Three-and-a-Half

I did the bedtime ritual with Jude tonight.  We read a story (P.D. Eastman's Big Dog, Little Dog), and he put it away and turned out the lights.  I stayed with him a few moments and then I attempted to leave.  He's been sick, so he's a little extra clingy.

Jude (tugging on me): I want you to stay (pronounced "tay").
Me: Jude, I have to go now and you are supposed to go to sleep.
Jude: How am I supposed to go to sleep without you?
Me: Jude that's what big boys do. How about I check on you?  How many times do you want me to check on you?
Jude (holding up three fingers): Three-and-a-half.  (He knows that he's three-and-a-half now so it's his favorite number.)
Me: Why don't you just close your eyes a bit until I come back to check on you three-and-half times?

So I went out to blog this, started a few lines, checked on him, and our talk continued like this...

Me: Will you go to sleep?
Jude: I will try...  And I want Daddy to check on my four times!