sleeping beauty

this
never fails to bring a smile to my face
and often results in my grabbing tyler or one of the kids
just so they can smile with me
for one thing, there is nothing in all the world
quite like a sleeping baby
but also,
because many of my babies haven't slept this way
with their arms up by their head.
~

I'd never thought much about the position my babies sleep in
until we received the sweet birth announcement
of Baby Zeke
with a picture of him sleeping peacefully, arms by his ears
awwww
and I thought, "my babies don't sleep like that."
then, I remembered this book
while the baby isn't nearly as cute - he was sleeping the same way!
what was up?
~

All of my breastfed babies have had tummy troubles
major tummy troubles!
apparently
an intolerance to how my body processes dairy protein
or an inability to process it themselves
while they are less than a year.
I hate that it took me so long to figure it out,
guess I'm dumb that way.
~

I called a girlfriend with a baby 2 months younger than Lily
"does Ben sleep with his arms above his head?"
turns out, he does!
~

my conclusion
is that when you are in pain
specifically tummy pain,
you instinctually cover that area
you protect it
you don't stretch all out
ouch!!
~

so
when I see my baby girl
sleeping with her arms all up by her ears
I smile
and I know
the pain is finally gone
~

I love you precious!
and I'm sorry Brandon, Jeremiah, and Josiah
that it took Momma so long