Pillow talk

One night last week I let Anna fall asleep in my bed. It's not something she asks for frequently but that day had been a long one for both of us and she seemed to need some extra cuddle time. We lay there exhausted and I knew she was close to sleep when the chatter gave way to the sound of her thumb sucking. I enjoyed the relative quiet and the way she curled her body into mine even as she claimed her own pillow. I was on the verge of falling asleep myself when suddenly thumb popped from mouth and Anna turned her head so her face was inches from mine. Her expression was serious.

"Mommy?"

She always waits for me to answer before proceeding.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"I keep growing up."

I thought my heart was going to explode right there.

Just as she waits for me to answer her call of Mommy, she always waits for my reaction to her statement.

"Yes you do."

With that she treated me to an especially sweet smile and went back to her thumb and her own pillow and within minutes she sleeping deeply enough for me to take her to her room. But I didn't. By then I was the one who needed extra cuddling.