3am Returns

3am has become almost a routine get-together in our house. About every 2 or 3 days, Anna awakes at 3am and is in need of cuddles, a drink, a story or just some soothing. It started with us going in when she would cry and she was sitting up (asleep or awake), and has progressed to what I saw at 3 this morning...Anna standing up and shaking the bar of the crib.

While I have read that this is normal behavior for this age, given they are going through a lot of things - motor skill overload, 12-month growth spurt, teething, separation anxiety - it doesn't make 3am any more friendly.

That said, I still always end up smiling. A few nights ago after drinking a bottle at 3am, Anna started clapping and waving her arms in a way that she had just learned the previous few days/week. Obviously it was top of mind for her. This morning after 1/2 of a bottle, Anna turned around, smiled at me, crawled up so her head was on my chest and sat and gave me a nice long hug. Then, pointed at the picture of herself on the wall and proceeded to tell me "baby, baby, baby". Yes, you are forever my baby, baby, baby.