Sweetly Sick

Caitlin has been sick. When I picked her up at noon from school on Monday she was waiting at her classroom door, zipped up in her coat with tears streaming down her eyes. Her teacher told me she had been sad for about an hour. She and her co-teacher had comforted her knowing that if they called me, by the time they got in touch with me and I made my way to school, it would be home time anyway. So we came home and spent the afternoon snuggling on the couch. We watched Lady and the Tramp together, read books and finally she fell asleep. I think the last time she napped on the sofa was when she was sick last year. Watching her sleep, snuggled up in her little quilt I made for her 1st birthday, I could see the baby in her still. She is such a bundle of energy when awake and healthy. It's quite a contrast to see her so lethargic and quiet. It was so beautiful to lie with her for a while on my chest as she dozed and I read. When it was time for me to go about preparing for collecting Ashley from school I watched her lying on the sofa for a moment. I just absorbed the contrast of her baby face and her long body. My baby is growing up...but I imagine there will be more moments like this to savour...a sweet afternoon, even though she's sick.

Caitlin sleeping all snuggled up in her quilt and looking very long.