Dear Olive,
You were really tricky to get to sleep when you were little - sometimes I'd spend an hour and a half getting you down only to have you sleep for half that time. But when you were about 5 months old, I found this sweet little routine where I sang to you and then put you down awake, and you happily self settled from that first day on. I thought I had it down pat - a baby who put herself to sleep! Without crying! I was secretly high fiving myself. But of course, each baby is so different, and when sleepy little Clancy came along, it was quick and convenient to just feed him off to sleep; so that's what I did. As time has gone on, it's gotten harder and harder, and takes longer and longer. But you know what, as time consuming and annoying as it can be to lie with my boy and wait for sleep to come to him, it really is the most marvellous privilege to get to see him fall asleep - like I'm being allowed to enter a beautiful, secret world. Each time, before I put him in his cot, I make sure I stop, and take him in; my sleeping beauty.
Off to sleep, I love you I whisper.
You were really tricky to get to sleep when you were little - sometimes I'd spend an hour and a half getting you down only to have you sleep for half that time. But when you were about 5 months old, I found this sweet little routine where I sang to you and then put you down awake, and you happily self settled from that first day on. I thought I had it down pat - a baby who put herself to sleep! Without crying! I was secretly high fiving myself. But of course, each baby is so different, and when sleepy little Clancy came along, it was quick and convenient to just feed him off to sleep; so that's what I did. As time has gone on, it's gotten harder and harder, and takes longer and longer. But you know what, as time consuming and annoying as it can be to lie with my boy and wait for sleep to come to him, it really is the most marvellous privilege to get to see him fall asleep - like I'm being allowed to enter a beautiful, secret world. Each time, before I put him in his cot, I make sure I stop, and take him in; my sleeping beauty.
Off to sleep, I love you I whisper.
6 comments:
So beautiful!
Yes, you are right. Every child is different. My son behaved as Olive. nów he is 8...
Yes, you are right. Every child is different. My son behaved as Olive. nów he is 8...
With Jarvis I too fed him to sleep. I would lay down beside him an marvel at the wondrous creation I made.
I know how quickly time passes and I want to savoir each and every moment with my child.
Even now as a mother of a toddler I indulge myself and lay down beside him and cuddle him to sleep.
aw, i'm enjoying those moments again now. little otis is 16 days old and i just love our quiet times together when feeding. so so special. xo
Growing so fast. And, look at those legs!
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