This weekend Drake took one more step toward being a big boy when he transitioned out of his crib into a toddler bed (basically his crib without the front piece). Mr. Chocolate had wanted to do this for a while, but the reason we put it off for so long was because despite his age (he just turned 3), he had never tried to climb out. In truth, I had a harder time with this adjustment than Drake did.
We lucked out as Drake by nature is a bit more timid and less active than a lot of boys his age. He has never really expressed an interest in climbing, and rarely climbs even when at the playground or when we use to attend Gymboree class. So we never felt the urgency other parents do in transitioning him out of his crib. For practical reasons, I didn’t want to do this transition right as we had Juliet as I felt like too many big changes might upset Drake. I also feared that once he was out of his crib, we would have more difficulties with bed time and keeping him in his bedroom to sleep. I was worried that we would be dealing with a toddler that wouldn’t sleep on top of a newborn and I just couldn’t even imagine that horror, so I insisted we wait for a little after Juliet was born. These were my outside reasons, and valid as they were, I also had another reason. Secretly, and selfishly, I simply wasn’t ready to see my little boy move one more step further into growing up.
Since Drake was born, I have tried my best to savor every little moment of his life. I am a sentimental person by nature and I think having children has made me even moreso. As I looked at Drake when he was a baby, I realized that every moment was fleeting. Children are adults for so much longer than they are children and the baby years are the shortest by far. I knew our time was limited and so I tried to hold on to it as long as I could. While I celebrated when Drake hit milestones, part of me was always sad too knowing that we could never go back again. With each transition he was growing up and moving one more step away from me and being my little baby. So I never rushed him; when other moms stressed about when their baby would crawl, walk, and talk, I bid my time knowing it would happen when he was ready even if I was not.
When Drake was younger he was my baby and he still needed me, but now he does need me less because he is growing up, doing more for himself and forging his own path. On one hand I couldn’t be happier for him, to see the joy and triumph in his face when he succeeds. On the other though, I grieve. My best friend once said that parenting is a constant state of grieving as they change so quickly and grow up too fast. She is right…. they do.
So excited to be a big boy
As for Drake, he loved having a big boy bed. We did have an issue the second night when he rolled out of the bed and woke up crying. We have since ordered a toddler rail and put down a comforter and pillows on the floor for now. But overall this has gone as smooth and easy as we could have hoped. All my worries of having a child roaming the halls never sleeping turned out to be unfounded, as Drake has stayed in his bed every night. In the morning when he wakes up he continues to play in the bed despite having the freedom to get out now and waits for me to come in before getting out. While this might change later, for now I couldn’t be prouder of him.
I know part of me will always be sad to see my children grow up, but that’s the bittersweet part of parenting. Still the highs certainly outweigh the lows and seeing Drake’s face as he tackles on each change and challenge reminds me why I wanted to be a parent to begin with.
So even though to the world he is no longer a baby, I’m reminded of the words of Robert Munsch: “I’ll love you forever I’ll like you for always As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.”
My baby he will always be.
guest
I know you said you already ordered a toddler rail but thought I would tell you a pool noodle works great and costs $1! You tuck it under the crib sheet and it provides just enough of a hump that they wont roll out!
apricot / 457 posts
It’s like you took all my thoughts/feelings and wrote them here – except much more eloquently. I’m usually thinking “stay my baby forever!”
blogger / nectarine / 2600 posts
@lisa1783: Aww thanks that made my heart smile. Im glad Im not the only one who wants them to stay little for as long as possible. I feel like society always wants to push them to dress, think, be older but they will get there no matter what so cherishing those fleeting little moments are so much more important to me.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
THIS: ” part of me was always sad too knowing that we could never go back again.” I, like you, never worried about milestones because I wanted to enjoy every moment. As exciting as it was when he sat on his own, crawled, walked, and is now saying words- it IS sad because like you said, we can’t go back. That part of their lives are gone now. In the past. And we are left to celebrate new chapters.
honeydew / 7504 posts
I was just saying to a friend of mine that part of me is so excited and can’t wait to see D start crawling and then walking and all that other stuff, but the other part (and, let’s be honest, the bigger part) isn’t ready for any of it. I want him to be my little snuggly baby forever! Milestones are funny….
pomegranate / 3383 posts
Your post is so beautifully written.
I don’t necessarily rush through milestones but I do get really excited for the next stages of development. Watching my LO grow and learn new things is so incredibly fascinating. Your post however, reminded me to cherish those times when he does still need me while simultaneously encouraging his growth and independence.
Oh, and Drake is too cute!!!!
grapefruit / 4923 posts
what a lovely post. you are so right about the baby phase being the shortest of all. but you’re right, no matter what, he’ll always be your baby!
blogger / nectarine / 2600 posts
@Mrs. Pen: Yes thats a good way of looking at it new chapters to celebrate! I like that
@littlebug: Milestones are funny in that we worry so much when our child doesnt meet them at the time we think they should but once they do thats it you cant go back and savor when they didnt do that anymore. I do look forward to things its just I know we will make it there too so might as well enjoy where we are right now since that might end at any moment
@Sammyfab: Aww thank you Its nice to hear that when you put a lot of yourself out there to blog Thank you for the sweet words about Drake too!
@edelweiss: Thank you you always say the nicest things
cherry / 110 posts
I love the accompanying photos. They go along with the words perfectly. Especially that last one. That one’s my favorite!
guest
That bed is just adorable!