Bedtime Routine

Lately, Trever has been in charge of the bedtime routine with Liberty, especially now that Hadley is around. I don't think he minds too much most of the time, since he is gone most of the day. It's a nice Daddy-daughter bonding time for them. Anytime I ask Liberty who she wants to put her to bed, she immediately says, "Da-da!" Mom just doesn't cut it anymore! I think one of the reasons she chooses Trever is because he will often times fall asleep with her and she finds comfort in that. And as a sidenote, it's usually way past "normal" bedtime for kids by the time we put Liberty to bed, so it's time for Trever to go to bed anyway.

Well, Trever has been a little under the weather today, so I took over the bedtime routine tonight. Surprise, surprise, as we were gathering her bedtime paraphernalia* she says, "Mom will you sleep with me?" I told her I would lay down by her for a few minutes. She was okay with that - sort of. I let Liberty choose some books to read first. Of course, while I'm getting the books, she insists that I lay down next to her in her bed. We read the books, and then moved onto singing songs. I told her we could sing two songs - I would pick one, and she would pick one. She wanted me to go first, so I picked, "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus." Then I told her it was her turn to pick a song. After a second or two she says, "Popcorn," which of course is, "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree." I sang that to her, and then told her I was going to turn off the lights, and lay down by her for two minutes. I turned off the lights and she started to get comfortable, and then popped up and said, "I forgot to choose one more song!" How could you say no to that! So I said, "Okay, what song do you want to sing?" She paused for a few seconds and said, "Bush... Mulberry Bush!" I laughed inside and sang, "Here we go 'round the Mulberry Bush..." a couple of times. I was actually pretty surprised at her choice. I'm pretty sure that's not the most common bedtime songs for 2-year olds, or any kids for that matter! I got a kick out of that.

So I finished the song and told her goodnight, and layed there for a minute. She tossed and turned for a minute, and then was settled. I sat up and told her I was leaving. She then said, "Da-da's turn!" I told her that tonight just Mom was putting her to sleep because Dad was sick and he needed to rest. She was okay with that. I climbed out of her bed, and she quickly said, "I forgot! I forgot to give Mom hugs, Peace-man, and I love you!" We exchanged hugs, and she flashed me a few "peace" signs and "I love you signs," which is her normal bedtime (and goodbye) routine. I told her I had to go and clean the house because it was messy. I told her in the morning she could tell me if it was clean or messy in the house (another common remark from her). We said our final "goodnights" and I left the room. I went into the office next to her room to post this blog, but as soon as I sat down I heard her calling to me. I went back in and she said, "Clean up, Mom, clean the house!" What a girl! I guess I better get to cleaning the house, or I'm going to hear it from Liberty in the morning...

*Bedtime paraphernalia: three blankies - "brown blankie," "pink blankie," and "baby blankie," Dora doll, "Kitty Cat," pink "dot-dot-dot" dog, poodle, and a drinkie; and toothbrush and toothpaste, and Aquaphor on the nightstand.

**The best part about all this paraphernalia? When she wakes up in the morning she gathers all of her "stuff" (that's what she calls it) and brings it into my room where I'm still sleeping. She obviously has to take a few trips. Typically, she'll come into my room and say, "Hi, Mom!" And then one by one hands me each item saying, "Here, Mom, here Mom," until all of her stuff is in my bed with me. Then she climbs up and snuggles! And don't you worry, the toothbrush, toothpaste, and Aquaphor are included in the "stuff" transfer! I love this girl!