Bedtime

When Gabi is ready to sleep, she is much more cuddly than when she wants to play, which makes sense. Little Gabriella also rubs her eyes when she is fatigued; it is always amazing to me when Gabi does something on her own which, for adults, is considered the quintessential action for whatever emotion she is experiencing. More atypically, for some reason Gabriella finds tugging at my hair to be comforting when she is tired.

At night, Gabi snuggles up to my chest, sticks two fingers from her right hand in her mouth, and holds onto my hair with her left hand. When she's feeling a bit fidgety, she will pull my hair until her fingers run through to the end (often retaining a few detached strands in her fist) and then she'll reach up to try again. Other times, Gabi decides to suck on the same fingers she is using to grasp my hair, or perhaps she just likes the way my hair tastes.

Not only does this hair-tugging routine signal to me that it is bedtime for Gabi, but somehow it is immensely calming for Gabi and helps her fall asleep.

Mama, I'm tired! 9/14/05

Gabi trying to suck on Mama's hair.

Gabi's favorite sleepy-time pose.