She's asleep!!!

It is 8:05 pm EST, and our Lil' Squirt (one of my many pet names for Noelle) is SLEEPING!!!! Wooeeee, praise Jesus!!!!!

You may chuckle, you may think I'm being overly dramatic, but Noelle has had a moratorium on bedtime and naptime for 3 months or so. I've been pulling out new gray hairs in frustration. Eric and I have been beside ourselves, because the child was obviously sleep deprived, but she just wouldn't sleep no matter what advice we followed. She had been getting about 11-13 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period, then jumped quite suddenly to 7-8 hours per day. And that's where "we been livin'" these many weeks...

Until a couple of weeks ago when our ladies prayer group made this an issue of prayer. Eric and I had been praying regularly, but when this group of gals gets going...heaven (and hell) take note! Glory!! Within a couple of days, Noelle was getting 9-10 hours at night (naps are history). She has still been tired and a bit cranky in the evenings, but we feel like we are getting our life back! Especially me, 'cuz my "mommy-radar" ears never turn off. When Noelle finally sleeps, this mommy sleeps. Sigh. :-)

And now tonight. Eric and I take turns putting her to bed, but tonight Noelle specifically requested I do the honors. Eric had gotten her all pj'd and teeth brushed, so the kid was sleep-ready. I decided to forego storybooks or light in her room, and went straight for the lullabies and rocking chair. I snuggled up with my unexpectedly demure sweetie and sang our favorite prayer and praise choruses.

In short order, it happened. The "Twitch". You know, the tiny full body twitch that says sleep has ascended. Yes Yes Yes!!! I shouted inside my head, and sang/rocked her a minute more to be sure. Then ever so gingerly, I placed my beautiful angel child in her bed, blew a kiss, and slipped out of the room.

As I passed by the Hello Kitty clock next to her door, it read 8:05. Wow. Thank you, Jesus. :-)