mornings with Isabelle are refreshing. At night she goes into a different realm, perhaps wherever she existed just a few months ago before her first breath. It's a long time to be away, and waking up must be like coming home to the aroma of fresh baked cookies. Comfort and happiness, a world full of possibility. Sometimes I'm not fully awake until she is babbling away, but she thrashes in her sleep for several minutes, so I usually have enough time to rub the haze out of my eyes and enjoy her morning routine.

She opens her eyes a little. Closes them and tries again.

Wait, where am I? Oh, that's right, I'm alive again! Oh, isn't this wonderful! Hello, ceiling. Hello, lamp. Pillow! I'm so glad you're with me... and just as tasty as always. And wait, what do we have here? Hands? How exciting. Hello hands, we are going to have so much fun today.

I watch her as she studies her hands. Before they enter her mouth for the requisite finger exploration and tasting, she holds them out in front of her face to examine them. First a fist, up close, then a whole hand spread out before her. She admires them against the ceiling, shifts and looks at them in contrast now to the wall. Front to back, side to side. How pretty. Yes, today we will have adventures together, I think.

She awakens unaware of the rest of the world, but content in herself. It is not until I greet her with a soft good morning that she remembers me. Startled out of her thoughts, her eyes widen with surprise, and then she breaks into her biggest smile. Mommy! I wasn't expecting to see you here. How nice. We're going to have such a great day.