
Noel at 1-year-old with mama.
Noel was born in the evening hour. After doctor and nurses left my room, I walked over to the nursery few doors down to visit with my new born daughter. Other than thinking : "how ugly, but yet, cute she is" I assumed the nurses are taking care of her for the night and after a long labor, I was so ready for a good night of sleep.
Only did I know, an hour later, a knock on the door, the nurse pushed the bassinet in.....and we were on our own, sleeping in the same room for the night.....
So Noel has been co-sleeping with me ever since.
There is a reason why I am still up at 4 :46 am and digging out old photos. It all started out with a present my friend Robert gave to Noel - a set of OXO candela lights. Noel loves them so much, as soon as it gets dark, she is in her room playing with them. Here is the "mistake" I made - I told her tonight that little kids used them as night lights so they can go find their mommy or daddy in their room.
So tonight, as I was getting ready for bed, surprised, I found the orange light sitting on my night stand. But where is the pink one? And where is Noel?
She was in her own bed, her own room, light was out, but I could still see her under the sweet yet dim pink light.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
"I am a big girl now, so I am going to sleep in my own bed. I left an orange light in your night stand mama, if you miss me, you can come find me at night." Noel replied, did not sound like a 4 -year-old at all.
I went back to my room, thinking - well, it's about time, it's good for both of us to have our own space.
Minutes passed, I felt a sense of lost...I took my orange light and went into Noel's room, finding her still awake. I asked: "do you want to come back baby?"
"no, I am a big girl now." Noel insisted.
Another 5 minutes passed, a pink light shined through my bedroom door, I knew it! But Noel said she is coming just to say hi.....and she left again.
10 minutes later....."mama, I am coming to remind you how to use the orange light, okay?" She left again.
Now, it's 5: 18 am. Am I alone in bed? Nope, Noel is still here. A very silly mother and daughter team, played that game for over an hour. both knowing, it's not the time to let go of our sleeping arrangement yet......my sweet and "not-so -big" big girl !