Your First Big Girl Bed.

Dear Scarlett,

I wrote on my blog recently how you got your very first big girl bed. Let me share it with you:

I am not the mother who is eager to rush their children into growing up. I don't force potty training, I was never big on taking a bottle away abruptly or forcing things on my baby. Since having Scarlett, I've learned that all kids develop and grow at their own paces. They all change and adjust in their own time.

I was really slow with switching Scarlett over with anything. I know that when she is ready, she will let me know. For instance, beds. She stayed in her bassinet for quite awhile. When I finally switched her to a mini crib, she stayed in that in our room until she was a year old. Finally, we put her in a crib in her own room. She's been this way up until now. A couple weeks ago, we asked Scarlett if she wanted a big girl bed. When she shouted with delight, "BIG GIRL BED!!", we knew it was time. So instead of buying her a toddler bed, we decided to go straight to a twin bed. Scarlett's been in the 90% for her height since she was a couple of months old. She would most likely outgrow the toddler bed in a year or so and we'd have to buy a twin anyways.

Scarlett's bed went in and I held back tears as her crib went out. I told her to say good-bye to her crib. I thought, maybe if she cried that her crib was leaving, we could keep both beds and she could slowly transition.  But Scarlett smiled and said, "Bye crib!" as she climbed on her stool and up onto her new bed. I guess I was really the one who wasn't ready.

Her little smiling face cheered me up in a matter of minutes. She was thrilled to be sleeping in a big bed like Mamas. She sleeps better in there than her old crib. Sometimes, kids know best ;) My peanut looks so small in that large bed.

Reminding me that she's still my baby.

My little Scarlett, I love you more than I can ever say, always.............