My Very Tired Sleeping Daughter

We flew into St. Louis very late Thursday night. Isabella was so impressed I could pick up the phone, make one simple phone call from our hotel room at the Marriott and have dinner (room service) brought to our door. There we sat...eating grilled cheese and tomato bisque off of fine china. We began our voyage the following morning to Tremont. I like to refer to it as "the sticks."

Yesterday was filled with Mass Hysteria. 13 people - the children out-numbering the adults dominated our day yesterday. I sat in the middle of the quiet bedroom in my dad's house last night and soaked up the silence.

The dawn came this morning and Isabella was awake for it. We experienced Avanti's once again, followed by the Hannah Montana movie this afternoon. My trip to Peoria was capped off with the largest cup of coffee (chocolate raspberry truffle...mmm..), and I enjoyed every drop - I mean, come-on, you cannot get coffee like that back home. I write all this tonight because about 5:30 this evening, Isabella proceeded with Operation Meltdown. She walked around our tiny bedroom crying for no apparent reason. Large tears ran down her face and I knew without a doubt....she was finally tired. Now she sleeps. She sleeps now and I can hear her slumber. This quiet sleep began this evening and she will wake in the morning with a smile on her face and all the tears will be gone. The love I have for her continues to grow beyond measure, and I can snuggle her now and smell her hair and know the memories we are making will stay with us forever. Sometimes "coming home" is best experienced through the eyes of a child.