Saying Goodbye to the Crib

Look who has a big boy bed.

December 9th brought a milestone in our families life that I have been dreading for a long time.  It came quicker than I expected, which did help.  Our crib has been having problems the past year and it finally got to the point where we didn't feel it was worth keeping up anymore.  Not wanting to go out and buy a new crib to only use for a few months, we decided to go ahead and transition Adam into a toddler bed.  That means no more babies in cribs at my house. I'm left wondering how in the world this happened.  It seems like not that long ago that we were putting that crib together for the very first time, awaiting the arrival of our beautiful and tiny Sarah Kate.  Now, 9 1/2 years later we found ourselves taking it apart for the last time after having had 6 children take their turn sleeping in it. Where has all the time gone? It's CRAZY.

He loves climbing on and off his new bed.

I'm so excited for the next stage of my life and the lives of my children.  They're growing up to be such wonderful, bright, and kind kids.  I love spending time with them, getting to know them, and watching them enjoy each other's company.  I'm so excited for all the things we can do as a family with bigger kids. I'm excited for the ease of everyday activities that having no babies brings and the sleep I get at night. However, I'm going to miss rubbing my tummy and feeling a little baby in there kicking back at me all the while wondering what this new little spirit will be like.  I'll miss holding that child for the first time, looking down at their face and thinking, "Of course this is you."  I'll miss cuddling a new sleeping baby, their sounds (yes even their cries) their smell, their involuntary smiles. I'll miss watching them grow and learn all about the world around them.  I'll miss their faces lighting up when their siblings come into view.  I'll miss their tiny little hands wrapped around my finger. Those first few steps, the first giggles, the first time they roll over.  There is so many things about the baby stage that I'm going to miss and while it leaves me so sad in ways, I'm also peaceful.  I know this is it. I know we're done and I'm very happy to have the family I have.  I just can't believe we got to this point so quickly. In the middle of all the chaos, the craziness, the laughter, the tears, and the mess, my little family has decided to continue growing up. I'm realizing just how quickly all this craziness will be gone and I hope to live in the moment and not the past and not live solely for the future.
 

And of course you have to stand and walk on the bed.  Man he's getting so big.

Back to the big boy and his big boy bed.  Though Adam was 10 days shy of 16 months old and our youngest to transition into a toddler bed, he has done pretty well.  He loves the new bed and loves that he can get in and out of it whenever he wants.  He does fairly well at night, only on occasion having to get in trouble a few times and get put back to bed.  He's such a good kid and surprisingly the 2 boys do very well in their room, in their toddler beds. So here's to my little baby whose becoming a little boy.