Nighttime Routine
The other night, I decided to put Céleste to bed. I said that I would try to just lay her down and see if she would fall asleep on her own. So I laid her down in her little bed beside me, talked to her and tried to soothe her to sleep. I told myself that I didn't want her to get used to having to be rocked or held to fall asleep.

After a few minutes she started to fuss, and then cry a little. I kept talking to her in low, soothing tones, telling her how we had a great day but now it was time to sleep. And as I looked at her, with her tiny fists batting the air and a little tear sliding down her cheek, I told myself "Screw this!" and I picked her up, rocked her, sang to her and she promptly fell asleep.

She's only going to be a baby for a little while. It won't be long before I'm sure she won't want me to nuzzle her and hold her and sing her a silly song. So for that night, I did those things, and I enjoyed it with all of my heart.

I love this girl.