Quirks

Ten PM last night I found myself laying on the floor next to Lily's crib in the dark, with no pillow or blanket. Lily had slept so much during the day that she was having trouble falling asleep. I didn't want to let her cry it out with a head cold. This was working for her, she was content to play in her crib in the dark as long as I was there with her.

At first she jumped around, sang songs, and tried to get my attention any way she could. Eventually she settled down and laid her sweet little congested head on her pillow, covered herself with her blanket and settled down ready to fall asleep. In the darkness of the room I could see a bit of light reflecting off her enormous blue eyes. We laid there: me frozen on the floor, her nestled into her comfy quilt; staring into each others eyes. Each of our minds wandering away to distant places.

That is when I heard the first thump. A pause of about a minute or two and then I heard another thump. I knew exactly what that thumping was. Something Little Miss Lily inherited from her father. Something she has never witnessed him do, but inherited none the less. You see those two weirdos, Jeff and Lily, they lift their foot and let it drop to the bed, thump, while falling asleep. I continuously amazed at how many of her little quirks are inherited from her DNA.

When Mandy was little I was convinced that everything she did was due to my parenting, the good and bad were a result of me, me, me. Now I know that they are who they are. The best I can do is give them a safe loving environment to enjoy their childhood. They are going to become whoever they are going to become and I am going to love them weirdo quirks and all.