Hush Little Baby

Every night, following Pickle's bedtime story, he has 3 songs. This is his attempt at staying up. I know that, but I humour him and love it. We don't deviate - Hush Little Baby, Twinkle Twinkle Chocolate Bar and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. (I can't sing by the way).

Some nights I can't quite make it through Hush Little Baby without crying (Pickle either doesn't notice or doesn't mind!). I used to sing it to Monkey when he couldn't sleep. It started when a friend bought him a musical butterfly when he was born - pull it's tail (I know butterflies don't have tails but this one did) and it would play Hush Little Baby. The butterfly came on holiday with us and to hospital stays. Monkey seemed to like the music. I didn't know the words so I looked them up. Then, when he was a bit bigger, it became something I'd sing to comfort him. He'd go through phases - I guess based on how comfortable he was feeling. Quite often, he'd wait until I'd just sat down to eat my dinner before starting to wail. I used to sing Hush Little Baby followed by I know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly (strange combination) and if he hadn't dropped off, I'd start again. I have no idea how many times I have sung these songs. It seemed fitting to play Hush Little Baby at Monkey's funeral - a last lullaby.

I can't remember how I came to start singing it for Pickle but I do.

Today, after an exhausting day for Pickle, he lies still whilst I sing and snuggles in, sometimes his little arm comes out, reaches around my neck and pulls me in. (Normally, he wriggles and squirms and plays me up a bit until the last minute). The very last minute when I shut his door he calls out sleepily 'I love you Mum' and I melt...