Bedtime is one of my favourite times of the day, and not just because a few hours of blessed peace and respite are close enough to be palpable.
I love the rituals of bedtime. I love that Simon gets excited and runs to the gate at the bottom of the stairs when you say, “time for jammies” or “time for bath” (they get a bath every second night, for the most part). I love that Tristan is now capable enough that in the time it takes for Simon and me to make our way upstairs, he has already stripped out of his clothes, pulled off his diaper and tossed his clothes in the vicinity of the hamper. (Okay, about one time in seven his clothes are near the hamper without a gentle reminder. But we’re getting there.)
I love the sound of kids in the bathtub together, and I love babies with the pre-bedtime crazies running nekkid around the upstairs. I love the smell of freshly washed boys in clean pyjamas.
I love the fact that Simon grunts along with me as I count down the last 10 seconds of his bottle being warmed in the microwave. (I finally weaned him about a month ago. I’m still a little sad about it.) I even love the fact that I have about 12 seconds to get the bottle from the microwave into Simon’s mouth before he completely melts down with desire.
I love the calm brown gaze of a sleepy, slurping baby regarding me over an upturned bottle. I love the fact that he has barely swallowed the last mouthful of milk before he demands, “PEEZ!”, meaning, “Mummy, could you please find my soother and insert it into my mouth post haste?” And I love the way his little eyes roll back in his head in blissful satisfaction when I finally give him the soother.
I love standing in Tristan’s doorway while Simon says, “Nite-nite!” to Tristan and Beloved, as Beloved reads the first of four or five nightly books for Tristan. I love when Tristan calls back, “Nite, Simey.”
I love cuddling my not-so-tiny baby in my arms as I settle into the rocking chair and turn on the CD player, playing the same gaelic lullaby CD we’ve played every nap and bedtime for nigh on a year or so. I love telling him the story of his day, reliving each day in broad strokes. I especially love that he has taken to nodding solemly at key points as I retell his day, reminding me yet again that he is listening attentively to every word I say.
I love the sleepy grin I get as I place Simon in his crib and tuck a blanket under his chin, stroking his cheek and telling him how I love him so, then bidding him “Nighty-night” as I close the door softly behind me. I love going into Tristan’s room, leaning over Beloved stretched out beside Tristan in bed as they read yet another book together, and letting Tristan honk my nose before I kiss him goodnight. I don’t know why he honks my nose, but we’ve been doing it every night for at least six months, and he seems to derive great joy from it.
I love walking quietly down the stairs, usually into a living room that looks like Hannibal’s invading hordes had been through on a day trip, knowing that at least for a few hours, I don’t need to worry about lifting the dog’s water out of reach, making sure the cupboards are locked, making sure the bathroom door is closed and the front door is latched and the gates are set, and I will be able to sit on the couch for more than three minutes without hearing a crash or a holler or a plantive, “Mummy?”
And I love creeping up the stairs, on my way to bed, and peeking in on them as they sleep the sleep of angels. The minutes that I spend gazing at their sleeping faces are the highlight of every day. I treasure this time, because I know it won’t last much longer.
What’s your favourite time of the day?
Dani – I have to admit I’m a bit of a lurker. I’ve been reading your posts daily for about a month now. As I’ve already told you, you are one damn awesome writer. I don’t know if it’s because in roughly a week and a half I’m going to give birth to my third child and my hormmone and emotions are raging, but reading this blog I felt I needed to let you know how much you really hit home with how much we love our kids and the daily stuff we do with them. The love of your children was dripping off your words – if that makes any sense. I feel the same way about the daily tasks of childrearing, though some days DH and I wonder what we got ourselves into we have such an unconditional love of our children and cannot imagine our lives without them. Thanks for a great blog!
Donna
Favourite time of day? Reading your blog of course!! Oh, you mean with my daughter!!! I love when I have a day off and she climbs into bed with me in the wee hours of the morning and we cuddle and she sleeps in my arms. Bliss…….
last night Aiden and Emelie crawled into bed together to sleep (two four year olds). Nothing is cuter than two little ones curled up to each other for comfort while they sleep…
I think mornings are my favorite time. Assuming that morning doesn’t begin with a 5:30 a.m. wake-up call, I love to see my kids when they first awake. It’s kind of rewarding that they are so happy to see me after a long night’s separation! And they’re so darn cheerful about the prospect of a new day that it makes me more cheerful, too.
Awww Dani
Like you it’s bedtime. Gosh how can my kids look ike total angels and only moments before the were making me pull my hair out. I still look in on 15 yr old just to see if she is ok. I love cuddling with Nathan as I read him and story. Although betimes are not a placid as yours. They are a fight for sure. But once HE is in bed it is such a nice time. Although I do love whenever I’m reading to him the questions that pop out of his mouth. Anytime is story time here.
Hugs
Sharon
Our bedtime resembles that a lot and it is certainly an awesome time of day. The difference here is that we co-sleep and I love to snuggle up with Walker (the 2 yo) even after he has gone to sleep in my bed…yummy, clean smelling boy, snoozing and snuggling…yummy yummy. I also rock the youngest to sleep and he clings to me all cuddled up until he is ready to lie down and then he crunches up on his knees, butt in the air and sings to himself a few minutes…ahhh, I love it!
This was lovely and nice and gave me a warm cosy mushy feeling inside. And I kept waiting for some poo or swear words or something to twist it, but no – it’s just a really nice post. I’m not disappointed or anything. But are you sure no one picked a booger or did something to ruin your lovely interlude and you left it out?
wow, what a beautiful nighttime routine you have there!! ours is a lot more “go with the flow” cuz it varies a tad from day to day BUT they always go up the stairs together holding onto whatever “precious toy/thingy of the day”, put on the nightlight, place their favorite blankies just so, get a humongous hug and smoosh with a “luv you” that just melts your heart away, and as I’m closing the door they both say in unison “see you later!!” And “later” is my favorite moment, when they get up and creep into bed with me (if I’m still there) or run down the stairs and into my arms when they’ve finally found me for one huge morning hug and a “I missed you so much!”
Thanks for sharing these truly wonderful magical moments of parenthood with us!
I love reading time. I love curling up with them and reading, or letting the older one read to us. Your bedtime rituals sound very wonderful. Now get a hamper with a basketball net!
Donna! I have been thinking about you a lot as your due date approaches. I’m so thrilled you’ve been lurking, and even happier you came out to say hello. I hope you can find enough time to make your way back every now and then after baby arrives. Wishing you a quick delivery and a baby who loves to sleep and smile!!
(blusing at alliemom’s comments. Basking, and blushing!)
And yes, Marla, it is my right and in fact my duty to edit out the unseemly bits. We’ll just gloss over them the way we pretend tantrums in the checkout line are happening to somebody else’s kid.
I love reading all your comments! Thanks for taking the time to paint some adorable and poignant pictures.
xo Danigirl
Great post Dani, I enjoyed it as best I could while wiping away my tears trying to get through it all blurry eyed.
I must differ a little here, my favourite part of bedtime IS the silence (well, if Trevor’s snoring at high decibels counts). Our bedtime ritual is pure chaos, we do the same thing, but with two of them I find it hard as we can’t cuddle into one little bed to read stories and watch them drift off, so we read on floor sitting on pillows. Sitting is used loosely, as most evenings, at least one of them is doing power yoga positions upside down while parent attempts to settle them down reading storybooks. BUT….once all is done, we are tucked in bed, lights out, leaving room and someone calls out “wait wait!” and exasperated parent sighs expecting yet another delay tactic and the response ends up being “I love you with all my heart” or “Bye love you nite nite” then yes, a little melting of the heart does occur.