Resting

Sometimes when Sam is up super early (think between 4:30 and 5:45), we will try to get him back in to sleep by bringing him to bed with us.  However, if there is any sign of daylight, even a crack of light around the window shade, he is pretty much up for the day.  He will lie quietly for a little while, and then sing softly or start wiggling or petting one of us.  Often I will open my eyes to find him giggling in my face.  It's cute, but only after at least 5:30.
To let one parent sleep a little longer, someone will take him out to the living room to play, get him some juice and fruit, and then lie back on the couch to doze.
Usually the parent who attempts to rest on the couch will be offered, "softie?" (his blanket), "binky?", "baby?", and then a variety of other favorite objects, usually involving Thomas the Train and friends.
Then, that parent might be read to.  This is Sam choosing a book, summarizing the pages, and then holding it up, "see?  See fire en-jin?  Yes, red fire truck.  Loud!"
He might do a puzzle.  This is narrated and occasionally one will get poked.  "This piece go here?  You watching Sammy?"
Sometimes he cooks in his kitchen and I will open my eyes to find a plastic hamburger, wooden bun, and a handful of other toy food near me.  Today I got lucky and also received a real raspberry, which somehow was not mashed into the couch.
I wish I had this child's energy level that early in the morning.  Of course, three hours later he won't be the most pleasant person around.  And one day he'll be grown and out of the house, and I'll miss my collection of trinkets when I am lying on the couch, (except maybe the berry).