noodles and noodles

She always giggles when I say it.

But first things first.

I sit beside her small bed and she leans her curly blonde head against my shoulder as we say our prayers together. Her voice is precious, and so are her words. "thank you God for bless, and thank you for God, and thank you for..." and here she launches into a list of every single family member she can think of, each one with their own special name pronunciation.

She lays back on her purple hippo pillow pet, her tattered blanky under her cheek, and looks at me with those large brown eyes. "Mommy, can we sing?"

I can't say no.

and so, we sing. First, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Then, Jesus Loves Me. She knows every word.

Now, it's time.

I tuck her quilt around her, and I say "Good night, Rosalie-roo, I love you so."

"I love you so" she replies, and a smile begins to appear, because she knows what is coming next.

"Well, I love you oodles and oodles and oodles!"

Her face lights up and there is the giggle. She tries her very best not to laugh as she says "I love YOU noodles and noodles and noodles!

"Oh, really? Well, I love YOU oodles and oodles and oodles and oodles and oodles and oodlesandoodlesandoodlesandoodlesandoodles!"

"That's a LOT!" She is breathless with giggling. But she says it back one more time, always, trying her best not to laugh too hard. "I love you noodles and noodles and noodles and noodles and noodles and noodles!"

I can't help but laugh with her. I brush her hair from her forehead as I say "oh my! That's a LOT!"

She nods emphatically, her eyes wide and her face still lit up.

"Good night, baby."

Another bedtime, another lovely gift. No matter what the day was like, we have bedtime and prayers and singing and giggles and smooches and cuddles and love.

Noodles and noodles and noodles of love.

and just in case you didn't know, that's a LOT!