Ramblings

I'm convinced that one of the closest things to Heaven is watching as my child drifts off to sleep. I watch how the challenges of the day, the laughter, the silliness, the tears of frustration melt away as her eyelids grow heavy. If I'm lucky, the last thing I get to hear before she gives in to the exhaustion is..."I love you mommy". Just a whisper, but it fills every corner of my heart. Then I take a few minutes and marvel at how her delicate facial features seem to return to babyhood. All day long she looks like such a big girl. But when she's sleeping? That face full of long eyelashes, puckered lips and disheveled hair looks years younger. Lately she's been falling asleep quickly at night due to equal parts no-napping, the excitement of pre-school, and the medication she still must take for her appetite. My evening routine consists of giving the girls a bath with dad's help, reading books with them both in Peyla's bed, then off to sing silly songs with Ali in her room, and rushing back to Peyla's room in hopes of catching those last precious moments. Sometimes I miss them but her daddy is there. Most nights I'm fortunate enough to make both "good-nights" for each of my girls. I don't want to miss any of them. I'm acutely aware that the time will come (sooner than I want to admit) when they won't want or need me to give that last reassuring snuggle before sleep. So I soak up every chance I get to be that much closer to Heaven. ;)