sakeriver.com

Just Before Bed

Most nights, I'm the last one to go to bed. Jason is in the bath by seven and asleep not too long after that. Juliette has to get up early to be at work on time, and anyway she likes to fall asleep with the TV on, something that I can't do. I always have more work to do—pictures to edit, blog posts to write, business stuff to plan—and then I do like to have a little quiet time to myself at the end of the day to unwind. I read or do a crossword, or just surf the web aimlessly. Lately I've taken to having a nightcap or a cup of decaf.

Eventually I get tired or realize it's late. I check to make sure the timer on the dishwasher is set, let the dog out one last time, then turn out the lights. The last thing I do before I climb into bed is check in on Jason.

He's been in his "big boy" bed for a couple of months now, and although he's mostly used to it, he still hasn't settled into sleeping in a regular orientation. So, every night when I go in, I find him twisted up in a different position. Occasionally he's in what I'd consider a normal sleeping position. More often he's squished up against the toddler rail or lying lengthwise across the foot of the bed, or upside-down and on top of the blanket. He's never liked his actual pillow but he does like to have something under his head now, so often I'll find him with his cheek pressed up into a wadded up blanket or a stuffed animal—he never has a shortage of either in that bed.

It makes me grin to see him all twisted up like that, and I wonder how long it's going to take to start sleeping more "normally." Sometimes I wonder how long it took me. But mostly I just look at him and watch him breathe. Most nights it's all I can do to stop myself from climbing in there with him.