It’s 8:00 p.m. Bed time for the twins. Andrea is taking care of Jonathan while I have Swee’Pea. We have just finished feeding them. The lights are low and, as part of the bedtime ritual, a CD of instrumental lullabies is playing softly in the background. No one speaks as we quietly wind the babies down and prepare them for sleep.

Swee’Pea rests on my shoulder as I rub her back. She is quiet and not at all fidgety. She has just eaten 5 oz of breast milk and is feeling sleepy. She nestles her face towards my neck. In this instant we are both very relaxed. Daddy is tired too and I feel my eyes droop as the darkness and soft music bathe over us like a warm summer’s night.

“BUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPP!!!!”

A long, loud, violent, vibrating sound ricochets off the wall. Startled out of my daze I jump about a foot out of the chair, while tightly clutching Swee’Pea to my chest. My heart is racing and my eyes are as wide as Buckwheat’s.

Swee’Pea breathes a sigh of relief – having just delivered the loudest belch in modern-day history. She relaxes once again and snuggles closer into my neck. She is ready to go to bed. Now, clearly awake, I put her to bed and give her a kiss goodnight.

Okay, Sweetie. I deserved that.