Bedtime.

Bedtime is a long, drawn out battle these days. Because the girls both sleep in the same room, getting them to bed, to sleep at the same time takes a lot of effort and patience.  We start the process of getting ready for bed and hour before we actually go upstairs. We change into our pajamas, watch a show, have a little bit of milk, and wind down for the night.  Then we go upstairs and read a book for a while as we're getting settled in.  Once the book is finished, we find all of the necessary blankets, pillows and stuffed animals - and it's lights out and into bed they go.  

This is when the fun begins. The girls talk back-and-forth to each other and to whichever parent is on duty that night.  They kick off blankets, ask to be let out of bed, demand more hugs or kisses, more to drink, or "need" to go to the bathroom.  After about 40 minutes of that they really start to settle in. Gabrielle such a cuddle bug that she insists holding hands with the parent who is up there with them until after she falls asleep.

This whole process takes roughly an hour every single night.  In the interest of sanity, we take turns alternating every other night.

Bedtime tonight was particularly challenging, seeing as how Gabrielle alternately insisted on holding my hand, and crying when I held my hand out to her.  

As I was getting ready to sneak out of the room after they both fell asleep, I stopped to take a look at them in their respective beds. I am always so surprised at how beautiful children are when they sleep.  :)

Sweet dreams, my little babies.