There are nights where baby's bedtime is salvation. A bondage relieved, responsibility tossed into the crib with a bottle of rice milk. There are nights when eight o'clock (on the dot) could not come sooner.
But, there are nights when bedtime is a sweetly melancholic. Did the day have to end so fast? Wasn't just an hour ago when I opened the nursery door with a day full of tasks and business?
First, read books.
Then breakfast.
Pick up all the trucks and cars on the playroom floor.
In a moment of excitement, break the cowboy with the shooting rifle and swivel hips.
Help Daddy fix the cowboy with the shooting rifle and swivel hips.
Read the truck book.
Read it again.
And again.
Until it is time to switch the laundry loads.
(And so it goes . . .)
These are nights when I put the baby to bed with a lump in my throat. Slightly sad about our twelve hour separation through sleep. Him, off to a place we cannot go together.
And so, a prayer to thank Heavenly Father for a good day. A day including a frightening moment on Santa's lap, two cups of raisins and a brief trudge in the new snowfall. A mention to please bless my sleeping baby--until tomorrow's promise of more snow and always, more trucks.
Tonight was one of those nights.
The Jed Wells Headshot Project
47 Pieces of Opinion:
awesome... it's 9:30 and my baby is still awake... we got lost watching the polar express... some nights are just yummy... hopefully you can enjoy many more! thanks for sharing!
i feel like that every night. and a lot
of naps. i miss him so much while
he sleeps. sleep for moms and peace
and quiet are highly over-rated.
You expressed this so well. Some days I am so relieved to get the kids into bed. . . and then as I walk away from their bedroom door, I only want to spend more time with them. Motherhood can be funny that way.
cute. :)
my kids are 7, 13 and 15 and i still feel this way. back forth, in out, the tide comes and goes and every time the ebb pulls them further
That photo is too sweet!
Sweet post!
I have never commented before...but I totally get you on this one. it is 9:45 here and my darling girl just went to bed because I didn't have the heart to stop her dancing and put her to bed. sometimes I definitely get very tired of all of her dancing and energy...but tonight I found myself enjoying all of that energy as she danced around and around the christmas tree, and then snuggled up to her baby brother for family prayers. How can she be so cute one minute and definitely SO SO naughty the next!! I love being a mom!
Those nights (and days) are the best! Actually, this night was one of those, until now, when my daughter woke me up because she got sick. Poor girl! And now, I can't go back to sleep because I'm worried about her. She's 13. You'd think I'd have grown out of the missing them and worrying about them while they sleep by now....
I used to love those nights (my "babies" are now 21,19 and 13!!!), brings back memories! The photo of Chup and the Chief is too cute - a great moment captured!
Oh I love your writing! (I am one of those who don't come here for the pictures..
So sweet. I love this post. Your little boy is so adorable.
This photo really touched me, and your words, as always, captured some beautiful and complex feelings.
Yes! Somedays I am tossing my girls into bed with a "See ya!" and other days I sit with them after prayers and pretend to eat their noses.
As always, fabulous! :) And so true :) (although, being a nursing student, I don't have many problems putting my little one to bed by 7:30--those hundreds of pages of text are not going to read themselves! ;)). Speaking of nursing school, I just finished my rotation in pediatrics and we discussed the issues of putting the babies in bed with milk (horrible, horrible dental caries to the point when their little teeth just rot away), so your sentence of puttin him in his crib with rice milk just jumped out at me--if you must give him a bottle (which I do for my little girl), plain water is the only thing that won't hurt him because the sugar won't be pooling around his teeth all night. And sorry if I'm crossing into "unwanted advice" territory or if that was just your metaphore and you don't actually do that, but as we are told every day, being a nurse is also being a teacher... :) Anyways, I enjoy your writing tremendously and think you are just amazing! Hugs!!! M.
These words are written in my heart, too. Beautiful.
Awesome post and photo! The Chief is very absorbed in what is happening, so cool! Pure magic!
ps. 2 cups of raisins? Keep the diaper bag handy! I predict a really good blow out, probably at Rooster...or a donut run?
Merry Christmas to you all!! really.
pss. my word verification is "undock" just sayin.....
I too come for the writing not the pics, but today's pic is beautiful!
(your) Anon
Truly the mother's dilemma :)
Sweetness!! I remember nights like those. Unfortunately my night was one of the other kind yesterday. Couldn't wait for all of kids to be in bed...but as usual I beat them to it. They are all near or in their 20's and were somehow obnoxious yesterday! I just want my house back.
Cute. You make me want to have children.... kind of. :)
I know just. how. you. feel.
7 pm is my 4 kids' bedtime..usually doesn't come soon enough.
But I loved your words on this sweet post.
ADORABLE little boy!
You just put a lump in my throat. I put my babies to sleep and they woke up 17. When did that happen?
Oh, how I can relate.
Beautiful.
that is very sweet. i feel the same way- it is nice when those nights come along.
We've been doing a lot of this lately...staying up just to enjoy the little moments. I think we're all happier for it.
please tell me where you purchased the cowboy...
:-)
Merry Christmas
Timely post as I was JUST having one of those nights as I put him down not 20 minutes ago. I rocked him a little longer and kissed him a few extra times. I just didn't want to let him go tonight.
Lovely post cjane.
Um, whats that enormous vegetable behind Chup? And is it hard to heat retro house?
That picture can't be from the night of the 12th, the Chief's head was shaved back on the 5th, and he has all of his hair in this picture. Sorry, just observant.
i can totally relate to you...thank you for being so real. lots of love!
cjane--where are you on facebook? i've looked and looked!! ;)
When he is 17 let him lie beside you in the crowded bed because he will relax from his world into yours and for just a moment you will remember those nights when you could hardly put him down to sleep, YOU MIGHT MISS SOMETHING. Before you know it he will be 26 married and studying hard and not have mom to talk to as often. Delicious Days of Childhood.
deemom
it's good to enjoy your kids. so good.
Beautiful!!! But what I am laughing out loud about is the two cups of raisins!! I have to ask how was the diaper when those things passed? I'm sure, from my experience; it was a diaper full of re-hydrated grapes!!
Oh I loved this post, could it be my favorite? This is how bedtime feels :) We are 7 o clock on the dot and sometimes I put them in a run away to my hiding place and then sometimes I notice it is 9:30 and I really still don't want them to go :)
vanessa from inevergrewup.net
Beautiful thoughts. It took me to that place that happens on occasion with my own kidlings.
I loved that. I'm not a mother, but sometimes when I read things like this, I think it just might still be okay to be one. :) Not that the idea of motherhood has ever been offensive to me...it's just that sometimes people talk more about how hard it is. (Not that it isn't hard...I just...)
Clearly I'm not a parent. But I still loved your post. And wanted to say thank you. :)
I love this post...it's sweet.
beth
Amen, CJane
you totally put into words how i feel about bedtime with my little booger.
it's funny how each day is different, I remember with my first I would actually go get her out of bed before I went to bed and snuggle with her because I missed her so much, now with three kids it does not happen at all but I do still miss them sometimes when they are sleeping, they always seem more lovable that way :)
I love that post! All the things a Mom does, and does again... for this little person who has our heart & makes it all worth it - and do-able again tomorrow!
That was one of my favorite posts. I love the way you speak of things I've never put to words or spoken of, but completely understand. You share so well what most people just let go by. Your family will be so blessed to have this blog as a record of your feelings and thoughts. I'm a bit jealous. : )
Beautiful blog and family! I understand...my children are getting so much older and one day will leave. So soon? Ahhh! The thought puts me and my sweet husband in a coma! We miss them each day until we connect again at dinner and love having them around! Sigh...but, this was the goal, right? You raise them so that they can go off and be productive, smart, hard working, kind people....other parents say we'll be ready. I say I hope so. But, I don't know.
Lovely. But I wonder if that is the most giant pear in the world over Chup's shoulder? Or is it an unknown-to-Virginians type of melon?
Post a Comment