if you give a kid a ninja turtle...

...bedtime is no longer looked down upon, even in the eyes of a two-year-old. Instead, after books are read, prayers are said and a tired little soul lays down, APPARENTLY, drifting off to sleep is not so bad. No tears, no tired throats from 'disapproving' for a good half hour, no 'stay-strong-mama' or 'don't-go-snuggle-him-to-sleep', self talks. No, none of that. Just quiet.

Thursday night, before we tucked our RomanBells into bed, he went down to the basement with Cindy and Jeff and mustered through the collection of toys and other random goods that have found a home down there. I was feeding Viggo on the couch when I heard Jeff say 'Want to show mama?' They came over, Jeff, hands full of Roman, and Roman, hands full of Ninja Turtles.

My heart smiled.

Jeff was about Roman's age, or a little older, maybe, he was head over heels in love with these turtles in a half shell. And you can't really say you love something until you sleep on it. Meaning every night as a little boy, Jeff would snuggle up with his tiny versions of the 'crime fighting' hero's, while sleeping on his TMNT sheets. Because, really, nothing bad could happen to you if your snoozing with (and on) Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. It's like a double dose of security...times four...or something. Regardless, Roman will be using said sheets when his time comes.

Back to bedtime...when it was time for bed, Roman took the Ninja Turtles with him to read books with Jeff. After he read and they prayed, Jeff laid him in his bed, and while he normally starts protesting immediately, he didn't make a peep. He just rolled onto his side, closed is eyes and fell asleep.Who knew. When I checked on him before I went to bed he was laying on his stomach, one hand clutching one turtle close to his face, the other hand holding another turtle, and a third turtle resting against his side. He was obviously snuggling them. (I'm super bummed I don't have a photo, but you know how it is when they sleep...you don't want to risk ANYTHING that may wake them up. And this boy is a light sleeper.)

We have TMNT fever.