Watching

We all have long tiring days. I find though that they take a greater toll on Sarah and by the time she's been awake for over 12 hours, things go downhill really quickly. Today began with her waiting outside my bathroom door at 5:30 in the morning. The two of us padded downstairs and she began playing with her toys as I managed to get a cup of coffee poured. Most of the day was spent out at our church as we participated in the annual spring clean up. Sarah was outside with the other girls for almost four hours. When we came home, she had an emotional crash. She was teary and sad for most of the evening. I gave in to her pleas and she had pancakes for supper and refused to have a bath. The two of us snuggled on a chair and watched an episode of Little House on the Prairie together and after 30 minutes, she asked to go to bed. She wanted to start off in mine and Doug's bed and rather than fight, I said she could. As I was laying beside her, I was thinking of this:


There is something amazing about watching your child fall asleep.
I mean really sitting beside her, seeing her lashes fall heavily on her cheeks.
Watching as the hair twirling slows down and her tiny hand falls limply on the covers.
As she scratches that itchy spot on her head once more. And her fingers rest in her hair.
The one final deep sigh as slumber takes over.

Every tired muscle that ran up the ramp. And down the stairs.
The tiptoes as she watched the bobcat drive by the windows.
Her little legs keeping up with the big girls and at times just falling down from exhaustion.
Her thin arms as she helped Mr. Bruce rake the grass.
The busyness of keeping track of where everyone was.

My heart melted as I watched her lips relaxed.
The sweet mouth that kissed me good night and affirmed that I'm the "best ever Mommy".
Tonight, I watched my youngest daughter fall asleep. It took up my time.
And it was the sweetest part of my day.