Goodnight Little Girl
Calm, quiet, just us
I hold you close and feed you
In my arms, you sleep
Eyes close, mouth agape
Relaxed, your arm slowly falls
Goodnight little girl
I place you in bed,
ever so gently. You stir,
but your thumb soothes you

The time I look forward to most each day is when I put Ella to bed. It’s the only time of the day that is free of distractions and noise. It’s the only time of the day that Ella will calmly eat. She is quickly losing interest in breastfeeding during the day, as I think she’s afraid she’ll miss out on the very exciting world around her. But at night, she nurses hungrily at first, then slowly drifts off to sleep.
Tate and I look in on her each night before we go to be ourselves. Seeing her lying on her side, soundly sleeping makes my heart lurch each and every time.
Just in case this is my last baby, I’m soaking her up.
To play along for Haiku Friday, follow these steps:
1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. What’s a haiku, you ask? Click here.
2. Sign the Mister Linky below with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your generic blog URL). We will delete your link if it doesn’t go to a haiku. If you need help with this, contact Christina or myself.
3. Pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button above.
















Ohhh…you and I are in the same spot. I’m pretty sure Liam’s my last. I’ve gotten myself to stop talking of another baby (’cuz it was driving husband crazy) by knowing if I do want another one, say in five years, I can still have another. But i’m pretty sure this is my last as well. And I savor every moment. I don’t think I ever held Quinn as much, or stared at his sleeping face for so long.
Quinn decided at 10 months that he had enough nursing. That was fine with me. But if Liam pulls that - I’m pretty sure I’m going to cry and be a wreak.
That was a beautiful haiku and a beautiful picture. Have a great weekend and enjoy the snow!
Cathy’s last blog post..Haiku Alarm!
what a sweet haiku… there is just something wonderful about that sleepy baby thing… it can be addictive:-)
phyllis’s last blog post..Divine Plans…Parashat Terumah (haiku)
Gorgeous!
~JJ!’s last blog post..Haiku Headache
A mommy never feels so in awe as when that little one falls asleep in their arms -at least it’s true for me. Don’t know how that’s going to work w/ two at a time, but…
And children are never so perfect as when they’re sleep and NOT crayoning up your monitor (yes, I have a two year old -who can find crayons no matter how high the shelf, no matter how child-proofed the cabinet).
ocdcontrolfreak’s last blog post..3-D Ultrasound Images of our Twins
She’s so beautiful. That is such a sweet haiku
Happy Friku day!
Rachel’s last blog post..Busy, Busy Ku
I don’t Haiku (yet) but I love this one. Ella is adorable.
My twins are still breastfed to sleep every night - exactly as you describe. It’s beautiful.
I love soaking them up too - they are my last *sob*
Babyamore (Trish)’s last blog post..Can you hear the drums and the F bomb
What a beautiful picture!!!!!
I miss you guys.
Suburban Oblivion’s last blog post..Fighting the Frump, Mardi Gras Edition (Ball Update w/pic)
I understand totally about soaking up that last bit of babyhood.
Beautiful photo and haiku!
Lovely baby, lovely haiku!
Scylla’s last blog post..Haiku Friday…
So sweet!
(I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of what I said)
Queen of Shake Shake’s last blog post..Blogcation: The Creation Story
Much cuteness there. I miss nursing, and can’t imagine never doing it again! Sniff…
Kelly’s last blog post..Haiku Friday
That really is one of the best times of day. I’m going to miss it when my baby stops breastfeeding.
wright’s last blog post..Haiku Friday - Oral Fixation?
Oh, Jennifer, that’s so sweet. I’m glad she’s letting you have that quality time. You’re making my ovaries twinge…just a little bit.
AnGlOpHiLe FoOtBaLl FaNaTiC’s last blog post..Haiku Friday: Ready, Set…
You sure you don’t want to trade her for 3 rowdie boys?..yeah no didn’t think so.
Jean’s last blog post..Bare With Me Folks…
So yummy!
That last line made me catch my breath …. the thought of that already makes me sad.
tulipmom’s last blog post..Made My Day
I’m not breastfeeding, but I really love that time of night too. “your arm slowly falls…” That line got me. My little guy always has his arm out moving his fingers or playing with my face, but eventually his arm starts the slow, sweet fall into sleep. Thanks for haiku. *sniff*
anne’s last blog post..Haiku Friday: Baby Mullet
Jenny, this is beautiful. How I remember those days of holding Tate and his sister….I would rub their little faces with my fingers and smell their sweetness till they would drift off to sleep. sometimes I would sit in the darkness holding them, not wanting to let go of the moment. How I understand!!! Now to hold Carson and Emma as a grandmother, I can’t even begin to tell you how I feel. What a gift. Much love
So sweet- and what a beautiful photograph.
Hydes
Hydes Like Us’s last blog post..Haiku Friday
Oh she’s so sweet. You’re right, enjoy every minute of it. With the first one, you’re always a nut job worrying about every little thing - but with the second you can truly slow down and relax … a little bit more.
MamaGeek’s last blog post..Haiku - Juno Is Numero Uno
Oh, sure…go and make me cry. I’m tired and sore and all out of sorts…and I come to find this beautiful little haiku and follow-up commentary. *sigh*
Beautiful picture…she’s a gorgeous gorgeous little thing.
Sadie’s last blog post..I am insane, thank you…
I’m getting the feeling this isn’t your last!
So sweet. Man she’s getting big.
Phoenix’s last blog post..Eating Susie on the Cara-Bean
This is just lovely.
Jen M’s last blog post..The Light at the end of the Tunnel - our Future or Just a Hoax?
Just when I thought I didn’t want another…my ovaries are glowing. She’s so sweet.
MommyCosm’s last blog post..Haiku Friday: Snow
She’s beautiful. That haiku actually made me miss breastfeeding, which is pretty impressive considering I did it for 24 months altogether!
Jerseygirl89’s last blog post..Haiku Friday - Haiku Buckaroo Edition
What a sweetie! That’s the stuff I miss, right there.
melissa’s last blog post..Friday Haiku 2-8-08
This is very beautiful. Micheyla was my last baby, and I remember how important it was for me that she still nursed at night when I came home from work.
One of the hardest days of my life came when she weened herself by no longer being awake and waiting for me.
Cherish every moment.
Penelope Anne’s last blog post..It’s a Kind of Magic…Words, Music, and the Prophetic Freddie Mercury
were you in my head last night? i was feeling the exact same thing…i treasure each feeding, there is truly nothing like that moment - pure bliss! thanks for describing it so perfectly!
amanda’s last blog post..frogtastic
Oh, that was so totally beautiful and heartfelt. I loved it!
Secret Agent Mama’s last blog post..Project 365 (170/365)
That’s my favorite time of day, too.
I loved this post, Jennifer. As you know, I wrote a similar one yesterday, but I totally blathered on and on about it. Your ability to write so much with so few words (when I am often afflicted with verbal diarrhea) always amazes me.
andi’s last blog post..On distraction and ambivalence
Bedtime is my least favorite time of day, but I do so love to watch my son sleep. It’s just so breathtaking.
I love this ‘ku! It’s so sweet!
GHD’s last blog post..Haiku, Brought to You by Elmo
Soak for all it’s worth. She is precious!
Mommy Daisy’s last blog post..Upcoming birthday decisions
what a sweet, sweet baby.
they grow up so fast. my ‘baby’ is almost 7 and she’ll forever be my baby.
the time goes by so fast..i wish i could get some of it back.
jess’s last blog post..R.I.P. Kitty
I was just thinking about this stuff this morning, rocking Eli to sleep for the hundredth time in the last three days. I was thinking, “I should be frustrated that he won’t sleep without being rocked, but actually… I kind of like it. A lot.” Once I’ve gotten him to sleep, I usually just keep holding him and rocking for awhile, feeling the weight of him on my chest, the fuzz of his sweaty little head on my shoulder.
Sarah’s last blog post..A Day In The Life Of Florence Nightingale
Mine is my last, so I’m definitely soaking it up.
Her thumb soothes her too - I can so relate to this.
Maria’s last blog post..Week ending poetry [and another MeMe to boot].
That was beautiful. Thank you, because of that my ovaries just knocked and said “Hello! Want to put us to use some day?” Damn it.
(Ella is beautiful too!)
CourtneyRyan369’s last blog post..just a few things.
Oh. That’s so true. Enoy it. My “baby” is 18months old, tomorrow, and I love checking him at night. Peace and comfort and love on his little face.
Teri’s last blog post..????
my baby days are sooo far behind me. i enjoy hearing about everyone’s snuggle time.
janet’s last blog post..Haiku Friday: the snow-bunny edition
Watching them sleep is one of the best times. Even if they’ve been naughty all day, I can forget that when they’re sleeping.
Stimey’s last blog post..Mother of the Year, Part III
There’s nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby!
LifeAsIKnowIt’s last blog post..Boy Play
She is so sweet. THIS is why I want a girl!
Miss’s last blog post..Leap of Faith #1: Trust
What a sweet baby! And the haikus are great. There’s nothing more precious than a sleeping baby. I don’t think it’s possible to look at a sweet little sleeping baby and not smile. (We will definitely have to hook Ella and Little Elvis up! But I must confess that he seems to have a thing for the older ladies right now… he flirts the most with tween and teenage girls.)
Ahh, sweetie girl. I remember going in to check on Peanut each night and actually missing her, while she slept. Crazy.
Mama DB’s last blog post..City Folk: A Haiku
Lovely haiku and an even more gorgeous picture
Oh so sweet!!! What a lovely ‘Ku. It’s so neat we both have Ella’s
Sandy (Momisodes)’s last blog post..Love or Redemption?
What a sweet photo. I love it. There is nothing like a sleeping baby. I go see my sister every Friday to help her with her baby, and it feels like baby therapy every time.
Yertle’s last blog post..Haiku Friday
after those first few weeks of learning to feed, I can honesly say I loved every minute of it. Knowing that your body is giving the nourishment to grow….all that foo foo mama stuff. I loved it. Around 11 months with both of them I started getting antsy…knowing that this might be the last feeding for them! When the day finally came that they would rather have food than me was sad, but oh well. Now I could have some wine! LOL
Happy weekend!
tommie’s last blog post..Friday fill in
This is my favorite one about Ella yet. Great job, girl.
Dang, my kid gets double ear infections, RSV, no wait! pneumonia, oh gah, who knows what?? and I miss THREE fab posts!!??? MAN!!! Can you not blog for like four days so I can catch up?
<3
VDog’s last blog post..Vintage Little Man: First Solids 6.5 Months
Now I want to go peek in on my sleeping babies.
That picture is so precious.
Amy’s last blog post..Hercules
Ella is a beauty!!
Ann’s last blog post..Playdate gone terribly terribly wrong
So sweet…
HRH’s last blog post..Coronation of the new king of the hill…
this was beautiful!
as is ella’s sleeping face.
slouching mom’s last blog post..I do not wish for snow to fall, I do not think it nice at all.
She is precious! It is hard at moments like that not to catch baby fever! The only thing that keeps me from another is, it would be another boy and I don’t think I can handle 5 of them! LOL! I KNOW my grocery bill can’t handle 5 of them! But man they are sure precious at that age.
Kiwi’s last blog post..JC, the Google Hog!
I love it!! Sometimes I’m afraid knowing that as much as I’d LOVE another baby, there are no guarantees. Maggie could be our first and only, and I’m afraid to miss a minute!
Becki’s last blog post..Can You Cover All Fifty?
How can you not just stop and stare at her, she is such a perfect looking child. SO beautiful and sweet looking
Laura McIntyre’s last blog post..Sharing Shots
Gorgeous picture. I love it.
Mira will only fall asleep on my lap once or twice a week, but I love those sleepy, quiet moments.
Christina’s last blog post..Haiku Friday: A Hair-Do
What a precious photo! I don’t blame you for soaking it all up….I find myself doing that with my teenagers (soaking up as much as possible about them, and spending as much time with them as they will let me) because I know how fast my time with them has already flown. I do wish I had known my last baby was my last!
Devilish Southern Belle’s last blog post..I think I love you!
Precious!
justmylife’s last blog post..OH MY GAWD…..I AM STILL ALIVE!!!!!