One

It is 1:45 a.m., and I can't sleep.  In six minutes, it will be exactly one year since my little Noah Atticus entered this world.

I stayed up late writing emails to his birthparents, and then I fully intended to go to bed, but I decided to peek in on Noah first.  This is my absolute favorite thing to do.  Is anything cuter than a sleeping baby?

I crept silently into the room as usual, but for some reason, Noah woke with a start and sat up in his crib.  He hasn't woken up in the middle of the night for months, so I was shocked.  I froze and held my breath.  He looked around in confusion, laid back down, and tossed and turned for a few minutes.  I stayed silent and still.  He started babbling.  I thought maybe he was sleep talking, but then he sat back up and started playing with a toy car.  Uh oh.  Then he stood up, pounded on the crib bars, and started rolling his car along the railing making vroom noises.

It was too cute to resist.  Though he still hadn't noticed me, I knelt down in front of his crib so we were eye level.  He looked up from his toy and finally spotted me.  He seemed only slightly surprised, and then he reached his chubby little hand through the crib bars and offered me his car, as if to say,  "Hey, Mom.  What are you doing up at 1:00 a.m.? Wanna play with me?"

I nibbled on his fingers and kissed each one of them.  "It's your birthday, Noah!" I said.  He grinned at me, and in the glow of his nightlight, it almost felt like a dream.  A perfect dream.

I kissed his forehead and his cheeks.  I told him that I love him and his dad more than anything in the world.  Then I walked to the door, blew him kisses, and softly closed it.

I expected him to cry in protest at my leaving, but he didn't.  Over the monitor, I could hear him playing with his beloved car for a few more minutes, and then he drifted back to sleep.

And not two minutes later, I got a text from Katie.  Turns out she can't sleep either.  There must be something in the air tonight.

Happy birthday, my precious Noah Bug.  Sweet dreams, Little Man, and I'll see you in the morning.