Friday, November 02, 2007

Laughing in his sleep

The last thing I do every night before I go to bed is check on the kids in their beds. Ella is always sprawled across hers, all arms and legs. One arm or one leg is usually dangling over the rail of her bunk. Lily is a bundle in her bed. Often all I see is her hair poking out from under her comforter. Both have so many stuffed animals and dolls in their beds that it's hard to believe there is room for them.

I never know what I'll find when I check on Campbell. Sometimes he's rolled into a ball, with his butt in the air; sometimes he's stretched out, arm spread across the crib. Last night when I went in, he sat up in his crib without waking up. I patted his back and tipped him over on to his side, covering him up with his blanket. He promptly rolled onto his back and started chuckling. I draped myself over the side of the crib and listened to him, my heart breaking with love. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, Campbell opened his eyes and held out his arms to me, saying "mummumumum." I nearly swooned with joy. Then I tip-toed out, afraid he wouldn't go back to sleep, but he did.

Moments like those, watching my children sleep, hearing them laughing in their sleep, make all the nonsense and trouble and stress worth it. Those are the moments I need to remember forever.

3 comments:

Suburban Correspondent said...

Oooh, I love those deep belly-laughs they have when they're sleeping. Sometimes I'll just see them shaking and smiling, without making a sound.

Nice to know others are as dotty over their babies as I am over mine.

The Kretzings said...

That is one of my favorite parts of the day: checking on Andrew one last time before I go to bed. He looks so peaceful and sweet, and it makes me so thankful for my little blessing. And something so simple as covering him up again (with the blankets he kicked off) satisfies my parental need to protect and comfort my kiddo.

Family Adventure said...

Beautiful. I still check on my boys every night, and they still look like babies to me when they're sleeping.
But I remember standing over their cribs. I wish I could do it again, to tell you the truth. There is nothing like it.
Treasure it! That, and the unconditional love from a babe :)
Thank you for sharing!

Heidi