grateful for the thousands upon thousands of pictures i have. i really need to just sort through and be with them a little more (i take so many, i almost never look back…). i found this snapshot (taken by Bear) from early january, and it took me back to that exact moment. emma was feeling so restless and nearly too exhausted to sleep…i held her and sang songs in her ear until she fell asleep, her warm breath so close and skin so soft, it made my heart overflow. she was covered in marker from her art-adventures of the day, and she was still sleeping on a mattress on the floor as we waited for the big-girl bed to arrive. every time i’d think she was asleep and try to put her down, she awoke with an uncharacteristic agitation and we had to start the cuddle/comfort process all over again… i had freshly manicured nails in the color “big apple red”, and was feeling so powerful, so important to this little person. an hour later our houseguest sophie-marie arrived, and emma woke up anyway, partied into the evening with us for a while, then settled into a much better sleep. the next night, sophie-marie (she of the most beautifully warm and soul-piercing voice you’ve ever heard) sang emma to sleep… lucky kid. lucky us.