How to keep a 3 year old in his own bed:

Grant has been sleeping with us about 1/2 the time for about 2 months now. He is quite the little flailer (is that a word?). He kicks, hits, turns . . . oh, and he snores. He also cuddles sometimes, and it is because of the wonderful cuddling that we allow him to hop into bed with us. Yes, we do ask (and sometimes threaten) him to stay in his bed. Still, he manages to wedge himself either under Mitch's arm, or between the two of us. I secretly love it.

Anyway, usually Grant hops in on Mitch's side while I pretend to be sleeping so I don't have to deal with it. Typically, he stays for an hour or two, then one of us (usually Mitch) either makes him a little bed on the floor or carries him to his own bed. The flailing gets to be too much.

Mitch left for his 12th annual birding trip to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday. I fully expected to hear the pitter-patter of little feet running across the hardwood floor to my bedroom sometime in the night. In fact, I kept waiting, so I couldn't sleep. I prayed that Grant would come. I was lonely and cold. He didn't come. So sad. I slept solo for two nights.

I left for women's retreat on Friday evening and the boys spent the night at their grandparent's house. (They did great!)

Mitch came home Saturday afternoon and, of course, took the boys home. Guess what. Grant hopped into bed with his Daddy. Totally not fair. I don't understand this.

So, my new theory is that if Mitch is in our bed, Grant must join us. However, if it is just Mommy, Grant doesn't need me. Oh, how sad. I suppose I should be grateful that I had a little more room to spread out on my bed, but really, I just missed cuddling one of my boys!