She could feel the heaviness on her eyes. Had to force them open to look at the time… 4am.  The baby was due a feed and boy did he know it - the rest of the block probably knew it too.

She crawled out of bed and walked slowly to the kitchen, felt for the light switch and went to the baby bottles to make up his milk.  Still unable to open her eyes without effort she really had to pry them open to check the height of the water against the measurements.  Bottle made, kid screaming, mum almost sleep-walking back to the bedroom to feed the crying bundle in his crib.

As soon as he saw her he quietened down.  He was already starting to understand that when she went to pick him up in the dark a feed was coming.  They settled down for his feed, this quiet time together, just the two of them while her other half snored away next to them.

She looked over to him with mixed feelings of affection and jealousy.  He slept so soundly, looked so peaceful, but why couldn’t she sleep ever through it all like that?

The baby spluttered slightly, she could feel the little flecks of warm milk on her hand, brushing it away with his bib.  He looked right at her and smiled a quiet little smile.  She smiled back and picked him up over her shoulder to burp him, his milky breath on her shoulder, warm cheek against hers.

She gently put him back in his crib and watched him drift off to sleep.  Another broken night, another blissful moment - heavenly.