Bitty Surprise

This morning, as I was getting ready for work a little bit later than I usually do have been lately, I heard something unexpected.

The Birdie was awake, and fussing that she wanted to get up.  Okay, that wasn't too surprising, because she has been waking up early a lot lately, but what was surprising was what she was saying.  For possibly the first time ever, I heard through the baby monitor, "Mom-meeee!  I want my mommy!"

Blink.  No, surely I must have heard that wrong.  Because she has never ever awakened asking for me.  Not in the morning, and certainly not in the middle of the night.  It's always Daddy she wants, to the point where she will sometimes wail, "Nooooo!  I don't want yooooooouuuuu!" if I go in, instead.  (But it's fair, because the Imp is the same way with me, except he can't put it into such sharp, specific words quite yet.)

So, after I finished getting ready for work, I popped in and told my still-sleeping husband (who had forgotten to turn the baby monitor on in the bedroom last night) to go ahead and shower, and I'd see if I could get the Birdie to calm down and play quietly in her room until Daddy could get upstairs.

I was still a bit skeptical that she had actually been calling for Mommy, but as I climbed the stairs I heard her wail again, and she was definitely saying "Mommy."  Amazing.

I went in her room, and she sat up, all happy to see me.  "Mommy!"  I sat down on her bed and gave her a hug.

"Good morning, sweetie!  What do you want?"

Often, the first question out of her mouth in the mornings is (or seems to be), "Where are we going today?"  This morning, she asked a variation on it:  "What are we going to eat?"

"Oh, well, sweetie, I have to go to work, but Daddy will fix you something when he gets up here," I replied, with sudden suspicion, but pretending to be oblivious.

She cut right to the chase and confirmed my suspicion.  "Are we going to eat cake pops?"

Ahh, yes.  Cake pops.  She had been delighted by them last night, and ever since she saw them, she had been dying to try them.  And suddenly it came together.  This was why she unexpectedly and uncharacteristically wanted Mommy this morning.  Because Mommy and cake pops go together, in her mind - and the cake pops were apparently the very first thing that crossed her bitty mind this morning.  Or close to it.

And before you say, "Oh no, you are just being cynical, she really wanted you and the other is only coincidence," let me assure you that I am not being cynical.  I accept that she is a Daddy's Girl, and I have no problem with that now.  I am okay (most of the time) with her preference of Daddy, to the point of her often wanting nothing to do with Mommy if he is around.  I love my Birdie and I take my hugs when I can get them (sometimes stolen from a screaming Birdie, but I still get them).  But, no.  It is not coincidence.  Mommy made the cake pops.  Mommy is in charge of the cake pops.  I want a cake pop.  Therefore, I must have Mommy come get me so she can give me one.  I am quite sure that is how her thought process went.

Back to the conversation.

"No, we're not going to eat cake pops right now."

"When are we going to eat them?"

"We'll eat them after dinner."

"Oh."

"You know, there is one with your name on it, waiting for you."

"There is?  Is it the pink one?"

"Yes."

"Is there one with the Imp's name on it?"

"Yes, there is."

"Is it the white one?"

"Yes."

"Is there one with your name on it?"

"No, Mommy and Daddy don't have their names on them, because I still have to decorate them.  But you can help me decorate them tonight!"

I then tried in vain to get her to stay and play quietly in her room, but she insisted on going out.  The conversation quickly turned back to the number-one thing on her mind, though.

"Can I help you decorate them?"

"Yes, you may."

"Can I help now?"

"No, sweetie, I have to go to work now."

"Nooooo!  You can't go to work!"

And I think this is the first time she has ever cared whether I left the house.

Behold, the power of cheese Cake Pops.