In Her Sleep

The other night, I stayed home with Li'l Empress while the rest of the family headed out to watch my nephew play football. She was getting a cold, runny nose and slightly fever-ish. So I popped in her new favorite, an old VHS of LadyBug's ("Strawberry Shortcake's Get Well Adventure" - anyone remember those?!) before an early bedtime.

She talked to the screen and the "nay nay" through the whole movie. The. WHOLE. movie. (Isn't it crazy how a three-year old can watch the same movie 4 or 5 days in a row and actually want to watch it again the next day?!)

Apparently, it was TOO EARLY a bedtime. For the next forty-five minutes I listened to her talk quietly to herself, sing "Twinkle Twinkle" (not so quietly!) and roll around with her wubby dubby and doggie toy. After we prayed together, said our good-nights, and turned out the lights. I'm not sure where she gets the energy to keep those lips moving for so many hours a day.

I knew she'd been restless and wiggly, so I was pretty certain that she'd likely have tossed her blankets all over the crib. So a few hours later when I headed up to bed myself, I stopped by her room and crept quietly in to cover her up.  And to spend a moment peeking at her cute little pouty lips. That were finally quiet.

Or so I thought.

As I covered her up, her little eyes opened and she sleepily mumbled, "Mommy." So I answered her by saying that it was "night night time," and she should go back to sleep. I walked away and heard her sweet little voice. Again.

"Mommy?"

"What Li'l E?"

"I lub you."

Somehow, I didn't really mind that those sweet little lips were still talking. Even if it was in her sleep.