Rocking Briana To Sleep (Capturing A Moment With My Daughter)

It’s nap time.
You have been in your room about 15 minutes or so.
I hear you on the baby monitor.
You are babbling and playing with your doll, not really ready to go to sleep yet.
I enter your bedroom and quietly tell you to “shhh”.
You flash a huge smile.
I ask you if you want to me rock you to sleep today.
You flash me your huge smile again.
I place you on my lap as I sit in the big cushy rocking chair in your room and cover you with a blanket.
You rest your head against my left arm.
You hold on tight to your “baby.”
You squirm a little and start to giggle.
You touch my eyes, nose and earrings, still not really ready to fall asleep.
Rock, rock. Rock, rock.
Giggle, giggle. Giggle, giggle.
We stare into each other’s eyes and smile.
After a few minutes, your eyes start to droop and you quiet down.
I listen to your breath.
I stroke your hair and your forehead.
Your eyes start to blink, and you struggle to keep them open.
Blink, blink. Blink, blink.
Finally, they close.
Then they open again a little.
Then close.
You are still and calm.
You look so comfortable and peaceful.
You have drifted off to sleep.
I know I am looking at an angel.
Perfect features. Perfect eyes, perfect nose, pouty lips.
I rock you for a few more minutes because I cannot let you go.
I am embracing the moment, just staring at you.
Knowing that one day you won’t need me to rock you to sleep.
So I am in the moment.
Soaking it all in.
Still in awe that you are in my arms after such a long wait.
So grateful that you are my daughter.
My eyes fill with tears of happiness.
I finally give you a kiss, stand up and place you in your crib.
I watch you sleep for a minute or so.
Then I tip toe out of the room and close the door.