growing in your sleep

We often talk about how kids need rest so that their bodies can grow. Usually, it's an incentive we employ to encourage the kids to hurry up and get to their beds. It's an interesting fact that we like to use, and seriously, sometimes I think the kids look bigger after they've napped! We can always tell when Simon is going through a growth spurt because he'll ask to go to bed or decide to crawl under the covers during "rest time" after lunch instead of playing in his room. And when he sleeps, he sleeps for HOURS! Anyway...I digress.

So tonight, we got to bed a little later than normal. I'm in the middle of a serious baby proofing of Ella's room in order to move Josie's crib out of our room to begin a more serious approach at weaning. It's been tons of work to sort and organize all the little choking hazards that six year olds play with! I worked a big chunk of yesterday and today on the room and got most of it done, but it put us a little behind on our bedtime routine. I could tell Simon was very tired because he was slow to obey and out for some negative attention. As I wrapped things up in Ella's room, I could hear him downstairs with Bryan and Josie. Bryan warned him a couple of times that he was being too rough with his little sister. All of a sudden, I heard her cry out and begin wailing painfully. And I knew something had gone terribly wrong...I rushed down to comfort her and saw she had a bite mark on her big toe. He had really BIT HER! It was a deep indention, but fortunately he hadn't broken the skin. Ugh...

After receiving some serious discipline and a stern talking to, it was most definitely time for bed. (However, we made time for a puzzle and a quick book so that there was some POSITIVE attention in there as well!) As I laid next to Simon in his bunk, he was chattier than I expected. I thought for sure he would pass out as soon as he hit the pillow. And so I brought up my little sleep incentive...

Me: "Simon, if you don't get some sleep, your body can't grow!"
Simo: "I don't want to grow anymore."
Me: "Really? You want to stay this little forever?"
Simo: "Maybe God would make me stop growing so I could stay little."
Me: "Don't you want to get big and have your own kids and your own house someday and be big and grown up like Daddy?"
Simo: "Yeah."
Me: "And do you want to get married?"
Simo: "Yes. To Ella."

He really adores Ella. And I took the opportunity to remind him that Josie adores him that way. She looks up to him and laughs at everything he does. I encouraged him to be her protector and be kind to her and never hurt her on purpose. He looked so remorseful, I thought he might cry. He seemed to get it. And then he showered me with kisses and I showered him with kisses and then he rolled over and feel asleep.

My guess is he'll wake up an inch taller. :)