4:35am

this is the conversation I had at 4:35am with the youngest member of my house:

"Mommy?"

"ummmmmm???"

"I have Goldfish?"

As I slowly opened my eye (yes only one, good grief it was still dark) and registered who I was talking to, actually I knew who I was talking to, there is only one in my house who requests Goldfish, I think perhaps I was holding out hope that I was simply dreaming (what you don't dream about Goldfish? what a quiet life you have) and that the little wonder wasn't truly standing by my bed requesting Goldfish, completely ready with her little snack cup.

"I can't reach the box" she said when she realized I was actually awake enough to process her words. (making a note to leave the darn box on the floor for her from here on out. Ok, so I didn't actually think that, after all I wouldn't encourage the consumption of snack crackers at 4:35 in the morning by the resident 3 year old in my house, I wouldn't)

So I glance at the clock, since my internal clock was wonky (from lack of sleep I would presume) and cringed when I saw the numbers glowing back at me. 4:35, good grief we are not having this conversation at 4:35 a.m.

So I turn back to the little wonder who is ever hopeful, since I'm actually moving that she may just have her request granted, and who is grinning at me and holding her little snack cup to emphasize it's emptiness. So I take the logical approach.

"It's dark out" I say. Which results in her staring at me as tho I have grown another head. Apparently logic isn't going to work.

"the Goldfish are sleeping, we shouldn't wake them" I said She paused for a moment and then replied "I can have them when the sun is out?"

"sure" I said (I have no problem with Goldfish for breakfast, if it means I'm going to get to sleep at 4:35 in the morning. What? you don't feel Goldfish is a breakfast food? guessing you think that way cuz you get to sleep all night)

"ok" she cheerfully replies "I have to go potty"

I groaned, most likely out loud.

"go in my bathroom" I suggest.

"ok" she says as she bounces away. a moment later I hear her return and as I hear her settle under her blankets I hear her voice one last time

"mommy?"

"what" I reply in a clear voice now, since I'm awake, fully awake and now bracing for what next this little wonder will need at 4:35 in the morning.

"I love you"

sigh, she gets me every time

"I love you too" I said, to which I'm not sure she even heard since she had already drifted back to her dreams.

as I glanced at the clock and read the current time of 4:39 I realized that giving up 4 minutes of sleep wasn't such a bad trade off when balanced with the gift of energy and fun she adds to my life.