Abbey of the Night

I was dreaming that Abbey sat down at the table and asked for Green Eggs and Ham, tossing the book towards me.  I think it's because I've been working on getting her to talk more and randomly she comes out with things I had no idea she could say.  Then she started crying in real life.  

It's not uncommon for Miss Abbey to cry out in the night.  Often now, I wait a moment and she goes back to sleep, but occasionally she needs Mom.  I walked in there and she was standing up with her arms around my neck before I knew what was going on.  I changed her diaper and rocked her in the living room.  She cuddles in my arms, loving and still.  She never falls asleep when we do this, but she'll hold my hand, snuggle into my arms and cover herself with both my and her blankets.  I don't let her stay up too long, since she doesn't fall asleep.  Twenty minutes or so.  

I'll warn her...Abbey two more minutes "No" she says in a quiet voice.

One more minute Abbey "No" she repeats.  And then I walk her in, her reluctant, but prepared.  (If I don't warn her, she cries).

On occasion, just going into her bedroom and rubbing her back is all she wants.

I get supportive and sympathetic looks when I talk about how Abbey is  restless sleeper.  Even though she only gets out of bed about once a week, of course, I'm up every time she cries or yells.  But this isn't one of the hard parts of parenting for me.  I can empathize with her.  I don't sleep well either and my dreams wake me up often.  It doesn't bother me to cuddle her at night or that I wake up at least once a night to her restlessness.  Even when I was student teaching (and then she was getting up every other night.)  It's not because I'm a saint or supermom.  I'm just OK with it.

Back to bed because I AM exhausted.