Wow! Several months ago (maybe even a year?) Elijah fell out of his crib, and he never tried it again, until last night. He's gained some height as well as some large motor skills since his last attempt, and last night he just jumped down and took off running! We have a toddler bed set up in his room and I always said I would follow my cousin Heather's example and put him in it as soon as we were expecting a new baby, so that Elijah wouldn't feel booted by the baby. I forgot how tired and sick you are when you start out, though, and despite Elijah's verbal requests to sleep in the big boy bed, I just kept telling him, "Mommy's not ready." Well, Elijah is so ready we just plain don't have a choice anymore! I knew we'd be putting him back into something all night, so it may as well be the toddler bed! We did the mechanical, emotionless, silent return-you-to-bed-every-time-you-get-out routine, and it only took 2 hours (almost exactly!) of hard physical labor picking him up as he fought for him to give up. I was very emotional because the poor kid tried everything, "I don't wanna nap, Mom!," "I wanna prayer!" "I want some milk!" "I need a tissue!" "I want the toys!" and the worst one of all, "Mama, I wanna hug!" I cried, exhausted when he finally fell asleep...I was just not prepared to do it. But, I knew it would be hard, which is why I could never get myself to CHOOSE to take it on. Today for his nap, it was only like 20 minutes of tag, and he got himself back in the bed most of the time, so it was much easier and I think he'll learn quick. He's a smart kid though, he always learns quick!
He's been begging to use the toilet for months...I just keep saying "Mommy's not ready." He sits on the toilet, wipes, flushes and washes his hands every day... and sometimes he pulls of his diaper. One of these days he may just force that issue, too!
So, if you didn't catch it earlier, we're having a baby! It's due June 21st, and we don't know what it is yet, but we will be finding out this time. We are thrilled! Because happiness is... family, especially little growing young ones! This is such a fun time of life!
He's been begging to use the toilet for months...I just keep saying "Mommy's not ready." He sits on the toilet, wipes, flushes and washes his hands every day... and sometimes he pulls of his diaper. One of these days he may just force that issue, too!
So, if you didn't catch it earlier, we're having a baby! It's due June 21st, and we don't know what it is yet, but we will be finding out this time. We are thrilled! Because happiness is... family, especially little growing young ones! This is such a fun time of life!
