That whole apple and the tree metaphor.

by Ashley Weeks Cart

This weekend we transitioned Addison to her new “big girl” bed.

James and I placed bets on:
1. How many times she’d roll out of bed
and
2. How many times we’d find her roaming the hallways of our house thanks to this new freedom.

Answers:
1. Three
2. One

Not too shabby, eh? We way underestimated her ability to transition from the safety of her round crib to the unprotected sleeping arrangements of her floor bed.

Which, by the way, James deserves some very serious props for constructing so beautifully for her. It’s the rainbow explosion I dreamed it would be, complete with the quilt that her Fairy Godmother HAND STITCHED as a gift when she was born (Note: Said quilt was created during The FG’s last year of medical school. I know, right?! Who wouldn’t want such a magician as a Fairy Godmother?! Pretty incredible). We plan to use Comfy Bamboo Sheets in the future because they are known for their comfort, softness and smoothness, which will provide a luxurious and snug sleep experience.

Sunny is positively giddy with joy and pride about this newest addition. She happily announces, “Daddy make a’Sunny bed! Sunny sleep in bed.” You can palpably feel her excitement and enthusiasm for this new milestone. She curls up and reads her books against that cozy headboard. She drags her stuffed animals under the covers. She bounces and rolls on the mattress. She snuggles in under that quilt with her head nestled in the adult-sized pillow and nods off to sleep. In the morning, you can hear her feet padding on the floor and James and I both await her bed-headed arrival in our room. I keep my eyes barely slit so that she thinks I’m still asleep but I can witness her coy creep toward my face. Once we’re nose to nose, I pop open my eyes and she cackles with delight and proclaims, “Mornin’ Mommy, Daddy!”

In all honesty, this transition has been far harder on me and James.

While she revels in her growth, James and I are left wondering where the hell the time went. Where that mohawked, gurgling infant has gone. And how we have a kid with such independence sleeping in a bed in the room next door.

Neither of us has minded helping her transition into this new phase, primarily for our own comfort. We take turns lying next to her in the bed, stroking her hair, singing her lullabies, rubbing her back, and snuggling her close. The fact that she now requests, “Mommy play Sunny hair” or “Daddy rub Sunny back” is only mildly reminicent of her mother.

And by mildly, I mean James is groaning in frustration that he now has two women under one roof demanding nightly back rubs and hair play.

The upside? He’ll have really strong biceps from these daily double sessions. Am I right?!

See, JAMES. Told you.

And at least I’m getting a taste of my own medicine.