Kate was tired, since my plans to run to the pharmacy got delayed an hour (I discovered my keys were locked in the car, woohoo fun) and she was dozing off in the truck during the 2-minute drive. When I got home I decided to put her down to sleep on her own. She’s been unhappy lately with sleeping on my chest because she’s just getting too tall to do that and stretch out at the same time, so she’s been sleeping on my lap on her back. I figured hey, let’s take it one more step and put her down somewhere else.

Pack’n’play? Nope, wide awake. Swing? Nah, she was squirming, not happy with being in a seat. So I took her to our bed, since she definitely has learned to associate our bedroom with sleep, she visibly relaxes when I take her in there, and when she wakes up she just looks around peacefully. I layed down with her, nursed her until she dozed off. As soon as I moved her eyes popped open and watched me. So I took a risk. I quietly walked over, put the pacifier in her mouth, patted her, then left the room. (Then I went back in for the cat, who had just run in and jumped onto the damn bed.)

And she fell asleep. I peeked in a couple of times to see if her eyes were open. There she is on her back in the middle of our bed, one arm stretched overhead and the other across her chest, pacifier in her mouth. Sound asleep.

I have no doubt she’ll wake in about 30 or 40 minutes but I’ll take it. I think this week I’ll put her down for some naps and hold her for others, as she needs. But I get the feeling from her that she’s ready to start napping on her own. And I’m happy because this gives me a little time to do the laundry and dishes while she’s asleep so that when she’s awake I can actually just sit and play with her rather than rushing around the house.

I am really really happy to see things progressing all on their own. No crying, no fighting. Gentle encouragement, that’s all.

But you know, many nights it is so lovely to sleep with her. Friday evening I was out late and when I came home I really needed to snuggle her close to me and sleep with my cheek resting on the top of her head. Sometimes it’s mom that needs the extra little bit of comfort.