Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Sleeping Beauty

Daddy’s turn…

The anxiety of putting your firstborn to sleep as a new born was something I didn’t expect when Ambree was born. Is it too hot? Too cold? Is she swaddled right? Is she still breathing? Is that stuffed animal on the shelf going to somehow leap off in the middle of the night and get too close to the crib?

Those fears have given way to reality for the most part – but one habit that lives on is one last peak into both kids room before Katy and I go to sleep. 9 times out of 10, I can crack open a door, and if the breathing isn’t loud enough to hear from the hall, I can walk to the bed, put a hand on their chests, feel the slow steady breathing of deep sleep, and then sneak out unnoticed. Every once in a while Ambree will wake up, and she enjoys the last few minutes in the rocking chair before she goes back to sleep almost as much as I do.

Few things are as sweet as a sleepy little girl asking for one more hug and kiss before saying “Good night daddy, I love you too.”

So the other night, I crack open Ambree’s door, just like any other night, to make sure my little angel is sleeping peacefully. I get the door open a few inches, and pause to see if I can hear her loud breathing from the dark hallway. This time, she hears me come in, and gently wakes to say: “DADDY!!! GO TO SLEEP!!!”

Hmmm. Well goodnight then :)

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Boys and Girls

Ambree has just this week been able to consistently say whether someone is a boy or a girl, whether she is a sister or Jack is. It's been a confusing process to learn. But I inadvertadely added to the confusion by calling Daddy a pilot this week...

"Daddy is flying right now. Daddy is a good pilot."
"NO! Daddy is not a pilot! Daddy is a boy!"
"Well, yes, but he is also a pilot."
"NO! Daddy is a boy!"

This went on for a while and a couple of times each day this week as I tried to convince her that Sean could simultaneously be a pilot and a boy. Then today, as I was trying to teach her that a pilot is someone who flies a plane, she looked at Sean with sincere concern and inquisition...

"Daddy, you a pilot?"