Mornings
6 January, 2000
We're invariably woken up by Matthew stirring in his cot. He's often lying on his back, feet stuck up on the cot rails, babbling away good humouredly to himself and Laa-laa I'll get up and go make his bottle, en route feeding the cats, taking a pee, and turning the heater on if it's a bit cold. I'll bring the bottle back to our room, and then go fetch him while Deb stirs from sleep and sets the bed up for him.
He smiles when I walk into the room, and starts saying, "up, up" as I open his curtains. I'll lift him into my arms. "Who are we going to see Matthew?", I'll always ask him. "Mum-ma" he'll say, "Mum-ma". "And what's Mum-ma got for you?", always the same question. "Umm, Baw-baw" he'll answer delightedly.
I'll lie him down on the bed, in between us, his head nestled on the pillows Deb's arranged, then give him the bottle and climb in beside him. We'll both lie there as he drinks his bottle. Sometimes he'll stop, reach out and press my nose, going "baaaaahhhhh", like a sheep does. Sometimes our cat Tess will come in, jump up on the bed and try to crawl in somewhere. Matthew always smiles at her, "Hi Tess" he says, "Hi Tess". He says it in a Southern drawl for some reason!
Once he's finished his bottle, he'll thrust it away, "here-ah, here-ah", not wanting anything more to do with it, and stand up, trying to pull open the curtain. I'll have to stretch up and open the curtain before he knocks over the bedside lamp with it, and he'll stand on the bed between us, looking out the window for buses and cars on the streets below, calling out, "bus" or "vrrrooom" whenever he sees one.
I'll
leave him to play with Deb on the bed while I go take my shower. When
I'm finished I'll call out into the bedroom, "where's Matthew, where's
Matthew?"
Silence.
"Is he with you Debbie?"
"No, he's not with me, I don't know where he is."
"Hmmm, let me look in his bedroom, no, not there … Matthew,
I think you're in with Mum, are you in there?"
Silence.
"Matthew, are you Mum?"
Silence, maybe a little muffled giggle.
"I know you're in there Matthew."
"Matthew, what sound does a cow make?"
"MOOOO, MOOOO."
And I'll pounce into the bedroom while he shrieks and giggles with delight.
I know one day he's going to be smarter than me, but for now, let me enjoy tricking him like that!