I always wondered how young babies are when they start to dream. Do they always, from day one? Is it later, when they start to become more aware? Who knows.

I have long suspected Rebecca is a vivid dreamer. She’s a restless sleeper, and it’s not uncommon for her to wake in the middle of the night, seemingly distraught and in need of a pat on the back. But she’s usually still sleepy enough that she doesn’t say much about what’s bothering her and goes right back to sleep.

Daniel, on the other hand, sleeps like the dead. Sometimes, when I go in to check on them before I go to bed, I have to poke him so he’ll move enough for me to know he’s still breathing.

He woke up crying late last night, very uncharacteristic. I went in to check on him.

“Mommy, I’m so sad! I’m weawwy weawwy sad!”

“Oh, buddy, why are you sad?”

“I’m so sad, because they took all the phones!”

A hug and some vague reassurance about the phones, and back to sleep he went. As did I, with no more doubt about whether toddlers dream.