Hope wanted to know what in the world I do with myself when she’s not around.
Especially after she goes to bed.
I told her I go flying at night for exercise.
“Really?” she asked wide-eyed.
“Yep. After you fall asleep, I grow a tail and feathers. My nose curves into a beak. And I flap my wings and soar through the air.”
“Where do you go when you fly???”
“Oh, I just fly around the neighborhood. With my other bird friends.”
“But who babysits us while you’re out flying?”
“Um, well… I hover over the house so I can keep an eye on you. I don’t go very far.”
It occurred to me at this point that I might be getting carried away with my little story. I felt a tad guily because I didn’t expect her to just believe me so easily.
“How does it feel when you fly?”
“Um. Oh, it’s great.”
There was no turning back now. I burst into an exaggerated rendition of “The Wind Beneath My Wings” and whooshed through the living room.
Fly. Flyyyy. Flyyyyyy away. You let me fly so high.
“Mommy, will you turn me into a bird tonight so I can fly, too? Puleezzz?”
Uh oh.
“Well…”
“Can you turn me into a hummingbird? A pink hummingbird!!??”
We googled pink hummingbirds and discovered there is a species of hummingbird whose feathers actually refract a gorgeous, vivid hot pink. Hope was delighted. She talked for hours about how she’d flap her wings so fast they’d hum, how her pink head would glow in the dark.
As I tucked her into bed that night, I spoke softly and kissed her adorable face,
“I love you, my little pink hummingbird.”
She smiled sweetly,
“I love you, my big black crow.”
.
.
Big, black crow.
Oh, how I needed this sweet, funny story at 4:30 in the morning (while up with my girl).
Fly, Hope, fly!!
I love it. And I suspect that you do fly. You can do anything
Ha ha. Too cute. I have another pink hummingbird right here- she teaches me how to fly.
Hilarious!!
Ah, that Hope’s a funny one. So glad you’ve got someone around who can keep you laughing! (And us, too!)
I just love little Hope! This made me giggle out loud this morning!
This is beautiful. You know, in native american lore, the crow is a very powerful totem representing strength, creativity, strong spirituality, truth/justice and community. Like MAHI, I think it fits.
I have read that hummingbirds represent peace, love and happiness. I can see that in Hope, too.
Awww…where would we be without Google sometimes??? Sweet!
It all sounds fun except the “for excercise” part. I’m pretty sure you get plenty of excercise just keeping up with your girls during the day. Cute story.
Makes me think of a verse from the hymn “Joyful is the Dark”:
Joyful is the dark
Spirit of the deep,
Winging wildly o’er the world’s creation,
Silken sheen of midnight, plumage black and bright,
Swooping with the beauty of a raven.
So pure and sweet! I love it.
Ha! She is too precious! And funny!
I just love her!!!
Fly yourself and your beautiful family down here to Texas someday!!!!
Love,
Leah
I loved how she picked pink!!! Making you the crow…well that just made me laugh. I swear she and my Mae Mae sould like to peas in a pod. Pink and sparkly and so insightful and so full of questions. We could be the two crows and Hope and Mae Mae could be the pink hummingbirds. Loved this post!!
Love.this!
Agreeing with Leah – come to Texas! (Really, I could do a whole pitch on this but will not burden you with it in comments.)
*laughing* Thanks, girl, stick me with the crow. Of all the birds in the world, and I get crow.
I don’t know how I missed this but can’t stop laughing. lol
awww……………………………thats so sweet.keep flying little pink humming bird..