lullaby

Audrey is always happy to go to sleep. Bedtime usually goes something like this:

I give her a binky and her furry blanket.

I give her a kiss and say, "Night, night. I love you."

I lay her in her crib, and watch her snuggle her blanket around the sides of her face.

I walk to the door and, just about the time I reach for the knob, I hear a tired, little sigh.

I close the door and watch her through the keyhole (sometimes I do love old houses) as she strokes and pats her blanket, then drifts off to sleep.

It's that easy.

Too easy.

And so, I'm sad to say, I haven't always given Audrey the love and attention that I gave the other girls at bedtime. I resolved this week to change. Now I hold her in my arms, and she puts her tired head on my shoulder, and I hum "I Am a Child of God" in her ear. And she hums back.

It's the sweetest, most meandering melody you have ever heard.

Sometimes she keeps humming to herself as I kiss her and say, "Night, night, I love you," and lay her in bed, and walk to the door, and hear her sigh . . . and listen to her lullaby through the keyhole.