Bedtime Traditions

I hope I never forget how adorable my kids are, especially at bedtime. Omega likes to whisper in my ear "I love you so much, as much as God does." Then she likes to give me a hug and a kiss....and then a dessert hug and a kiss. She's like an octopus who doesn't want me to leave. She'll do things or say things that are silly just to provoke me to tickle her.

Orion doesn't care for all the frills quite as much. He just wants me to fold his blanket so he can put it under his head and make sure his water is filled up and in the top left corner. Sometimes while I'm spending time with Omega he'll crawl under his crib to hide. He's seeking a reaction out of me like, "Where's Orion? Where did he go?....I can't find him!....What will we do?" Then he starts to slither out and he expects me to have a shocked expression and say something like, "Oh no! Look at that centipede under the bed! I hope he doesn't get me!" And then he might correct me and say, "No, I'm an alligator." (Or whatever animal he's into that day.) Then he'll crawl up the stool to his crib like that animal.

We've morphed our bedtime routine over the years. When they were little, I'd put them down, walk out and that was that. As they grew I started singing to them the song my Dad sang to me when I was little. Then Omega became a toddler and she convinced me to "nuggle" with her (snuggle). I couldn't resist. Then I'd sing, snuggle and rub her back. Then I'd sing, snuggle, rub her back and tickle her. Then I'd sing, snuggle, rub back, tickle, and whisper in ears. As their vocabulary increased I began asking various things like "what are you thankful for, what made you happy today or what made you sad?"  Sometimes one of their stuffed animals would ask the questions, which they thought was hilarious! Of course, the bedtime routine got way too long and I have since began to pick just one or two of the options so it doesn't get boring. Sometimes they whisper in my ear, sing to me, or even rub my back (although that's dangerous because I almost fall asleep!)


On Sabbath they look forward to sleeping in Omega's bed together. Not sure why they like it so much but it promotes sibling camaraderie.

Seriously...aren't they just the cutest things ever?!