The End to Personal Space

Yesterday was over the top and, in the middle of the night, you just had to laugh. Samara was in the mood where if I left the room she would cry, scream, yell "Mommy!" and then immediately run to where I was and want me to hold her. I knew she was tired from all of the Holiday events so I was hopeful that a good nap would be just what she needed. Unfortunately, her new "big girl bed" stood in the way of that.

This week she began sleeping in a toddler bed. We held off as long as we could since we enjoyed knowing that when it was her nap time she was actually IN her bed and not playing. That is no longer the case. After tucking her in and singing her favorite lullaby, I went to check to see how my exhausted little girl was doing. I found her on our bed putting lotion on George (our yellow lab puppy). I put her back to bed and a little while later she comes downstairs, wraps her arms around my neck and says in her sweetest little voice "I play now?" I knew this nap would be a lost cause. So I let her sit on my lap and snuggle. George, though, wanted to snuggle, too, and thus began the battle that would last the rest of the day. Both insisted on being on my lap at the same time and would inch their way closer to taking over my entire lap if the other moved just a little.

Before I started staying home full-time, the kiddos would climb all over me and it never would phase me. At work, I had my own cubicle and enjoyed having personal space throughout the day. When I came home, I didn't mind being a jungle gym. But now, I have to wait until bedtime for a possible chance of not having a child or animal jumping on me for attention.

Last night, though, there was no end. After the kiddos were tucked into bed, I was laying on my tummy in my own bed enjoying not having anything but PJ's and blankets on me when Bob (our tabby cat) came and laid right on my rear-end. Then I felt a little hand on my shoulder. Samara proceeded to climb on me so that she could sleep with us. I let her stay there for a little while, but then tucked her back into bed. But this fun game would go on until 4:30 am this morning when struggling with sheer exhaustion, I let her sleep in between James and I. She is a very restless sleeper so I was kicked and hit in the face on multiple occasions.

When it was time for the kiddos to get up and eat breakfast, James was a dear and took care of the kiddos and I slept and enjoyed S P A C E, beautiful space.

I know that too soon the kiddos will be of ages that it will be embarrassing to snuggle in my lap or the idea of sleeping in our bed will never cross their mind so I try to enjoy this time, but days like yesterday, whew, are tiring to say the least!