Toddler

Tonight I got to rock my big girl all the way to sleep.  When she was a little baby I would do that more often than not and then worry about "spoiling" her and making her too dependent on it to go to sleep.  Tonight it was heaven.  It's been a long time since she's fallen asleep with me, and I've missed it.  To hear that slow, even breathing, and have her little face pushed up against my chest...I'm pretty sure that right there is my favorite thing about being a mama.

This toddler stage has already had its share of rough days.  We've suddenly encountered our first glimpse of separation anxiety, (I think mine is as bad as hers), and we're starting to transition down to one nap, which I'm not exactly ready for.  Not to mention that suddenly we're not just dealing with survival issues like making sure she's eating and pooping regularly.  We're now dealing with character building issues, which it turns out is so much more daunting.  Figuring out that fine line between discipline and letting kids be kids is proving to be tougher than I expected.

But tonight, none of those things mattered.  We were back to our roots.  Just me and my baby, rocking and cuddling.  I could have stayed there in that chair all night long.

- K

Photo creds to Mary Jo Aguilera, MJ Aguilera Photography