Toddler insomnia

For the past couple of nights, Cola hasn't been able to sleep well at night. I was there in the cot, lying next to him, and he clubbed my face with his little hand, eyes blinking and looking at me intently, unable to sleep. After half an hour, I tried sneaking out of the cot. Cola suddenly sat up, grabbed me by the neck and dragged me back into the cot once again.

I love how he tackles me this way. His hands and legs clamp onto me like Henry the Octopus.

In the semi-darkness, I said, "Give Mami a kiss." Cola smiled and climbed on top of me, then swing his head down in a heavy hammering motion. A kiss with a heavy dose of saliva!

Another half an hour has passed, and he still doesn't seem sleepy. It's 1am. I took him out of the cot and bring him out to the lounge room where I was constructing the Sky Rail, my latest toy. It's mesmerizing to watch the marble roll down from the top of the tower, swing around bends, and get carried up by the slow motorised elevator. Cola played with the marbles and stacked some tower blocks while I fine-tuned the bends to set up new tricks.

2am: It's time to call it a night. By the time I finished brushing my teeth, I discovered that Cola's asleep on top of Tonton's chest in our room. Like a newborn. I gently laid him onto our bed and watch him sleep. Arms up like in a superman pose. Chest gently heaving. It's been months since he has last slept with us. I fell asleep to the sound of his breathing.