Where's Waldo....er, Where's Mama?

My children have an uncanny knack for finding me- at night, in the dark, while half-asleep. It reminds me of those seek and find books, "Where's Waldo?", where you have to find Mr. Waldo amidst all the chaos and crazy things happening around him. 

Let me explain....

Every night lately, I have been 'trying out' different beds in the house for slumber, due to the supposed need for Papa and K (19 months old) to have an entire king-sized bed all to themselves. (Yes, I am serious.) The reason for that would take a bit of explaining, but in a nutshell- the baby sleeps best when he has his own personal space, and when Mama is not within reaching distance (i.e. suckling distance). So, the best way to insure this is currently for Mama to sleep elsewhere. (If you'd like more of an explanation, ask me). Suffice to say- I have been bed-hopping the past several evenings to find the perfect slumber spot for moi. Do I take the futon in the front room? The bottom full-size bunk bed with Sleeping Beauty (Ch- 5 yrs)? Or the queen bed, snuggled up tight next to the two oldest children, knowing I may indeed get woken up halfway through the evening soaked through from....one of my bedwetters. :) Mmmmm. Nothing like the feel and scent of urine at 3 in the morning! 

Now, you would think, with all my evening bed-hopping, no one would know where to find Mama in the middle of the night, right? They'd get confused in the midst of their grogginess, in the dark room, and give up quickly, going back to bed right way. Makes sense, yes? 

Nope! Not my children! They can find Mama no matter where she is! It is absolutely inevitable that on any given night, no matter that I start off in an independent, stretched out, gloriously comfortable slumber, I wake up several times throughout the night, always with yet another child sticking someplace to my body! It's like they multiply, every time I shut and reopen my eyes!! 

These little hound dogs wake up and start sniffin'....

Where's Mama? Mama! Mama? 

And they sniff and hunt around until they find Mama! You'd think they'd simply hop into the nearest (and dryest!) bed. But that would be just way too easy, wouldn't it?! Nope! Must Find Mama!!!

And so they do. It doesn't matter how big the bed is, or how many people are supposedly able to fit in the bed. No, no! My children will make a way to fit! Move over, Waldo!! It's Mama they're really looking for (and managing to find every single time thus far!!) 

Ever heard of the phrase, "Packed like sardines"??  I understand that concept in a whole new way!! If you're curious, try this: Put one child flush on your right, one child flush to your left; Cradle one in your arms; Place another one at the end of your feet, holding on to some part of your leg; and another child lying sideways on the pillow under your head. Ahhhhhh. Nothing like the 'family bed', eh? 

And so much for hiding!! They can stake me out no matter what bed covers I'm trying to 'hide' under!!  Bring it on, Waldo- ain't nowhere my children can't find me! Go ahead- throw in darkness and sleepiness!! I'll bet my kiddos can find me faster than anyone can find you!!! 

(Secretly, I remind myself almost every morning- after getting kicked on all sides, coughed on, snuggled up against, haired pulled, etc.- I still wouldn't trade it all for anything because I am fully aware that this will end at some time, and I will wake up many new mornings comfortable, well-rested, uninterrupted....but without any little bodies snuggling up on all sides. 

And I will miss it. 

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