It was one of those things that I hadn’t realized that it was a last until a week after it a had happened. So I missed it. I didn’t cherish it. I didn’t mourn it.
You know, lasts. Some are welcomed (last diaper change, last jar of baby food). Some are regretted (last time I can pick her up, last push in the stroller, last moment of nursing a baby).
This one flew by me without me noticing.
Up until now Naomi has been in her baby crib. She hasn’t attempted an escape yet even though she is able, and truly, it has been easier with her in a crib. When we left for vacation nearly 10 days ago, I brought a toddler cot for her. In a room that she shared with her big sister, she slept on this cot in a sleeping bag.
She was free! No crib bars. Nothing keeping her in or caged.
I was sure she’d get up in the middle of the night or have to be forced to take a nap during the day. Not at all. She took her naps willfully and went down most evenings without a peep.
Was it this easy? Transitioning her out of a crib?
Yesterday, when we got home, I begged my exhausted husband to assemble Hope’s old toddler bed for Naomi. She’d been successfully out of a crib for over a week; I wasn’t going to jump backwards and put her back in. By eight o’clock he had the little bed frame finished and her crib disassembled.
As I made up her “big girl bed”, and Chad took the crib out of the room, I realized that I would never lay my baby down in her baby crib again. Never. She was done with the “babyness” of it and she was excited about being a big girl.
Her last night of sleeping safely cocooned in a crib was over and gone and I didn’t even know it had happened. A week ago Friday, to be exact.
I was a little sad as I tucked her in, with a new pillow, and her quilts all around her. But she was happy. With the elation of her new bed, she seemed to have forgotten about her binkys as well. She didn’t even call out for them last night. That might have been a last too.
She slept all night last night without getting up. And she took a nap this afternoon too. No crib. No binkys.
Maybe I should have been more aware of the lasts as they were happening. Right now her two-year-old life is full of both lasts and firsts. Its hard to keep track of them all.
Or maybe I should just keep pace with her and be as excited as she is about the firsts.
that is so true! my girls are three, and i wonder sometimes when we will do things for the last time without even realizing it. i guess that’s why we have to cherish every moment!
Lasts mean firsts….. I just painted a 17-yr. old crib that my 3 boys slept in for the first years of their lives. Never thought it would be put to use for a baby girl.
I noticed as my kids got older that although we celebrate those firsts, the lasts sneak by us. Glad you caught this one.
In the midst of the bed assembly and the few curse words I said under my breath…I too forgot to realize the significance of the milestone that took place.
Our kids are growing up.
Ohh..this almost made me cry. I wonder how many “lasts” slip by me without any notice. Beautifully said.
Ah, yes. Lasts. I guess every last comes with a first, which is what makes them bearable. I wonder: Might it be that generally speaking, moms are “lasts” people and dads are “firsts” people? Hmmmm. Cause where Shauna sees a last, I often am pumped about the first.
BTW, I sent an email back, but I’m not sure if it got through.
sometimes those lasts happen without us even realizing it – these kiddos grow up too fast! there is a karen kingsbury book out about this topic: Let Me Hold You Longer. It is so sweet, so true, and I cry every time I read it.
I am glad the transition to a big bed and not binky has gone smoothly – as bittersweet as it is to see them grow up.
I think there are probably lots of moments I missed in Keilani’s life. This post had me thinking about it… life just passes by too quickly.
bittersweet…
I love that. I can’t believe it. I love you so much!
What a wonderfully smooth transition! No tears, no fear, no wondering if it will work, just fun excitement! you gotta love that! I have seen so many moms push their toddlers out of that crib to soon. I never really understood it. Your way was so much more peacful..the pacifier thing, just a bonus!
I have been lurking for some time, love your blog, love your writing!
It’s amazing how they can be SO ready for something, and we’re not even aware. I think that’s when those “lasts” slip by us. My second daughter slept in her crib until she was almost three. I was okay with that! I guess part of us feels like that as long as they’re in a crib, they’re still our babies.
Lasts make me so sad. It seems like a lot of them pass without us realizing it…which of course makes it even more sad. sniff.
first, i loved the video blog (from the previous post), you are too cute!
i remember when emilie graduated to her big bed (6.5 yrs ago, agghh!) i was near tears, wanting to keep her small forever. she was so excited, wanted to be big, wanted the experience, she just lay there all tucked in, taking it all in (i still see her face). and i walked away, and said, “she is so happy that i cannot be sad.”
i want all there lasts and firsts to be like that.. i want to celebrate them with them.
oh, how i understand this post. =)
i always am appreciative when i find my way to your blog. =)
I have two beautiful daughters the same age as your girls. Your blog speaks to my heart and almost always brings me to tears. Each entry is honest and pure and reminds me of little things. My youngest, Claire, has just stopped taking a binky. It was clearly harder for me than it was for her. As long as she had that, she was still my baby. My heart breaks with each passing day because I know this time will pass too quickly. Thank you for your words.