Twindependence

The kids decided on the very night of their third birthday that they would sleep in separate toddler beds for the first time ever. I couldn't believe it. But it wasn't complete magic. Here's how it happened: They had been put to bed by my friend Lindsey the night before. We had been out shopping for their birthday, and I guess she didn't know which bed they normally sleep in because they were in the other one. The next night after I rocked them for a few of our songs, Ethan seemed excited about sleeping in the other bed again. It was new and different. "I wanna sleep in this bed!" he beamed. He happily skipped to the other bed, and Emma sleepily walked to the other as usual, and she didn't protest or even seem to notice at all. They'd had a long, fun-filled day with all of their friends and the big inflatable bouncy house with water slide. It's no wonder that she didn't seem to notice or was too tired to care. I went right along with it and tucked them both in. I walked out of their bedroom stunned. The night after that, they went back to their regular bed together. I felt a little happy inside when they did. That part of it can't be over yet, can it? My little twins snuggling together.... Then I felt a little twinge of guilt for feeling sad when I should be only happy about their milestone, their progress and step toward independence. So the next night, I decided to throw out a subtle prompt: "Okay, which bed do you want to sleep in?"

"This one!" Ethan said and he happily went to his very own bed. They're finally making use of both beds. One bed had previously been just a decoration or a place to throw stuffed animals and to play on during the day.

And then there were two little separate sleepers. Two big kid beds. Two big kids....

....................................................................................

Tonight, after we rocked for a few of our favorite lullabies, they got in their own beds and I tucked them in. Emma was singing, but I didn't let it stop me from getting a "Good night, Mommy" and an "I love you, too," out of her. Ethan was talking and talking about his new lincoln logs he got for his birthday. They were strewn about in the floor and oh-so-tempting for a busy little boy. "Tomorrow, you can...when you wake up. It's not time to play now. It's time for bed."
"It's not time to play?"
"No, time to go to sleep. Nite-nite, Ethan."
"Nite-nite."

Emma was still singing so sweetly, so I decided to act like I was leaving, but secretly stay behind in the complete darkness and they wouldn't see me. I wanted to hear more of Emma's singing:

"Where is pointer?
Where is pointer?
Here I am!
Here I am!
Howayou aday, sir?
Aireeyan a thank you.
Run away,
Run away."

Ethan decided to sing a spell afterwards and echoed Emma Lynn's sweet song. He's just learning to carry a tune and remember lyrics, something Emma is getting very good at by now.

Ethan sang:

"Very fine, I thank you.
Run and hide,
Run and hide."

Then he must've decided to make up his own song since his memory doesn't quite serve him yet:

"It's nice to meet you.
It's nice to meet you.
Mommy said no.
Mommy said no."

Then he paused a few beats and shifted back into his comfort zone: the monologue:

"We don't want that grasshopper. We don't want that grasshopper. Mommy said....  Mommy, I see you sitting in the floor."           (grasshopper story)

"You do?" I said, laughing and getting up now. I went over to his bed and rested my hand on his back. "What was I doing?"

"You were sitting in the floor," he said, looking in the direction of where I had been actually laying in the floor in the doorway.

"Was I watchin' you?"

"Yes."

"Because I love you?"

"Yes," he said, a smile in his voice.

"Oh.... Give me one more kiss, please." He raised his head and shoulders and gave me a sweet sugar on the lips. "Nite-nite, Brother."

"Nite-nite."

"Give me one more kissy from Em-lynn, too...." Emma didn't move, but I knew she was awake. She had her jumbo sized bunny squeezed tightly in her arms with its head covering half of her face. I gave her kisses and she laid very still but with her eyes open. "Nite-nite, Em-Lynn."

"Nite-nite," she said softly.

"Tell brother goodnight," I pressed. I have been working harder at getting words and sentences out of her. She can do it and she is getting better and better, but she just doesn't seem to have much to say most times. She prefers to play the passive role. She plays it safe; less is more. And sneak attacks are much more effective that way.

"Goo'night,...Essan," she said.

"Now, you say 'Goodnight, Emma," I said.

"Goodnight, Emma," said Emma.

"No, not you Emma. Now it's Ethan's turn. Ethan, tell sister goodnight."

"Good night, Emma," said Brother.