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.
Cathy
February 8, 2008 at 6:32 am
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!
phyllis
February 8, 2008 at 7:16 am
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)
~JJ!
February 8, 2008 at 7:24 am
Gorgeous!
~JJ!’s last blog post..Haiku Headache
ocdcontrolfreak
February 8, 2008 at 7:29 am
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
Rachel
February 8, 2008 at 7:37 am
She’s so beautiful. That is such a sweet haiku
Happy Friku day!
Rachel’s last blog post..Busy, Busy Ku
Babyamore (Trish)
February 8, 2008 at 7:41 am
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
Suburban Oblivion
February 8, 2008 at 7:52 am
What a beautiful picture!!!!!
I miss you guys.
Suburban Oblivion’s last blog post..Fighting the Frump, Mardi Gras Edition (Ball Update w/pic)
Jamie
February 8, 2008 at 8:07 am
I understand totally about soaking up that last bit of babyhood.
Beautiful photo and haiku!
Scylla
February 8, 2008 at 8:08 am
Lovely baby, lovely haiku!
Scylla’s last blog post..Haiku Friday…
Queen of Shake Shake
February 8, 2008 at 8:10 am
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
Kelly
February 8, 2008 at 8:47 am
Much cuteness there. I miss nursing, and can’t imagine never doing it again! Sniff…
Kelly’s last blog post..Haiku Friday
wright
February 8, 2008 at 8:59 am
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?
AnGlOpHiLe FoOtBaLl FaNaTiC
February 8, 2008 at 8:59 am
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…
Jean
February 8, 2008 at 9:16 am
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…
tulipmom
February 8, 2008 at 9:20 am
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
anne
February 8, 2008 at 9:35 am
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
The MIL in STL
February 8, 2008 at 9:50 am
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
Hydes Like Us
February 8, 2008 at 9:56 am
So sweet- and what a beautiful photograph.
Hydes
Hydes Like Us’s last blog post..Haiku Friday
MamaGeek
February 8, 2008 at 10:02 am
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
Sadie
February 8, 2008 at 10:05 am
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…
MH
February 8, 2008 at 10:26 am
I’m getting the feeling this isn’t your last!
Phoenix
February 8, 2008 at 10:35 am
So sweet. Man she’s getting big.
Phoenix’s last blog post..Eating Susie on the Cara-Bean
Jen M
February 8, 2008 at 10:39 am
This is just lovely.
Jen M’s last blog post..The Light at the end of the Tunnel – our Future or Just a Hoax?
MommyCosm
February 8, 2008 at 10:55 am
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
Jerseygirl89
February 8, 2008 at 11:01 am
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
melissa
February 8, 2008 at 11:52 am
What a sweetie! That’s the stuff I miss, right there.
melissa’s last blog post..Friday Haiku 2-8-08
Penelope Anne
February 8, 2008 at 11:59 am
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
amanda
February 8, 2008 at 12:15 pm
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
Secret Agent Mama
February 8, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Oh, that was so totally beautiful and heartfelt. I loved it!
Secret Agent Mama’s last blog post..Project 365 (170/365)
andi
February 8, 2008 at 1:20 pm
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
GHD
February 8, 2008 at 2:21 pm
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
Mommy Daisy
February 8, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Soak for all it’s worth. She is precious!
Mommy Daisy’s last blog post..Upcoming birthday decisions
jess
February 8, 2008 at 2:42 pm
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
Sarah
February 8, 2008 at 2:48 pm
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
Maria
February 8, 2008 at 4:06 pm
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].
CourtneyRyan369
February 8, 2008 at 4:38 pm
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.
Teri
February 8, 2008 at 5:23 pm
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..????
janet
February 8, 2008 at 6:14 pm
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
Stimey
February 8, 2008 at 6:20 pm
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
LifeAsIKnowIt
February 8, 2008 at 6:22 pm
There’s nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby!
LifeAsIKnowIt’s last blog post..Boy Play
Miss
February 8, 2008 at 7:12 pm
She is so sweet. THIS is why I want a girl!
Miss’s last blog post..Leap of Faith #1: Trust
Meredith
February 8, 2008 at 8:08 pm
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.)
Mama DB
February 8, 2008 at 8:41 pm
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
Lefty
February 8, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Lovely haiku and an even more gorgeous picture
Sandy (Momisodes)
February 8, 2008 at 10:53 pm
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?
Yertle
February 8, 2008 at 11:47 pm
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
tommie
February 9, 2008 at 12:47 am
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
VDog
February 9, 2008 at 3:19 am
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
Amy
February 9, 2008 at 3:33 am
Now I want to go peek in on my sleeping babies.
That picture is so precious.
Amy’s last blog post..Hercules
Ann
February 9, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Ella is a beauty!!
Ann’s last blog post..Playdate gone terribly terribly wrong