Baby Doll Whisperings

Apollo had to work tonight, so I put Marigold to bed myself. Usually we both do and the routine goes as follows:

- turn off the light
- light the candle and start singing the Candle Song
- rub vitamin E oil onto Marigold's scar
- sing Now the Day is Over
- pray
- sing 2 lullabies
- have Marigold blow out the candle
- hugs and kisses all around
- put Marigold in bed
- sing Baloo Balerie (another lullaby)
- in-bed kisses, hugs, good night wishes, and I love you

We do this every night, whether it's one parent doing it or two, and as a routine or rhythm, it works very well. She knows precisely what to expect--if you forget any detail of the sequence, she'll be sure to remind you--and it helps her unwind and really get ready for bed and sleep.

Tonight, while we were singing the after-prayer lullabies, Marigold was sitting on my lap and her baby doll was sitting on hers. I heard her whispering and I looked down at her. She was holding the doll's hands together and whispering "candle... candle..." to the doll. Just like we sometimes whisper to her, "look at the candle". It just made my heart melt. What a darling little girl.