This Is Where I Belong

We've been in our new house for nearly four months now. When we first moved in, all three kids took some time adjusting. Taylor and Tate both had trouble sleeping. Taylor got over it, but Tate, who has always been a great sleeper, began sneaking into our bed at night. I am one of those people who JUST CAN'T SLEEP IF MY KIDS ARE IN MY BED. Even as newborns, my babies are moved to their own room ASAP. My motherly ears hear everything from each breath they take to an involuntary silent toot. Not only that, but who likes a foot in their face? Or an arm whack? Or a mammogram? Or being pushed all the way to the edge in your king size bed? Have you ever noticed too how kids are able to make a 90-degree turn while sleeping with their parents? Tate sleeps normally in his bed for Pete's sake.

Back to my point...Tate has been periodically sneaking into our room at night. Yes, it's only once or twice a week, but like I said...I CAN'T SLEEP WITH KIDS IN MY BED. In the beginning, I would get up and walk him back to his bed and tuck him again. It's always hard for me to fall back asleep though. Then, it turned into me just letting him come in because I was too tired to get up and walk him back. Then, it turned into Tate coming in with his pillow and blanket and placing himself in our bed without me even noticing until of course his foot began prying my mouth open.

I keep having talks with him and telling him that he needs to stay in his bed, especially since he is going to be 4 in a couple of weeks. Well, last night he came into our bed once again in the middle of the night. I let him. I snuggled with him and tickled his face and kissed his cheeks. I then fell asleep and woke up later with his melon of a head smashed into my neck and his feet in Willy's face. I couldn't take it any more, so I gently picked him up and carried him back to his bed. As I put him down, my sweet baby looked up at me at said,

"Mama...this is where I belong."

Oh how I love that kid.