This One's for You, Elena

Somehow, every morning when I awake, Charlie is lying next to me. He always (well, almost always) starts out in his bed but ends up in mine. Jacinta too, more than half the time. I don't mind, neither does Jim. It works for us, especially since we know our nights are numbered.

Charlie is an early-riser (by my standards) and I am not. He lies there and waits for me to get up. Sometimes patiently, sometimes not so patiently. Sometimes quietly playing with something from the nightstand, sometimes chattering away to himself, sometimes singing a tune slightly off-key, sometimes repeatedly asking me questions while tugging on my face. I've encouraged him to go and play in his room when he wakes up. He'd rather wait.

This morning, still half asleep, I stretched my arms toward the ceiling and crossed them over my chest. And then I heard his hopeful little voice say, "Mommy, when you put your arms up like this," (stretching them above his body) "and then twist them back down like this," (crossing them on his chest), that means that you are ready to get up."

Laughing, I said, "Really? Who told you that?"

Without hesitation, "Grandpa."

Unbelieving, "When did he tell you that?"

A smile creeping onto his sweet face, "When I was in his bathroom, playing with the toys."

This kid has an answer for everything. And if he doesn't, he'll make one up without missing a beat.

He then asked me when I am going to have another baby as he patted my stomach. I asked him when he was going to ask Jesus to send us another baby.

He looked to the ceiling and commanded, "Jesus," then hesitated only long enough to make a quick cross on his chest and mumble, "Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen," and continued, "Jesus, send Mommy a baby."

I questioned, "Don't you think that you should ask Him more politely?"

Again, the rapid-fire "Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen," followed by "Jesus, please send Mommy two babies!" He then looked at me and explained, "We need two so they can play with each other."

I couldn't agree more.