Nate’s bedtime routine

1. Put on PJs
2. Read books
3. Allergy medicine
4. Brush teeth
5. Use the potty
6. Turn on humidifier
7. Lights out
8. Select stuffed animal (using flashlight)
9. Leap into bed
10. Request to use the potty again (denied)
11. Songs
12. Request to use the potty again (denied)
13. Goodnight kisses

I’m always interested to see which stuffed animal he’ll select. Pearl sent Sarah a Ty golden lab puppy when she was first diagnosed. Bingo-dog is Nate’s most popular choice, and we always talk about how Mama gave him to Nate in the hospital. A close second is this nasty carnival prize in the approximate shape of Bob the Builder. But recently the opossum has been in heavy rotation.

The last couple of nights, he’s been asking me to kiss his stuffed animal goodnight before I kiss him goodnight. Last night, when I leaned in to kiss the opossum, Nate snatched it away and said, “No, daddy. Possum doesn’t like you that way.”