Our kids are our world. We LOVE them, and we can't imagine our lives without them (well, maybe we could for very short stretches on secluded, white sandy beaches...) But mostly, we are addicted to them in all their sweet stickiness. No matter what, we always want to remain within a snuggles reach of their cherubic-ness.
Still, let's face it, some of the ways they demonstrate their devotion and adoration for us can be down right annoying. I've come up with a few things that our Munchkins do that are killing us softly with their love.
1. Wake us up at night
You're in a deep, dark, blissfull sleep and then you're suddenly awakend by a horrifying sound. It's a sound you've heard before, and a sound you hoped you'd never hear again. The sound of your baby's sleepered feet padding down the hallway — straight for your bedroom, your side of the bed.
"I'm BAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!!!"
It's sweet, really. Our darling, little angels wake us up because they're scared in the night, and our faces are the lights at the end of the long tunnels for them: the candles that are burning brightly in the bleakness. We comfort, hold and swaddle them, but for the love of all that's holy — get back to bed! Mommy needs her sleep to not act evil tomorrow.
2. Only sleep on us
You've nursed, cuddled, cooed, rocked and lullabied him into a sound sleep in your arms. You ever so carefuly lift him up, separate yourself and gently place him down in the crib. Then, like a horror movie, his eyes spring open bright and alive, zeroed in right on you. He beams up at you as if to say, "Peek-a-boo! I love you, and I still want to be up with you forever!"
How many long, fitful nights have we slept uncomfortabley in neck-kinking snatches because the baby refused to be disturbed or disuaded from their preferred sleep number — which is us?
3. Always acompany us to the bathroom
Babies don't like to be alone, so it's only natural for them to assume that we never want to be alone either. EVER. Bless their little smothering hearts.
They will graciously let themselves in through any accessible, open bathroom door to keep us company and ask questions about what's going on. If the door should happen to be closed, for some unknown reason to them, they will proceed to stick their lips under the door crack to demand answers to their questions. They will also wiggle their fingers under the door frantically, possibly getting them stuck, in which case, they will cry and kick the divisive barrier until you emerge from your confinement.
4. Refuse to be sequestered by any type of "seat"
Whether its a high chair, bouncer, stroller or the Great Wall of China, nothing will keep that baby from reaching their goal. And their goal is YOU.
You can see the determination in your daughters eyes and the fortitude in the firmly set pacifier as she manages to escape the narrow confines of her carseat. You're anxiously watching her through the rearview mirror as you're barreling down the intersate thinking "not again".
You know what baby girl is thinking, and you can hear the Star Ship ballad ringing out passionately, reverberating through the car, "And we can build this dream together, standing strong forever, nothing's gonna stop us now. And if this world runs out of lovers, we'll still have each other. Nothing's gonna stop us, nothing's gonna stop us now! I'm so glad I found you, I'm not gonna lose you, whatever it takes to stay here with you...."
