Tonight brought a cold, raging Northwest wind. The kind that chills you to the bone when you listen to it gust into the side of the house. Windy nights are my very favorite, especially when I'm safe and warm inside. I tucked in the littles and cozied on the couch with hot chocolate and a warm hoodie.
Finley got out of bed approximately nine times. "You forgot your good-night hug," he'd say, as a smile spread across his lips and his eyes blinked up at me sleepily. He had missed his afternoon nap and ended up crashing on the reclining chair shortly before dinner. This meant that he wasn't going to bed anytime soon. The next time he came out he said, "This hug is going to be the goodest squeeze hug yet!" He wrapped his arms around my neck and his body melted into mine. As he rested his head on my shoulder I decided that we need more Finley hugs around here.
When he finally went to bed I sat in the quiet and reflected on the evening. The boys were actually pleasant and agreeable tonight. Camilla and Hyrum helped the youngest two brush their teeth and get tucked into bed. Joe helped me with Sawyer and then we looked at a Where's Waldo book until it was time to tuck in. They were all tired from an evening out playing in the snow.
When the baby woke I scooped him from his crib and sat near the Christmas tree. He gazed sleepily at the lights on the tree until he needed to nurse again. Soon he nestled his face into my shoulder and drifted back to sleep. I savored the feeling of a baby in my arms again. I couldn't help but smell his sweet little head and kiss him a million times before snuggling him back into his crib. As the wind blew wildly outside, I made sure to place an extra blanket across his sleeping body. It was going to be a chilly night. I warmed my hands on my cup of hot chocolate as I began reading a favorite book. When I started nodding off I decided to call it a night.
