Moving Day

It has been an historic night.

Emma's big girl bed has been waiting patiently over in the corner, fully outfitted with a soft, comfy mattress and 400-thread-count hot pink Ralph Lauren sheets (bought on clearance). Her favorite stuffed animals were propped up, waiting for the right night to comfort theirr favorite girl. When?...they wondered. When will the right night be?

Josh and I decided this afternoon that tonight would the be night. Emma has seen the gargantuan bed hogging its corner of the room for a few weeks now. We've been talking up the big girl bed, and since josh is on school break for a week, we decided now was just as good a time as any.

After a fun evening of playing with friends, it was already way past her bedtime. Perhaps that worked to our advantage, though. We clicked on her little night-light, and tucked her in between those nice, soft sheeets. With dramatic, big eyes, we explained to her what a big girl she is becoming. How proud mommy and daddy are that she is a big girl...Big girls get to sleep in big beds...Big girls call for mommy when they wake up...Big girls don't stand up in the bed. A happy smile was plastered on her face during our entire discourse. We think she was moved, in fact.

Leaving her with a big, assuring hug we clicked the light off and breathed a quick prayer as we walked out of the room. We sat in silence on the couch, holding our breath...would she cry? would she get up and play with her toys? would she find a way to pull all the wipes out of the box again?

After only a few whimpering cries of protest, she nodded off to sleep. Thank you, clara anne, for exhausting our daughter tonight! Our little girl, once scrunched up against the walls of her pack-and-play now has a big bed fit for a princess. Stretch out, little toes. Keep warm, little arms. Sleep sweetly, precious girl. It's true, child. Mommy and Daddy love you.