Already

At 8:05, I sink my weary bones into my plush sofa. It is my ritual, night after night...kind of like my victory lap for surviving another day and another bedtime with a two year old. I tell Cadence when I put her in bed each night that she may not get out. So far, she believes me. But tonight at 8:45, I hear the shrill sound of her voice, "MOMMEEEEEEE!" I poked my head into the dark cavern of her room and notice that she has managed to lug her new tricycle up and into the toddler bed with her. "Already." she says as she reaches out to be held. I go to her and pick her up as I ask, "Already what?" She nuzzles my collarbone with her nose and says, "Already take a nap." Ha! I thought I had the evening to myself. Instead we snuggled on the sofa together, watching "The Donut Man" and eating apple slices. We read a Christmas book as she drank another sippy cup of milk and I think about how blessed I am to be her mommy.