My Dirty Little Secret
As a reward for all of you who followed me over from my old blog and have stayed faithful readers, this one’s for you.
I have a secret.
I’m pretty sure this secret is evidence of my poor parenting and overall judgment but I’m going to share it anyway.
At night, when all the other kids are asleep and hubby and I are ready for bed, sometimes we……
WAKE UP THE BABY!!!!!!
This is a tradition that began back in 2002 when Noah was a new baby. It is a guilty pleasure more enjoyable than late night ice cream. There is just something about sneaking off in the middle of the night to play with the baby when all other souls are asleep that is extremely gratifying.
To be fair, it’s often the baby’s fault. She (and before her, he) would wake up for a feeding and I would see those soft little fingers and gently slip my finger into that sweet plump hand and the baby would give a little squeeze. Then the baby might peak open those sweet baby eyes and I couldn’t resist. I’d give a little smile. Or a wink. Or a kiss. And the rest is history.
So I might be all like “Oh and then the baby woke up with these horrible allergies…” but now you know the truth. Although? We had another round of allergic reactions last night, so I just HAD to wake up the baby to keep an eye on her and make sure she woudln’t get too itchy. I just HAD to.
The very best memories I have of both Noah and Addison’s infancy are from these late night play times. For whatever reason, the babies are always on their best, silliest, sweetest behavior. There is no running and chasing through the house or getting out toys or even getting off the bed. It is just laying there, together, talking and singing and hugging and showing off all the latest skills. It lasts a precious hour and then it’s over.
Although it may seem selfish, I am convinced my babies enjoy these moments just as much as I do.
But that’s not all folks. I have another, much more horrific secret to share. Are you sitting?
The last two nights, our late night romps with Addison have included…..
…..I don’t think I can admit it publicly….
…..ok, here goes….
American Idol. There, I said it. We TiVo it and watch it when we go to bed. But we discovered accidentally, two nights ago, that also Addison is a HUGE American Idol fan. She isn’t much for the commentary - she likes to get straight to the performances. And she’s not so discerning: she enjoys the good with the bad. But for a girl with zero interest for anything on a television, she has become a hardcore AI fan. I’m so embarrassed.
So in between performances, Addison does her own little performances with all her newest skills which now include nodding yes and no, clapping incessantly and her brand new obsessive-compulsive desire to play peek-a-boo. She stops when the performers come back on and resumes on cue.
So now you know exactly what kind of Mother I am and what I’ve done to my child. I bet I lost 50% of my readership today. 
January 18th, 2007 at 10:20 am
You are too funny! You are sharing such a special time with Addison. No comment on AI. I don’t watch and will never watch. I’d much rather put a CD of GOOD music on!
January 18th, 2007 at 10:44 am
OMG! We *love* playing with baby Rachel after our oldest has gone to bed!!! We don’t do the TV or music thing but it is our time to cuddle, DH reads a Boyton book, and we play with her. They are my most fondest memories.
Thanks for sharing your “dirty little secret”.
January 18th, 2007 at 11:21 am
That’s great! LOVE it…. and I bet you won’t lose any readers over that fun confession. I can’t wait to have kids someday and cherish those little moments of priceless time together.
p.s. I Tivo AI too…. it’s always so CRAZY at the start of the season.
January 18th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Spending quality time with your baby at night is the sweetest thing I’ve read in a long time.
(But I don’t know about the AI thing, that one is slightly unforgivable. ;p)
January 18th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
OMG, I like to do that with Brandon, too. Not the American Idol part, but I love getting to talk to him withou the other kids around.
As long as it’s not either too late or a school night, you know?
January 18th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
I used to do that with my neices when I’d watch them overnight. Keep it up!
January 18th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Bwa ha ha ha!!!! I think that is so incredibly sweet! I could never do that because my kids don’t wake at night, therefore I don’t wake either
American Idol???? Um you should have kept that one to yourself LOL. ::::shakes head::::
January 18th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
eeek, AI, I forgive you.
January 18th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
I’m shocked, horrified and so disappointed! But since we are on the topic, any other confessions? hehe
January 18th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Too sweet! Well, except for the AI part
Thank you for sharing. I’m sticking around still!
January 18th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Nicki,
You are so funny! And a great mom!
January 18th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
OMG! What you thinking? I LIVE for the moments when all the kids are sleeping. haha Maybe with the new baby it’ll be different but I don’t think so. muhahaha
January 18th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Too funny! I also love American Idol but find that they are so mean this year! I have to keep changing the channel because I can’t take it! But, it’s like a train wreck….I keep changing back!
January 19th, 2007 at 11:19 am
LOL. You haven’t lost me as a reader, that’s for sure.
January 19th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Oh my gosh, that is so sweet. My kids are such poor sleepers I can’t imagine waking them up on purpose, but I did always love those late night cuddles.
And how funny about AI - maybe you have a future pop star on your hands? 
January 20th, 2007 at 10:57 am
Forget it, I’m never reading this blog again!!!! J/K
Those middle of the night moments are awesome. I love co-sleeping for that reason! Just last nigh when I crawled in bed I nudged Miles awake slightly and kissed him like crazy! He smiled and said “mama” and dozed back off to sleep! Love it!!!
January 22nd, 2007 at 11:11 am
If we wake up Grace, it’s hell. She gets VERY angry and it lasts for at least a day. So we take pains NOT to wake her.
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:27 pm
I don’t wake Annslee up for cuddling..maybe once she moves out of the crib I will sneak in with her. But I am totally guilty of holding her a little longer than necessary at bedtime. She will not allow me to sit and rock so I have always had to stand by her crib and rock with her head on my shoulder as she pats my back. When she is ready she will reach for the crib but sometimes I admit..bad mama…I just ignore her and keep rocking and singing to her.