milestones

the other night luci made a bed for herself about 4 feet away from our bed. i thought, hmm, novelty... then i woke up at 5:30. where was she? gary said, "can you believe she slept by herself?" it sank in. it began. my heart felt heavy.

when she was 2 months old we were at a wedding, and suddenly it struck me how it seemed like just yesterday that i delivered her, and one day i'd be helping her get dressed on her wedding day too. people thought i was crazy, after all, she was just born. yesterday we delivered a beautiful little girl. her father stared at her as she lay in the warmer and said softly, "time is going to fly so fast... i love you so much..." people were giving him a hard time too.

last night luci made her own bed and announced 3 or 4 times, "my own bed." ok, ok.... gary said prayers with her while i fed 'lijah. i heard her say, "daddy sleep here?" "no luci, i sleep with mommy up there." then i climbed down and said goodnight to her. i kissed my big girl. she said, "mommy, stay and sleep here?" "no, luci, i'm going back to sleep with daddy, but i can lie here for awhile." i closed my eyes and almost drifted off.

"mommy, sleep in your bed."
"yes, luci, i will."
"no... mommy, i come too."
"really?"

i all too eagerly scooped her up and plopped her right next to me. she put her face in my neck and her knee in my back, and was instantly in dreamland. in the meantime 'lijah was squirming, waiting for a snack. i must never take any of this for granted.