Monsters and Puppy Dogs

I have a monster problem. Momma and Daddy keep telling me it's the cat. Apparently, when I'm tossing and turning at night, she investigates and wakes me up and I get scared. Momma and Daddy learned to shut my door at night real fast. But sometimes my brother or I get up for something and forget to shut it and the monster gets in anyways.

Oh, and I don't care what you say: It's a monster!

After a fresh attack Momma or Daddy lets me get in bed with one of them for the rest of the night. Some nights when I'm too scared to even start out in my bed, Momma or Daddy cave and I don't even have to try.

My bed is scary.

Mommy and Daddy say I have to at least start out in my bed now, every night. I guess since there hasn't been a recent monster attack.

Momma first tried giving me PJ. PJ is Momma's bear that she built. Momma says he is a monster fighter and won't let monsters get me if I sleep with him. So I keep PJ, but I'm still suspicious. Monsters are crafty, tricky sorts.

So for a few days, Momma tried putting me in bed and then sitting in the rocker until I fell asleep. Only, it's hard to sleep with momma in the room.

So Momma started trying something new a few nights ago. She calls it happy thoughts. The first night she asked me to think of a happy thought. She helped by listing a few things. We decided on a puppy playing ball.

So Momma told me to think about my happy thought while I tried to sleep. She then helped by telling/showing me what it's like when a puppy plays ball. It's fun to watch Momma do this:

First you throw the ball *arm gesture and all* and the puppy gets really excited, "Oh boy! You threw the ball!" *mimics running* Then the puppy chases the ball and picks it up in it's mouth. *both hands to mimic the puppy picking up the ball in it's mouth* Then the puppy is all excited, "Oh Boy! I got the ball!" and wags it's tail all happy. *butt wiggle* Then the puppy runs back all excited, "Oh Boy! I'm bringing you the ball!" *mimics running* And THEN the puppy drops the ball and you get to do it all over again!

She usually shows me a few times. (It sometimes changes a little with each showing because Momma gets creative/silly with it.) It's pretty funny to watch from my bed. I laugh the whole time. Momma uses all her energy trying to be that puppy chasing that ball!

Then after I have the happy thoughts firm in my head, Momma gives me a hug and a kiss and tucks me in with strict instructions to keep thinking about my happy thought of the puppy playing ball. And then she promises she'll come up and check on me in a little bit. Then she leaves. I won't say I let this last bit happen without any protest, but I will admit my happy puppy playing ball thoughts do make it a lot easier so I don't cry like I use to.

And the best part? My friend Jesse has a puppy named Radar and we get to go play ball with Radar sometime soon! Mommy thinks it'll help with my happy thoughts. Plus, any excuse to play with Radar is a good one, she says.

I am slightly suspicious that Momma doesn't end up checking on me. I try to stay awake for it but after 5 minutes my eyes get so tired...