It's official. She's done it.
Since before Hayden was born Susan and I have been talking about what kind of "big girl bed" we might get for Hayden when she is old enough to sleep in one. I think after much debate and discussion we decided to go for a trundle bed. Susan just loves the idea of a trundle. She likes the way it would pull out for little sleepovers and plus it isn't as large as a full bed. Thus, it wouldn't take up as much space in the room. We had decided that we would go out when Hayden got a little closer to three and start looking for one, but we'd keep our eye open for a good deal in the meantime.
Well, I guess the meantime showed up about two months ago, when Susan reports to me that a girl she works with has a distressed white twin sleigh trundle that she recently bought but they can't use because it is too big for their little girls room. So, naturally we go and look at it and to make a long story short, it was an OK deal so we bought it. The day we bought it Hayden was only about 27 months old. Not quite old enough to sleep in the bed. Plus we knew we would have to buy the mattresses for it. We decided to just put it in the garage and wrap it up really well until Hayden was old enough to sleep on it. Sounds like a good plan to me.
Well, last week when my Dad was in town, he insisted that he go ahead and buy mattresses for Hayden's new bed. Now, I love my Dad and I am certainly not about to argue with this idea, knowing the cost of matresses. I lovingly thanked my Daddy and the mattresses were delivered at the end of the week. Well as I said, I know it's going to be a while before we put this bed together. However, something happened on the way to me assuming we'd stick to the plan. Susan's Dad was in town, wanting to stay busy around here (which I also love, by the way) and next thing I know we've repainted Hayden's bedroom, set up the bed and have a huge order on the way from
Pottery Barn Kids.
Then Tuesday night it happened. We had all of Hayden's bed things on her brand new bed and she was no longer content to stay in her toddler bed. With great acclamation around bedtime Hayden states - "Hayden sleep in big girl bed!" And there it is. I'll never be the same. My little baby for the last two nights has slept in her big girl bed. What is happening to my little darling? Where is she going? Why is she so quicky growing up? She is now 29 months old, and in a big girl bed at night. I am so proud of the little girl she is becoming, we still have a long way to go but, wow!
In other news, each day when I drop Hayden off at day care she is usually so big about letting Daddy go. She ususally shouts with a big voice - "Bye Daddy - I La You!" And with a big hug and kiss I melt and depart. Well over the last few weeks something else has been happenning. See there is this sweet little boy whose mother Susan also works with and his name is Sam. Sam is an amazing little boy who is almost three. He might be one of the sweetest little guys I have ever known, just an amazing child. Well, each time he catches Hayden giving me a kiss and a hug or when I say to Hayden, "Daddy has to go, bring him his hugs and kisses." Sam comes too. And each time he gives me a hug and a kiss. Everytime he does it, I am so encouraged and it makes dropping off Hayden that much sweeter.
Today, it got me thinking. What if I was more like that in my own life, with people I only know a little bit? I am not saying I or anyone else should go around kissing others at random, actually you could probably be jailed for such a move. But you know how much would it make someones day? I also realized that for many people, including myself, people would be so scared and afraid for something like that to happen they wouldn't know how to respond and probably from fear of rejection from others they would make a big deal out of it even when it really wasn't. The point is, I think we need more of little hearts like Sam's. It's gotta be why Jesus was so fond of little children. Their innocence, their openness, their authenticity, their joy, their generousity, even what our society would call their naivity. Today I realized, I want to be just like Sam.
Malia said...
Aahhh, I love the kid stories! I'm almost crying! So sweet.
29 months is not too terribly young for the big girl bed. Most people do it by necessity, earlier than that, because someone else is coming along who needs the crib. But I understand, when you still just have the one child, it seems to push them into big kid land too quickly! Our daughter was two and a half when we moved into our current home. We have one of those convertible cribs, so when we set up her new room, David converted it into the day bed. I remember being a little unsure of that, she still seemed so young, but it worked out just fine!
Donna G said...
Great post Chris!
