Return of View From the Recliner

Tonight Rene is out having a girl's movie night with some of her friends from her Moms' group, so I thought I would hijack the blog and create a post of my own again. Rene headed out about 6:15, right as Colin was waking up from his nap after a long day of visiting Grandma and Grandpa and then showing Daddy some of the things he's been learning at swim lessons in the pool. I was thinking that after having a nice nap, Colin would be in a good mood and ready to play after Mommy left. Boy was I wrong. No matter what toys I put in front of him or how many Twinkle Twinkles I sang, he wasn't having it. I knew he still looked tired, but wanted to keep him up as long as possible since he had just had a nap. An hour latter, at 7:15, I decided to give up ship and head up to his room. I was sure I was going to be in for a hard time putting him to bed, too. Wrong again. From the minute I started his normal bedtime routine, the kid didn't cry once. Even during his rub-down with lotion, which he usually hates, he was surprisingly calm. He knew he wanted to go to bed and that sleepy time was only a book and bottle away. Even when I layed him down in his crib (usually another tipping point for crying), he didn't make a sound. Just goes to show you, sometimes the kid knows what he wants and it's best to just give in. He's so precious when he sleeps... I've checked in on him no less than 5 times in the past hour, a task I usually reserve for Rene in fear of waking him up and getting "the look." Rene and I both feel so lucky to be able to live the life we do and for her to be able to stay home with Colin. I know I don't give her enough credit for the unbelievably hard work I know it is. I am proud of her for so many reasons and am very lucky to be able to share the joys of parenting with her. From her countless hours of research, both prenatal and after Colin's arrival, to her making her own baby food, making sure he had breast-milk, no matter the inconvenience, and a myriad of other ways, she truly strives to be the best Mom a kid could ever wish for. I feel so blessed sometimes I wonder when I'm going to pinch myself and wake up from this dream. I know every parent will agree that raising kids is not without it's struggles, but I for one wouldn't trade our "Coly Bear" and the moments we spend together as a family for anything...