Toddler Time Passes in Phases
We have an 18 month old, and I don't even know how that's possible. I'll probably say this at every age, for as long as I live. Because when you're in it, you don't realize time is passing.
At this point, I think one of the biggest things I've learned is adults measure time in days, weeks, hours, and years. Babies--toddlers--pass their time in phases. When it's a "good" phase--easy, enjoyable--I watch him extra close and soak in every morsel of time that exists. And when it's a rough one, I remind myself--it's just a phase. This, too, shall pass.
Last night while I put Everett to bed (he's in a phase where he only wants me at bedtime) he started falling asleep on my lap, for the first time in forever, and it melted me. Actual tears as I sat and rocked him in the dark. Because his bedtime phases have evolved like this since I last posted:
Nurse, wait for him to fall asleep, sit with him in the rocking chair for 20-40 minutes, ever so gently put him in the crib and pray he wouldn't wake up.
Bottle before bed in laying position, Rett points to crib when he is done, set him in crib awake, falls asleep on his own.
Bottle before bed in laying position, Rett grabs my face and puts it against his, points to crib when he is done, set him in crib awake, falls asleep on his own (really loved this precious phase)
Bottle before bed in sitting position, Rett points to crib when he is done, set him in crib awake, falls asleep on his own.
And don't get me wrong, I know how lucky we are that he does the falling asleep on his own thing. It has cut bedtime down from and hour or more to just 20 minutes (with brushing teeth, changing into pjs, etc.) But I miss his little hands pulling my face against his in the dark of his room. As long as I live I will never take for granted the moments when he lets me hold him extra long.
Another big milestone in the last six months was the end of our breastfeeding journey. We made it 14 months and 1 day. We were down to just the bedtime nursing session, after a slow process of weaning off of pumping, when he refused to nurse one night, choosing the bottle instead. I cried in our room while Chelsey fed him to sleep. The same thing happened the next night. I felt rejected and disappointed, but reminded myself that it was important to follow his lead. And so we moved forward from there.
In the last 6 months, Everett has grown in so many ways. He has grown taller, grown more hair, and grown in his ability to communicate through speech and sign. This kid also has a mouthful of teeth. He cruises up and down the stairs faster than his mamas would like, but still accepts our helping hands--for now. He is still a great eater, and hasn't met a food he doesn't like.
He loves anything with lights and sirens, and playing outside. His favorite thing at the park is the slide. He can identify candy from a mile away even if he's never had it before. He loves his aunt and uncles and grandparents. He is a kid who 100% knows what he wants--and is awfully bossy for someone who can't speak in full sentences yet!
Watching this sweet boy grow is the best gift. I never knew I was capable of such joy, such fear, and such sadness all at once. I can't wait to share details about his next big adventure in the next post--stay tuned!
