the apple doesn' t fall far....

It's nearly 11:00 p.m. I am starting my new early hours at work tomorrow, which means that I'm getting up at 4:50 am to be in by 6:00.

Bill and I were clamoring to see what's in store for "Life at the O'Neill house" this week.

And, for the third time, we hear a little voice coming down the stairs. Camille. From her her bedroom. Where she's supposed to be sleeping.

The first time, I found her in the doorway to our bedroom. She apparently wanted to get in bed with us.

The second time, she joined us at the dining room table, wanting a pop-tart and some milk. Daddy gave it to her. Sucker.

The third time, when these pictures were taken, I'm not quite sure what she wanted to begin with, but after hearing me check emails on the computer, she decided that 10:30 is a perfect hour to play her favorite Sesame Street letter game on the computer. I beg to differ.

Did I mention that the third time was not the last? Here we go again, back upstairs....

Okay, back again. Such a good sport. On the way up, she sweetly said, "Say goodnight to downstairs."

So Mom, Dad, and John, you can stop laughing now. Don't even bother saying, "She had it coming." I know. I actally recall some of those episodes when I would continually find reasons to crawl out from under the covers and traipse out into the living room: one more hug....a drink of water...couldn't find my doll....had to go to the bathroom....needed another drink of water. To add to this complexity, I was a bit of an obsessive child, wrapped up in ritual. Every time I was tucked back in, the exchange had to be repeated:

Good night.

I love you.

I'll see you in the morning.

Sleep tight so the bed bugs don't bite.

Sweet dreams.

Are the doors locked?

Is my window closed?

Okay.

No kidding. I remember these words verbatim. Because I said them every night....more than once...every time I got out of bed and got tucked back in.

So, I deserve this. But I'm glad. Because someday perhaps Camille will remember her getting-out-of-bed routine by heart.

So off I go....to see what I can find coming down the stairs.