In our house we have a nightly ritual...spa tubby. This started as something Dash and I would do after a long day, or when he was really sleepy, but then we realized it was soooo great, and asked how could we not experience it as often as possible. I mean, I am afterall, one of those girls who lives in the moment and has never believed in "special dishes, or "good underpants", or the best restaurant only on your birthday. If its great, you should enjoy it in the day you have, no?
Anyhoo, every night for the little prince, I start the tub filling with HOT water to get the steam going, then once there is a fog over the mirror, I turn it to the perfect mix of hot and cold to fill the tub with the most relaxing warm water. I add some stress relief bubbles and shoot the air with two quick puffs of a stress relief room spray that is to die for! Then Dash gets in and we do all the washing first thing. We talked about it, and agreed work first, then play. After he is clean and there is a perfect mix in the air of the aroma therapy add-ins and his Musetla baby wash, we just enjoy. We have some of the best talks during this time. He will tell me about his friends, his family, any bad words he may have learned, oh and sometimes when I am really lucky he will sing me the best songs! (my fav was the time when he sang the entire first verse and chorus of Loves Me Like a Rock, by Paul Simon)
When it is time to get out, I wrap Dash up in his loyal froggie hooded towel he has literally used since birth. (sometimes I even toss it in the dryer first, just so it has that extra oopmh of coziness). Once he is snuggled in the towel, Dash will always ask for a big hug, and it is hands down the best moment of every single day. For a few seconds I get to be so still and close to him that I can feel his little heart beat against mine. I inhale the smell of fresh baby as deeply as I can, and just let myself remember that giving attention to whatever ickyness, stress, or nonsense that may have interrupted my day is a total waste. I thank God every night for those seconds and letting them only belong to us.
Sounds complicated and involved I know, but it is worth every single minute put into every detail.
Try it, it will not disappoint...