You are an 18 month old bundle of energy these days. Our baby is now a toddler. Talking more and playing harder. You are a rough and tumble girl! You like to run, jump, spin in circles, be thrown high in the air, be tickled, tackle your parents, and the list goes on. I have so much fun with you during our days together. But today I wanted to tell you about my favorite time with you... bedtime. You go to bed every night around 7pm or so. Every once in a while, your Daddy takes on this task to give me a little break, and I share it with him because I know it's good for you both to have that special time together. However, most nights the bedtime routine falls to me and I eat up every single minute of it. We change your diaper and put on your "jammies" then, if Daddy is home from work, you give him lots of night night hugs and kisses. We are very fortunate that 95% of the time you don't put up a fight about going to bed. You almost seem excited about it and very happily say "night night!" to Daddy and all of your toys. Except of course for the toys that go to bed with you and let me tell you, that list is growing. In fact, it's getting a little out of control. You used to take your beloved "Cubbie" (teddy bear) and "blankie" to bed with you. Somehow over the past couple of months the party in your crib has gotten bigger and you will NOT fall asleep until you have Cubbie, Blankie, Elmo, and Dolly. This is where we've drawn the line, although you often try to gather up every single stuffed animal you own in your arms and climb up the stairs to your room. Nice try.
Once we get upstairs we get situated in the rocker with your four little friends. Then comes my favorite part... you lay your head down on my shoulder and softly say, "sing?" and I sing you a song. As soon as it ends, you say, "sing?" and I sing you another song. This would go on for hours if you had your way. I like to think it's because you are so soothed by your momma singing to you, but I know better... I'm certain it's because you know that as soon as the singing stops you have to go in your crib and you'd like to prolong the inevitable. Regardless, we do this for 10 or 15 minutes singing song after song. Our little concerts usually include a variety of Disney songs, Show Tunes, old standards, and hymns/praise songs. Every single night we sing: "Stay Awake" a lullaby from Mary Poppins, "Close Your Eyes" my favorite James Taylor song, and "Jesus (There's just something about that name)" which is my favorite old hymn. Other frequent songs include "Baby Mine", "Someone to Watch Over Me", "My Favorite Things", "Edelweiss", "I See the Moon", "Lavender Blue", "Something Beautiful", "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes"... I could go on. After we finish singing we say a night night prayer. Without prompting you fold your hands and close your eyes and at the end you say "AMEN!" with gusto. Then I lay you in your crib, cover you with your blankie, and say my own little prayer thanking God for the gift of YOU as I walk out of the room.
Any tantrums, defiant moments, and rough spots of the day completely fade away during our 15 minute bedtime routine. That busy toddler who was running circles around me earlier in the day is suddenly a baby in my arms again for a brief moment and I cherish every second of it because I know sooner or later you aren't going to want to to sit on my lap and hear me sing. Soon enough these everyday moments will just be memories. And oh, what wonderful memories they will be.
Love you, Momma
Bedtime with Daddy and all of her required cribmates. Oh, and the gardening glove she refused to take off her hand.
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