With Hard Rocks

There's just not much in the world better, to me, than rocking a baby.  And no one I know can rock one better than my daddy.  And when he rocks a baby...he rocks "with hard rocks".  He says that's the only way.  You have to rock with intensity and whack 'em on the bootie until they konk out. Either because the hard rocks actually worked or they just get tired of being whacked in the rear that they close their eyes in an attempt to make it stop. Either way...he's the best!

I've yet to produce an offspring of my own who enjoys a good cuddle/rocking session.  Probably because I started very early allowing them to self-soothe to sleep.  They'd  much rather be put in bed in a dark room and go to sleep on their own.

However, there are rare occasions when my youngest asks to rock before bedtime.  I love and savor those moments.  And tonight was one.

I sat down in the chair with his trusty blankie and puppy and rocked gently back and forth for a good 10 minutes.  He just laid there on my chest sucking his thumb and snuggling his blankie.  And ever so often he'd reach up and stroke my chin with his fingers.

I heard a song by Nicole C. Mullen once that she sings to her children at bedtime.  I have vamped it a bit and when I get an opportunity to have some rocking time with my boys, I sing to them.  And the words are these:

My Denver (Tanner)
You are my precious baby boy
My sweet Denver (Tanner)
You always bring me so much joy

I'm so glad God gave you to me
Sleepy angel, face of peace
I'm so glad God gave you to me
My baby love
Goodnight

I don't know how many times I sang that song tonight.  Over and over and over again.  Determined to not stop until he made me.  (sometimes he looks up at me with those precious brown eyes and says "momma...stop singing!")  Not tonight!  He let me sing him to sleep.  And as I was making the move from the chair to the bed, he awoke.  Just long enough to say "I love you momma".

Ugh!  Melt my heart!  It took everything in me to not sit back down in that chair and stay there all night.  But...I had to pee.