A baby no more

Yet another stage is done. Another period of my life is over. That which I had been delaying and finding excuses to avoid has been faced and finished.

I took down Corinne's crib.

I had actually expected to be an emotional wreck. I had expected to sob as I removed every screw for the last time. Thankfully, I was on the phone with an old friend, who was able to distract me while I brainlessly dismantled the last sign my house will ever hold of a baby living here. For there is a baby, no longer...

Excuse me while I cry NOW over that one sentence...

How many times have I assembled and dismantled that crib? I counted. It was set up (by ME!) 5 times. FIVE. Between 3 children and 2 moves, I had gotten to know the in's and out's of that piece of furniture. Each assembly signified a new beginning, filled with hope and expectations. It is a well-loved piece, and will NOT be sold or passed along. I am hoping that one of my children will find the value in it, and use it for my grandchildren someday (that is, if it still meets the standard guidelines by then!).

Corinne was thrilled, initially. A Big Girl Bed! What fun this will be!! Until she saw her beloved crib in pieces and a big empty spot in her room. Then came the toddler tears.

"Honey, you can NOT cry or you'll make Mommy lose it! Ummmm... How about a sucker?"

Seriously. I seriously said that. And she stopped crying, which meant I never did either. So, all in all, a good idea...

Once I lugged my garage sale toddler bed up from the basement and wiped the cobwebs from its corners ("Mommy, why you give me a bed wif spiders in it?!?") she was all grins and giggles. Naptime was a bit tricky but after her coming downstairs 2 times I simply sat on the floor next to the bed, put my own head beside hers with my arm around her waist and she passed out.

I? I am.... ok.... Sad, but not hysterical. It isn't the crib itself, but the notion that yet another stage in my life is over. And you know, it's hard for me to come to terms with that. Can't I just freeze them? Press really hard on their heads and keep them all from changing again? I just got used to THIS phase, I am not ready for a new one. Not just yet...

Shit. Here come the tears...

Welcome to Corinne's palace. Note the sign.

One last picture of my last baby.....

She was so excited to have a pretty container to store her pacifiers in. I hated to tell her that my intention is to wean her off of them by only allowing them in her bed in her room...

Hooray! I like it after all!!

Such a little girl's room, isn't it? My mom is giving her some peel-n-stick Disney fairies for over her bed to go with the fairy/butterfly theme that you can't see in this picture because THAT is where her crib used to be. Waaaaahhh!!!
She's all set and ready to sleep, even though it was a bit early. Getting her paci and getting tucked in...

Yes. I took a picture of my sad and dejected crib in the basement. All alone and cold. No mattress and blankets and stuffed bunnies to keep it company....
But my big girl? She is sound asleep. Hopefully having lovely toddler dreams of magic and fairies, Matchbox cars and babydolls...