A few weeks ago, Shelby started having trouble sleeping. This has always been the child who would be the first in the house to fall asleep. It used to drive Ben nuts. "How does she do it? She doesn't even have to try!" he'd say with such exasperation in his voice.
But every once and awhile over the past few weeks, she's come into my room after going to bed. Even tells me as she's first lying down, "I just know I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight, Mommy. PLEASE let me watch tv," she'll plead. The answer is always the same: "No honey...it's bedtime. This phase will pass and sleep will come easy again."
Fast forward to last night when I had two visitors. It went as so...
9:30
Shelby: Mommy, I just wanted to tell you my throat is dry and I need a drink.
Me: Okay, let's get one then go back to bed.
Shelby: Okay. I love you so much.
Me: I love you so too.
11:15ish
Ben (sleepwalking!): Mom...remember when I said I wanted to be a Marine and you finally said 'Okay'.
Me: Yes
Ben: Well I still do. Are you still okay with it.
Me: Baby, I'm okay with anything you want to do as long as it makes you happy.
Ben: Okay good, Because I do. I love you. You're the best mom in the world.
Me: :::sigh:::: How'd I get so lucky?!
Ben: Remember mom...I love you more.
Me: That's not possible.
Ben: Yes it isssssssss!
(this has been a long-standing 'joke' between us...the whole 'that's not possible...yes it isssssss!').
11:30ish
Shelby: Mommy, I just wanted to tell you sorry for getting up earlier.
Me (as I tell the person I'm speaking with on the phone to hang on): No problem, but that's not a reason to get out of bed.
Shelby: I know...sorry.
Me: It's okay. Now stay in bed. It's VERY late and you are going to be very tired in the morning. I love you.
Shelby: I love you too and I really am sorry.
Midnight
Shelby: Mommmmmm....I just wanted to let you know how good you smelled when I came in while ago.
Me: Oh. My. Word. Shelby...do not get out of bed again.
Shelby: Okay...
Me: I love you honey, but this is not good.
Shelby: Well...you do smell good.
Me: Thank you, now go to bed.
Shelby: What kind of lotion did you use to get that smell, exactly?
Me: Baby, go to bed!
You guessed it...this morning wasn't pretty.
I know one day I will look back on times like this and wish with every fiber of my being these two little cuties would grace the frame of my bedroom door with their sleepy eyes and silly comments. I'm aware how fast time passes and am incredibly blessed to be able to tuck them in and kiss them goodnight. Smell their freshly washed hair. Check on them when they are soundly sleeping and just sit there and stare at them.
But whew...last night, the little blond one was killin' me! :-) Though I love her with all my heart and will probably cry many a night in the not so distant future for her to come into my room with her half-awake self just to tell me I smell good and she loves me...last night, that child needed sleep!
I took many deep breaths last night. And reminded myself this time will, and already is, passing too quickly with them. Again I ask...where's the pause button?
::::sigh::::
As many times as I've heard this song, I've never seen the video until today. Salute to this here-today-gone-tomorrow-world we're living in...
No comments:
Post a Comment