Before you get yourself geared up for a cute, funny, quirky story about Cooper, let me tell you that today I'm breaking from my norm in order to share a few of the feelings I had tonight.
Tonight, for the first time, I rocked Cooper to sleep while softly singing hymns to him. I've never done that before, because in the past he would ALWAYS take another presence in the room to mean that play time was not yet over, and he would stay up indefinitely.
Tonight, however, I wanted to try holding him and rocking him to sleep. Mind you, we don't own a rocking chair, but I have a natural tendency to rock or sway in my seat; and so just sitting and holding him easily changed into a slow sway back and forth.
At first I hoped that just being held in a dark room would clue Cooper in to the idea that it was time to go to sleep (we were in his room with the lights off); but, Cooper being himself, he kept himself bolt upright looking around in the dark. Every time I moved his head to my shoulder it would spring back up like a squirrel hearing a noise. So, I decided to try and calm the savage, little beast with some music.
I started by singing 'I am a child of God,' since that is pretty much the only hymn I know start to finish from memory. I moved on to other hymns, first verses only, and within minutes Cooper was winding down. His head was popping up less and less; and more and more he was trying to snuggle himself into a comfortable position. He kept rolling his head from side to side, and trying alternating shoulders looking for the one that afforded maximum comfort (daddy doesn't have built in pillows like mommy does). A couple of times, though, he lifted his little head to look square at me in the dark. I don't know what was going through his mind, but I sincerely hope it was something along the lines of, 'My daddy loves me so much, and I love him too.' Finally, he settled on the more comfortable right shoulder, and shortly after that I felt his little body go completely limp as he floated toward dreamland, in my arms.
It was such a unique, singular, and fulfilling experience to have. I thank God with all my heart for the blessing my little boy is to my life. Loving him, and spending time with him affords me blessings and experiences I never knew existed. My heart swelled as I held my sleeping Cooper, and thought about just how good of a little boy he is. He is one in a zillion. He is a happy, obedient, loving, fun little boy. I could go on and on, but it feels like here is the appropriate place to end.
Thank you all for your prayers on our behalf. You helped bring Cooper to us, and my gratitude is beyond measure.
Friday, November 10, 2006
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