harrowing nights

Last night was...well, interesting. Jackie has not been keen on going to sleep alone these days. After finally lulling him to sleep, he woke up, screaming like the devil himself had paid him a visit. Not wanting to respond too quickly, Cheryl and I decided to give him a few minutes to settle. Turns out that a few minutes was more than enough. Our hearts sank when we heard a mighty crash from Jack's room. We leaped to our feet and ran to find Jack crying on the floor beneath his crib. He had boldly raised himself above the level of his crib and with a shot of bravado dove like a drunken kamikaze to the floor. After making sure all body parts were intact, vital signs were within acceptable ranges and the floor was appropriately padded, we placed him back in his bed. Unhappily. No sooner had I turned my back to talk to Cheryl and our little bird promptly leaped into the sky with identical results. Crap.
So tonight, in an attempt to prevent our first child from sustaining further brain injuries, we have put him in a toddler bed. And now begins the battle to keep him there. Chemical restraints? No. Handcuffs? Nope. Super Nanny? That'll do it. After 30+ trips to return him to his bed our little man is finally asleep. Thank goodness.
Thinking about Jack's recent adventures reminded me of a poem called High Flight by John G. Magee, a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot during WWII. He wrote:

"Oh I Have Slipped

The Surly Bonds of Earth...

Put Out My Hand

And Touched the Face of God"

Could it be this is what Jack was thinking as he soared above the surly bonds of his bedroom floor? I like to think so. Goodnight, little man...we love you.