Despite all our previous efforts - late bedtimes, short naps, even no naps - Elliot remains an early riser. This isn't conducive to anyone else sleeping late, especially Noah who, by week's end, is usually tired and running behind in the sleep department. And he's not a quiet early riser.
For this reason, I often take him out of the house when he wakes up early on weekends so Noah (and occasionally Mandy) can try to sleep late. In the winter, it's too cold for a walk or bike ride, so sadly we are a well-known feature at Starbucks at that early hour. Elliot picks out his chocolate milk, and politely tells the barista that his daddy wants some coffee.
We then sit and talk over our respective drinks for awhile, and chat about his week. Then if it's still too early to go home, we cruise around the Plaza for a little while and look at the fountains and lights, and the moon if it's up. He loves the dark morning time, like me. Sometimes when its warm enough, we walk over the bridge, and look at the 'fountain' in the middle of Brush Creek.
I enjoy the time alone with him, listening to him chatter away. These quiet times will disappear soon enough.
