My Sleeping Beauty

May 18, 2009

Today, Airica sleeps.  She was not very active today like she had been.  Yesterday had taken a lot out of her and her body needed to recover and rest.  Since she was resting we decided to rest this day too.

As she laid there sleeping so peacefully I could't help but stare at her and watch her breathe.  Yes, she did have the breathing tube still, but I could now see her chest rise and fall as she slept.  I could also see her move her head or her hands as she woke up just enough to readjust herself.  I could see her feet tucked under the bar at the bottom of the bed.

I watched her like I had when she was an infant.  Actually, I never stopped watching my babies sleep at night.  I still do it to this day.  There is something that draws me to the sight of my babies sleeping so peacefully and resting quietly.  As you can see there are a few pictures of the probably too many that I have taken.

I felt a little crazy about it at first.  Sneaking into the room at night, creating enough light so I could see a little face, keeping so quiet as not to disturb the beautiful slumber.  But as crazy as I felt, there was just something that I loved about it so much.  It was like the sleeping breaths were inhaling air and exhaling love, and I had to be there to soak it in.  Somedays would be rough parenting days with serious discussions and even dishing out consequences.  That's definitely not my favorite part, but it's one of the parts.  Those days too, I would go in the room and sweet snoozes I would witness and still feel that love. 

That is what I did most of this day while I sat next to Airica's bed.  Watched her sleep, sent her love, felt her love, and stole the only thing worth stealing...a kiss from my sleeping child.