late night new year's eve

because you know. 8:35pm is late to me.
Just sittin' here in my bed with my laptop.
With Maddie bouncing around next to me.
Talking in a grrrr voice, getting really close -nose to nose- and breathing her pickle garlic breath on me.
Then she looks at her blood - her fingers over the flashlight.
And wants mine.
And asks me if I can see blood when she tries to stuff the flashlight into her mouth.
And then she jumps around some more, singing.
And then she says, "Mom, I gots a squiggly thing in my mouf. Stuck in my teef."
So we brush her teeth, and she comes back after rinsing, bouncing and squealing, "It's gone, now!!"
And she makes kitty-cat noises, and does a funny dance.
And then she snuggles, and tells me how comfy I am.

And I think how much I love red flannel night gowns, baby teeth, dances in bed and garlicky pickle breath.

life's good.