Bedtime...quite a process lately. It all starts at clean up time. If you are overly tired, then you have several meltdowns during this time...on bath night, we bribe you with a color tablet to throw into the tub if you clean up nicely. Many nights you do clean up nicely, but then some nights, it's all fits and spankings.
Bath time is usually O.K. You like to soap yourself up and hate to lay down to get your hair washed. You usually say, "Mommy has you?" and want Mommy to put her hand under your head to make you feel more secure. You like play for a while and slide in the tub as the water goes out. You help clean up the tub toys and hop out of the towel usually saying, "I'm cold!" I wrap you in a towel with a hood and dry you off then dress you in pajamas that often are ones you've chosen for the night.
We brush your teeth. I always sing you the happy teeth song while I scrub the bottom row. You spit and then we repeat the song on the top row. You ALWAYS want a turn. And you ALWAYS want the toothpaste you got at the dentist. Next we go to your room for worship. We read a story out of your little Bible for you and brother. You enjoy the stories and often will ask for a second. Sometimes if you are very tired, you have a hard time sitting still and it ends in tears. Mommy says a prayer for you and Jude and then you say your own prayer. You thank God for the good day and sometimes as him to help you be a better listener.
Once prayers are said, everyone gets hugs and kisses. We make a quick run for the bathroom for one last chance to go. During the bathroom trip, you also want lotion for your hands and chapstick for your lips. Then it's to the bedroom. We turn on Scout (your singing dog). We usually rock and talk while Scout plays three lullabies. Then I give you a swirly-whirly. Sometimes you want a big one and sometimes a little one. You ALWAYS want your Daddy's blanket...which happens to be your favorite one and one from Daddy's baby days...spread out over your pillow so you can feel it on your face. Next comes the blankets...everyone that is visible to you MUST be piled on top despite the temperature...usually it's about four of them. Then after I tuck you in, you want another prayer. You want me to ask for Jesus to put his arms around you. As I'm getting ready to head out, you ALWAYS want a tissue to blow your nose.
I give you some more kisses and tell you I love you. You say, "Close your eyes? Mom come back check on you? Mommy come faster?" I always say yes. And you say, "Tell Daddy!" (You want him to come check on you to.) Usually, Daddy and I take turns making several trips up and down stairs to "check" on you. Sometimes we hear you calling, singing, clapping, or crying. Sometimes you snuggle right down and drift off to dreamland, making bedtime super easy and fun. Those are my favorite kinds of nights.
