If I’m short on time, that is, if she’s going to bed later than planned, I’ll try to keep it limited to just one or two rounds.  But on nights when there is no hurry, we’ll sing as many versions as she can think up people’s names, and sometimes even starting over if she doesn’t grow bored with it.

I consider myself lucky she even wants to sit in my lap before bed anymore.  For the longest time, she’d want to sit with me until she got drowsy.  Then she went through a period where she wanted nothing to do with sitting with me, she’d just climb in bed, get her good-night kisses and tucked in, and go to sleep – much to my chagrine.  But now she’s into this rock a-bye baby thing, and frankly I am quite completely fine with that.  Before long she won’t want to do any of it anymore, so I will let her do this as long as she pleases., because I know it will tear me up when she doesn’t want it anymore.