Rising early is never something that I did well, or enjoy. I've struggled with many years because I wanted to be a morning person so bad. When I managed to get out of bed, and wake myself up, I enjoyed being up so much. There was something about getting up early that gave me this overwhelming hope, because I saw so much opportunity in the day. The getting up part... became this crazy intangible thing that I never did well.
My best friend Chelsea was always an early riser. I would spend the night at her house in high school, and she would wake me up singing, wanting to go for a run, making breakfast, turning on all the lights. I would throw pillows at her, pull the blanket up over my head, and pray that she left me alone. I was always the dork at sleepovers , that the other girls tormented with toothpaste because I was the first to sleep, and the last to wake up!
There was one season in my life where I was able to enjoy the morning. It was a brief time in high school that I managed to wake up every day at 5AM, have a quiet time and work out, and it was the happiest time of my high school years.
I knew that when Capri came, I would have to get over this, and I knew I would manage to do it, I just didn't think I would be happy about it. To my surprise though, as I was awakened by my baby girl, I would roll over to find the happiest smile, and the most beautiful big blue eyes.
Her joy and excitement about waking up in the morning is overwhelming. If you could test energy on a scale from 1-100, every morning her beautiful spirit is at a 95!
This is just another way she has changed my life. Getting up before the sun is easy now (although I do admit to a new coffee addiction to help as well). I love being her mom, and sharing in her excitement of the morning. She gave me the gift of being able to wake up happy, hopeful and like I wished so many mornings growing up- seeing the day full of opportunity.
7 comments:
Oh, I know this struggle! I too have tried to become a morning person for years. My body clock seems to work best going to bed at 12:30 and sleeping until 10 am. Being a teacher does not quite fit into that schedule. I'm constantly fighting my natural tendencies (that sounds like something that'll preach, huh?) When I had babies it never changed either. My girls have always been late sleepers. Now that they are older, we like you, are the first to sleep, and the last to wake.
Enjoy your summer, and I hope to actually meet you someday at a bloggy meet-up.
how precious! i love the picture! yes, kids give you a new reason to wake up!
This is a sweet post. :)
I totally know what you mean about waking up early. I've just in the past year grown into a habit of needing more sleep and sleeping in late. And when I watched Janelle for the week I never thought I would be able to get up early and be excited about it. But sure enough I was, there's something so wonderful about waking up to a laughing, smiley little baby. It just starts off your day so wonderful!! I can't wait to have my own kids and experience this. You're so blessed to have your sweet little girl. She is and will be your best friend.
Oh I just love when babies first wake up...She looks like she is saying "Look how cute I am". Sweetness for sure...
what a picture! I never thought of them giving us the gift of waking up early...what a great perspective.
Bleagh! I wish I'd received that particular gift from my children.
I still hate mornings!