Gabe and I just had a precious few minutes... at 5.45 a.m.

We've been potty training this week, and he woke up to tell me that he had a wet diaper. A good sign, though early in the morning.

I changed him and he climbed back in bed. Then requested a song. Many times I'd say no and go back to bed but my heart was tender this morning so I did: Rock A By Baby -- the usual in which the last two lines in the first stanza I sing la-la-la-la instead of the words. This is mostly because I forgot the words for weeks on end when I first started singing it to Gabe and partly because once I learned the words I decided I didn't really want to sing about the baby falling.

After singing the la-la-la-la part Gabe said, "No Mom. You need to sing "When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, and down will come baby chick, cradle and all.' Right Mom?" So cute that he actually sang those lines. "Right buddy," And I proceeded.

Immediately following the song he laid their and plopped his right hand over his chest. I couldn't figure it out and said "Watchya doing there buddy?" And he said "I'm doing my hand like at Wrigley Field." (Background: A few weeks ago I took Gabe on a special Mommy/Gabe trip to Chicago where we used to live. When we were at a Cubs game I taught him to put his hand over his heart during the "National Anthem.") At this point in our early morning moment I was reminded of how my little guy is so stinking cute!

And so I sang the National Anthem. Then he said "That song is only for me, right Mom? It's not for Will." I told him how it was the National. Anthem. for the United States, for all of America. And he said "It's for the Hancock too." And I said "Sure. The Hancock is in the United States so it's for the Hancock too."

This whole time I'm looking for a break to exit and crawl back into my bed and then he said "Just one more thing. I want you to pray." He took my hands and put them together for me, brought both of his pointer fingers up to his eyes and showed me how to shut my eyes.

We proceeded. I prayed for the usual. Gabe followed the prayer by saying "Let's pray for the Hancock building. I miss the Hancock building." So we did. Then he told me his heart was sad because he misses the Hancock. I offered some comforting words, told him to stay in bed until his light turns green (his clock has a glowing light that turns green when it's 6.30) and left.

Sleep times are one reason I'm thankful for the conclusion of daylight savings time. It's still mostly dark at 6 a.m. now. Refreshing in a way and great for putting the kids back to sleep at 5.45 am. if need be.