She’s fussing. Tired. I wrap her up in a warm blanket, cradle her against me & begin to rock.
I pace the house. Bouncing. Count my steps to pass the time. Hear her frantically sucking the soother. I’m willing her to fall sleep, so that I can sleep. Aching arms, rocking & bouncing.
Milk drunk hiccups.
She calms down, starts to settle so I try the rocking chair. Counting again, one hundred rocks aren’t enough. Maybe another hundred…
At long last, she lets go and relaxes against me. She’s out.
I look down at her through the darkness.
Angel face.
Don’t want to put her in her bed anymore. Linger a little longer holding her tight.
Finally, my own fatigue gets the better of me. I put her down.
Crawl into my own bed for as long as she will allow.
