Sleep

Snuggled in close to Mommy – as close as he can get.

Hot – a miniature furnace (maybe his metabolism is working overtime on the three bowls of lentils he ate for dinner?).

Last minute impressions about the day – Isaac (the new boy at school) finally earned his pencil for not talking during nap time.  He’s proud that he didn’t cry when he got his shots at the doctor (even though Mommy said it was ok if he did).  Mommy should start dinner early tomorrow so we have enough time to brush out his hair before bed.

Finally, a heavy sleeper breathing deeply and steadily as our house settles back into peace. (His sister’s cries in the room next door are quieting and becoming more rhythmic.  She’s close to sleep now too – thanks to Daddy).

Sweaty – did he wet the bed? No, he never wets the bed; its just sweat, lots of sweat.  Good thing summer really hasn’t come to coastal southern California yet.  The poor boy will melt away when the June gloom finally lifts.


Preferring a horizontal position pushing Mommy and Daddy to the fringes of their California King.  Maybe so he can feel both of us while he’s sleeping?  Always touching Mommy.  Later he’ll roll over closer to Daddy when Mommy rises in the dark to get ready for work.

Active dreaming.  

Sitting up in bed and suckling the air like babies do when they’re hungry.

Fighting the sheets that cover him as if they’re trying to grab him.  Later, frantically pulling at them to cover himself back up.

Moaning and whimpering, tossing and turning.  

What does my little boy dream about?  His first mom?  Scary things that happened before he came to live with us that he hasn’t shared yet?  The extremely scary toilet on the airplane from Ethiopia to America (shared just a day or two ago)?  The glowing red eyes under the house that turned out to be a pack of cuddly, playful kittens in the TV episode we let him watch before he went to bed?

It’s always there (especially in the middle of the night).  The question.  Is this adoption stuff or just normal 5 year old stuff?