Uneventful Bedtimes, Oh, How I Miss Those Days

Bedtime for Paige and Taylor used to be so totally uneventful. Oh, how I miss those days...

Long gone are the days when they would nap mid-day for a couple hours, here to stay are the days of no mid-day naps. On the one hand, that's a real challenge because once dinnertime rolls around, the girls can start to get very fussy and I'm pretty tuckered out by the time 7:00 PM arrives. On the other hand, that's a real blessing because once dinnertime rolls around and there has been no nap, the twins, like mommy, are also pretty tuckered out and bedtime happens earlier than it used to because they've already had a good 12-13 hour day.

I generally start to initiate our bedtime routines around 7:30 these days - dinner, baths, jammies, teeth brushed - then it's to the bedroom where yet another routine for bedtime has emerged for the twins. After a story or two, then it's into bed along with a barrage of books, stuffed animals, baby dolls, flash lights or whatever else Paige and Taylor might request to have with them in bed. Then, of course, there are the bedtime prayers. These are actually a very special time for me as they lay in their beds and I place my hand on their forehead and pray for them. The prayer is pretty simple and usually goes a little something like this: "Dear Jesus, I pray that you will watch over Paige and Taylor tonight, help them to have a good night's sleep and keep them safe so that they're ready to play again tomorrow. Thank you for making them such wonderful little girls...we love them very much...Amen."

Lately, Paige and Taylor, following their individual prayers, want me to also pray for each of their baby dolls and stuffed animals too. They'll hand me their Minnie Mouse doll, their stuffed elephant, their puppy dog, etc. and one at a time, I'll place my hand on each of the foreheads of every baby doll /stuffed animal in their bed and say a prayer for those too. It is pretty cute, but night, after night, after night, after night, saying a prayer for every single one of their baby dolls/stuffed animals, well, let's just say, it can make for one lengthy bedtime routine. And, although I could do without a prayer for each and every baby doll / stuffed animal in their bed, I always acquiesce because it's just so sweet to see Paige and Taylor's little happy, smiling faces as they hand me each new doll/stuffed animal and ask me to pray for them.

Speaking of bedtimes, as I type this posting - lucky me - the twins are not only both still in bed but YES, they're already fast asleep as well. Woohoo!