Missy has rocketed from a baby to a little girl seemingly overnight. First she started to understand what I was saying. Then she started walking. One day, you wake up and jokingly tell her to go get her shoes so you can go to the park. And she does!
I am a bit wistful. The baby time is nearly gone.
Also this week we are transitioning from co-sleeping to crib sleeping at night. AND dropping the night feeding(s). That is a lot for one little girl to handle. Apparently so for her momma, too.
After a week of little sleep because Missy kept waking up and wanting to play in the middle of the night, Cowboy was kind of over the co-sleeping. And, after months of watching parent-after-parent in our library group – not to mention several bloggers who I follow – get knocked up with #2 while I pine for AF like an 8th grader, I am kind of over the night nursing.
Rule number 1 with co-sleeping is that if you resent it, change it. So last night Cowboy rode pole position in the nursery chair while I tried to sleep. It was lonely without Missy snuggled up. No Cowboy either. Sigh. I still woke every time she cried. I was impressed that Cowboy got her back to sleep without too much of a struggle. Impressed and incredulous. He managed to do in one night what I have been putting off for months.
I was also a bit sad during the night: my baby no longer needed just me.
This morning, however, thoughts of liberation are seeping in. She no longer needs just ME. I can go on a business trip or a girl’s weekend and know – confidently know – that she won’t fall apart.
I might. But she will handle it.
Just like she handles her own spoon. It is a little messy but she gets it done.
