The Bedtime Train

Since I'm using this blog to preserve personal family memories, I thought I'd mention the latest bedtime routine that Noah and I have.  It goes something like this:

ME: (making train noises as Mommy gives Noah his imaginary golden ticket)  All aboard!  Tickets please!

NOAH: (extending the ticket to me)  Here you go!

ME: (closely inspecting the ticket)  Another golden ticket!?!  Someone must love you VERY much!

NOAH: (grinning from ear to ear) My momma does!

ME: (punches ticket and hands it back before picking Noah up in my arms)  LAST CALL!!!

NOAH AND ME: (as Noah pretends to pull the train whistle)  WHOO WHOO!!!!  (singing together as we make our way upstairs) "All aboard the bedtime train....."

It varies sometimes, but Noah loves the routine!  Of course, he enjoys it more if there is a story still to be told as he's tucked in.  Sometimes the story is from a book, but more often than not, it's from DADDY'S BOOK OF TRULY INCREDIBLE TALES OF ADVENTURE.  But that's another post entirely for another time.  :-)

Stocking Up

One of the purposes of this blog is to chronicle some of the fleeting details of life that can't quite be captured in pictures or video. On that note, I wanted to preserve one of the sweetest exchanges that Noah and I regularly have when I (or he) is leaving for part of the day.

Simply put, we make sure that we are stocked up on our hugs, kisses, "I love you"s, stories, songs, adventures, etc. for the day. I "put" several of the aforementioned things into my hand, and hand them over to him for safekeeping until he decides to draw from them throughout the day.

Before long, he was reciprocating and trading off with me when we would say our goodbyes. I just wish I could wrap them up and keep them in a box somewhere as keepsakes of his childhood. Then again, I suppose I am already doing that in the memory keepsake box that is my heart. :)

The "List"

As part of Noah's bedtime routine, Mom usually spends some time with him downstairs, cuddling with him on the couch and singing songs to him. Daddy then tucks him into bed, and spends some time with him, reading to him, telling him stories, or talking about the day's events.

One particular night, Noah asked if we could talk about something. "Sure, bud," I replied, "What would you like to talk about?" Much to my surprise, he pretended to be unscrolling a list, and said, "Let's see, three things from my list..." while reviewing it. "Here's one! How does electricity get to the lamp?"

Since then, we frequently draw our bed-time conversations from "the list", which has since grown into the "long list" and the "short list". I can't exactly explain the difference between the two, other than that he likes to ask at least one question from both lists. Fortunately, more often than not, I've been able to somewhat answer the questions adequately. I admit, though, I've had to just smile and respond "I don't know the answer to that. We'll have to look it up tomorrow." Which he usually holds me to!