Bittersweet mommy moments....

October 2004.... Nate is 3 days old July 2007 (Nate at the fair with his favorites, the goats) 2 years 9 1/2 months My "baby" is going to be 3 in October.  He is really growing up.  I know, that is a good thing.  Really, I know it.  However, sometimes my heart has a more difficult time of letting go of the "baby" in him.  In the last two weeks so much of the baby has gone away.  The biggest, most joyful, accomplishment has been in the potty training arena.  I have always (with all of my four) had a very laid back approach to the "potty training" business.  I start setting them on the potty at bath time and create it to be part of our routine.  I teach them the lingo.... proper terminology.  Then we wait.... for what sometimes feels like FOREVER... for them to be ready.  After all, I am already "trained" and the goal is helping them to learn how to do this for themselves, not training me to take them to the potty every 30 minutes.  I must admit, I was starting to get impatient with the lack of progression Nate was making in this department.  In actuality I was beginning to wonder if he would ever be ready.  When we talked about underwear and peeing in the potty he would always respond with a "no!  I like my diaper!"  Two weeks ago I went to my sister and asked her to pray and agree with me that Nate would decide he wanted to go in the potty......  Well, can I tell you, our God is MIGHTY!  The very next day our little guy figured out how to let himself pee on command and from that moment forward has wanted to wear underwear and go in the potty!!!!!!  9 days later and he was "trained"!!!  AMAZING!!!  Thank you God!!!!  (we still keep him in a diaper at bedtime.... night hasn't been dry yet... that will come in time,)  So here I am, with 5 days with out an accident and I can't hardly believe it!!!!!  This has been the "sweet" moment! Now for the bitter part.  Yesterday we officially took down his crib.  He hasn't slept in it all summer, but it was still up in his room.  Now it is gone, replaced with a handmade toddler bed my hubby made for our older son.  Nate is thrilled!!!  He loves it!   We also took down all of the baby gates (except for the one to the kitchen).  For those of you familiar with my home, you know we had a lot of gates!!!  Our 3rd child required a lot of gates..... or else we might not have survived his toddlerhood.  Nate hasn't been such an "into everything" child... it was time for the gates to go down... they hadn't been used all summer.  Why is this bitter?  Well, the signs of "baby" are disapearing...... it is marking the end of one season of my life.... a season that felt like it would last FOREVER!!!  I could never really believe it when fellow moms would tell me to enjoy it because it goes by sooooo fast.  I have to say that even though most days on an individual basis did not go fast, somehow the baby season of my life went incredibly fast!!! OK>... enough moping..... the joys of the next season is what I am going to focus on!!!  Each season is full of blessings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thanks for letting me vent, I feel much better now! Heather

Posted: 08:32, Sunday, August 5, 2007

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