The Witching Hour

The Boy wakes at 3 am for the second day in the row.  And when he wakes in the middle of the night, it's often after midnight, usually between 3 - 4 am. The Boy wakes with giddy excitement.  Ready to play.  Turning on lights.  Pulling out books to read.  Singing songs.  Dumping his legos or magnet letters out of their bins, clattering on the hard wood floor.  He is talking, giggling, making eye contact.  He uses 6 - 8 word phrases, pronoucing every word clearly.  He, in fact, does so well that I often want to praise him for "good talking."  I do not.  

And on these nights that he wakes, I am up.  Sometimes letting him play, laying in his bed or in mine with one eye open.  Mindful that at any moment, he could run into the kitchen or open the front door. And other times coaxing him back to his bed.   

Is it the change of routine that sets this off?  Is it the quiet of the night? I have no idea. 

What are your kids up to in the Witching Hour?