Tyler is becoming a great negotiator. Especially when it comes to bedtime. After the pre-bedtime routine of taking a bath, getting a drink, saying night-night to everyone, we lay down on his bed. If I turn out the light right away, he cries "Dark" in a scared voice so lately I've been leaving it on. I'll read him a book and as soon as I'm done he asks "Again?" So I agree to read it just one more time as long as he keeps his head on his pillow, then it's time to go to sleep. We'll read the book again and he still asks "Again?" when it's done. He cries a little when I say no (often I give in at this point and read the book for a third, fourth, even fifth time) but usually listens when I say to put his head on his pillow. While sometimes he mistakes my lap for his pillow, lately he has been pulling me down onto his pillow. He's got a strong pull, too. After I tell him for the umpteenth time to lay still and keep his head on his pillow, he'll ask for a drink. Stalling tactics, I know, but how can I deny a thirsty boy? So bedtime has turned into an hour-long commitment. All that for him to sleep for about 4-5 hours in his own bed before he makes his way into our bed. How did we go so off course from just being able to lay him down to put himself to sleep? One thing is for sure, Gavin won't be getting this kind of treatment. I can hear all you parents laughing at me and my wishful thinking. Anyway, as tiring and frustrating as it can be, I love this ritual. I love the way Tyler blurts out random words as he's falling asleep, the way he prefers to cover his face with a blanket or his arm in order to fall asleep, the way he picks up my hand and puts it on his back so I'll rub it, and the way his breathing goes from light and fast to deep and patterned so I know it's time to tip toe away.

Last night we read the 10 Little Ladybugs, a book we've read hundreds of times. I'm starting to pause to let Tyler say the next word and he's getting really good at this. At the very end of the book, we count the ten ladybugs. On our second time reading it last night, I didn't say anything at the end and Tyler grabbed the book and began counting on his own. "On, two, fee, or, ive, ichs" WOW he just counted to six. That was one of the proudest moments of my life to date.