The Night the Baby Slept

If you "like" my Facebook page, you may have seen me practically screaming from the rooftops about how excited I am that Claire slept nearly 12 hours last night.

That's right.  At 17 (and a half!) months old, my baby *just* slept through the night for the first time.  As in, didn't wake up screaming for me once.  And even better, didn't once wake me up with double-heel kicks to the face (oh yes, she has done that before).

Claire's preferred sleeping method.  ON MY PILLOW.  And no, I'm not asleep - I can't sleep like that!  I'm closing my eyes to block out the flash and secretly hoping it startles Claire into rolling over (it didn't - I had to move her).

Now, some of you just absolutely, positively cannot relate to this.  Your kids have been sleeping through the night since you were still counting their ages in weeks.  Maybe even in their own cribs, and maybe even in their own rooms.

For better or worse, that's not the case here.

When I woke up this morning at 6:40 AM, Claire's smiling face just inches from my own as she peered at me through her shaggy bangs, I was tired (it was 6:40 AM!).  But then, I realized...it was 6:40 AM!  Nearly 12 hours after I had laid Claire down in bed and tiptoed into the living room to watch Real Housewives.  And she hadn't woken me once all night long.

I know better than to expect a repeat performance.  I know so, so much better than that (my four-year-old doesn't consistently sleep through the night yet).  

But I'll take it for what it is.  A night of peace, for myself and for Claire.

And I will be very, very grateful for it.