I had nap time plans today. I always have good intentions at nap time, but today, I was actually going to accomplish everything on my to-do list. I put on a pair of sweatpants and pulled my hair back into a ponytail. I put my baby down in her pack n’ play, my toddler in his crib, and my preschooler in her room to rest before tiptoeing back into my room — where the baby also happens to sleep — with hopes of starting on this blog post. Within minutes of opening my computer, I heard the familiar sounds of my baby rolling into the mesh sides of her pack n’ play and knew that nap time was already coming to an end. I had two options — attempt to bounce and rock and soothe her until she gets drowsy again, or take her into my bed with me and hold her until she falls asleep. Since the older kids were in their bedrooms and my husband was nearby if they needed something, I chose the latter.
I picked up my baby, making sure to grab my book, the remote, and my cell phone on the way to my bed. Once she was asleep, I wouldn’t be able to move. I began the familiar routine of rocking, shushing, and pacifier replacing while she squirmed on my chest until she finally gave in to sleep. Her squishy little body sank into mine, and I could feel her breath — and her drool — on my neck.
My mind wandered, briefly, to my unwritten blog post, the now-wrinkled laundry in the dryer, and the shelves that need to be dusted. All of that would have to wait.
Once I knew that she was truly asleep, I turned on a Hallmark Christmas movie. It’s not often that I can lay down and watch a movie in the middle of the day, so I had to take advantage of the situation. When the movie was over, and my baby was still sleeping, I picked up my book and finished that too. Every now and then, her little body would squirm on mine, reminding me that she was there, but she was still tired, and she must have known that I was tired too.
Three hours, one movie, and a finished book later, it was time to wake her up and feed her. I never did accomplish my nap time plans. The laundry, the blog post, and the dusting would have to wait for later. But I did get to lay down for an entire nap with my third baby, which had not happened since the first week that I had her.
I had nap time plans today, but my baby gave me the gift of rest.
She knew exactly what I needed.
