Last night I was fighting a terrible migraine, so we made a
quick evening of things. Leftovers for supper, then jammies by 6:00 p.m. Ruby
and I curled up on the couch (me with an ice pack on my head) and watched
Winnie the Pooh. Ruby loves the movie and it holds her attention, so that I can
moan and groan in peace. After the movie, we curled up in my bed. It was only
7:30, but I didn’t have anything left in me for the day. Luckily, Ruby
cooperated and snuggled in with me. In the dark, she curled up to my chest and
placed her hand on my cheek and said, “Love you, Mama.” I think she heard the
tears in my voice as I replied, “I love you too, Ruby.” I could feel her sit
up, even as she kept her hand on my cheek. I could feel her breath on my face
as she leaned in, “Ok, Mama?” (She meant “Are you ok, Mama?”) I had to laugh
then, and said, “Yes, Ruby, I’m ok. I just love you so much.” She settled back
down and leaned into my chest and tucked her hand around my neck, “K.”
Only a little while later, she insisted she needed more
water. So, I took her sippy cup, told her to stay put in my bed, that I would
be right back. She said ok. Without turning any lights on, I went to the
kitchen to refill her sippy cup. On the way back to the bedroom, I could see a
little bushy, black silhouette against the still blackness of the room, and I
heard just the faintest scuffle noise. I screamed bloody murder until I
realized it was Ruby standing 2 feet from me. I never dreamed she would be
brave enough to climb from my bed in the pitch-black room and come find me. I
saw the silhouette of her hair give a little shudder and she raced towards me
and wrapped her arms around my legs. I’m sure I scared the crap out of her when
I screamed. I busted out laughing and picked her up and she gave a hesitant,
fake laugh kind of like, “What the h*ll, Mama?”
Then, this morning in getting ready for work and daycare, I
had gathered the garbage and set it by the front door so I wouldn’t forget to
take it to the dumpster on my way to work. Along with the garbage bag was an
old pizza box. Finally, when we were ready to go, I was putting my coat on as
Ruby was trying to move the garbage out of the way to open the door. Getting
frustrated as she was bundled against the cold and donning mittens, she shoved
the pizza box, “Beep Beep, pizza! BEEP BEEP!”
My little girl is so incredible.
