Each morning usually around 2:30-3:00 a.m., there is a stir.
She looks up at them all.
Will it be the Lady Bug with the crinkling paper inside?
Or the Lion that stands on the rattling ball?
She thinks to herself and ponders her next move.
There’s an Elephant that holds plastic stars and also a Monkey that hangs with a gold medal?
She goes for the striped spinning ball that houses beads inside. The beads chase each other and make a great sound, which she loves, after a good spin downward.
Yesterday it was the Cow with a mirror on its belly that caught her attention; simply because that’s the corner she woke up in.
She dreams one day of reaching the squeaky plastic Dinosaurs that peer down at her. These colorful creatures take in water and are meant for the bathtub, but they find themselves adorned on her crib because they are great for blowing air into her face, which ignites a curious smile every time.
When she is very rambunctious she will start her Music Soother by kicking it loudly with both heels until she catches the corner just so, sounding the music and alerting the smiling Fish to magically appear.
There are many other gadgets, stuffed animals and toys connected to her crib that contain bells and whistles. All with colorful shapes and faces strategically placed to entertain her. None of these came with the crib of course. They all once dangled on strollers or play mats and lived very different lives.
But now they have gathered in this new location for one purpose: To grab her attention, calm her and settle her back to sleep.
There is one toy, however, that is out of reach, a mysterious round figure that has a tiny red light and rotates about in the dark. It follows her every movement and catches each pose. Sometimes a recognizable voice emanates from this short sphere and when this happens she hides her face in her squishy pillow. But it never moves from its location and papa has yet to offer it to her, for playtime. She often stares at it and wonders when she will touch it.
This little white snowball with an eye serves the same purpose as the other toys, but this is for her papa. It allows him to view the little bugger and decide if all of those crazy noises in mid morning need immediate attention.
What’s the cause of this mornings wake?
Has the little wiggle worm worked herself into the corner again, with her face somehow at a 90-degree angle?
Has she had a terrible nightmare where the animals and dinosaurs spread throughout her room are coming to get her to take her to the land where they once roamed free?
Or is she in need of another belly fill to settle the growing pains?
Every little figurine in her village serves a purpose and she is learning that each is there for her convenience. She is unaware but its the toy that she has yet to touch and chew on that is the most important in getting her and her papa back to the place they both want to be at this mid morning.
Sleepy town!
About the author
Robert Brawley is a West Coast kid who moved out to NYC in 2004 to further his career; most recently managing a Multi Unit Luxury Retail Company throughout the USA and Canada. Robert and his wife have been together for 12 years and are the proud parents of an 8 month old beautiful baby girl. As his profession had him traveling 50% of the time, he decided to put his career on hold over the summer and spend the first year as a stay home father, caring for his working wife and child. He is an avid sports fan, a family man and enjoys recreational traveling throughout the world to learn and enjoy different cultures.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
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