I love Emily’s blog, Chatting at the Sky. Love the blog title {it’s often what I feel like when I’m writing here}, love the design and love the inspiration I find there. On Tuesday’s, she has a series called Tuesdays Unwrapped … where we “have permission to take the time to unwrap the small, secret gift of the everyday.” I love that, but have never participated.
This past Tuesday, she talked about holding on, and asked the question, “do you have a life stage are you longing to hold onto?”
Um yeah, … as a matter of fact, I do. It comes in the form of a cuddly, sassy-mouthed, nukie-addicted, bundle-of-love who goes by the name of Hunter … sometimes Huntie J.
Here she is a month or so ago making her way to her new big-girl bed. She gathered up her most prized worldly treasures and headed to her new room.
Couldn’t you nibble on her forever!?!
This is her bed. Empty. Waiting.
The other girls moved into their new room last November when the construction was complete. But it was just a little too early to move the ‘baby.’
You see this steep ladder? That’s the main reason why she was too young to move. But the time had come and she was ready!
Piper was away on a sleepover, so Wynt was left to her lonesome. The girls had been playing in their room with big-bro, Odinn and it sort of occurred to me … “hey, Huntie, wanna sleep in your big girl bed tonight?”
Yep! She did!
I gave her strict instructions not to get out of bed by herself. To call me if she needed anything. And of course, that small warning … “no playing, right to sleep!” Uh-huh, they understood.
Or not.
Took forever for them to finally fall asleep. Only to awaken at 1:00am to a screaming baby. I went running into their room, fumbled up the stupid steep ladder to see what was the matter.
My baby wanted to go back to her crib. And guess what? Mama took her right back to her crib. I was even a little happy about it. Is that wrong?
I mean, if you want to get technical, I do have legitimate reasons for wanting her to stay in her crib. But I’m thinking it’d be pretty fruitless to try to convince you of those very good reasons. My guess is, you’d see right through those excuses reasons into my heart of hearts.
We’ve tried one more time to move her into her bed … but she wasn’t having it. She wanted her crib.
It’s a little funny … all her clothes, toys, toothbrush, bath stuff … it’s all in her new room. The only thing left in the nursery is her crib. Well … and her nukies.
Which brings me to my next topic. The nukie. Binky. Pacifier. Passie. Soother. One family I know called it a no-no {as in, “no-no you can’t have that”}.
Have you heard about our nukie party? We did it for the girls a few years back and we’re gonna try it tomorrow with Hunter. Here’s how it works … they go to the toy store and pick out what they want. We wrap it up, and on the day of the party, they get the gift in exchange for letting their nukie’s go.
Letting their nukie’s go, you ask?
CJ had a brilliant {seriously} idea of packaging all their nukies into a Ziploc with a note and some money {asking whoever found them to send the note back}. Then he tied it all to a ginormous “I mean business” weather balloon. Then we march them out to the middle of the yard {friends & family looking on}, they take the balloon and let it go!
Oh! and here’s a tid-bit of info … we’re not talking one or two nuks … we’re dealing with no less than 20some nukies here! They’re stashed all over the house … and I don’t think she sleeps with less than 10 at a time.
We get a cake inscribed with “good-bye nukies, we love you.” There’ll be a face painter, a bounce house … and of course friends and family.
I love this invite {thank you awesome designer Nellie!!} with photos of the other girls party.
K, all that fun stuff aside … I seriously don’t know how she’s going to do it. I’m thinking, in the moment, she’ll want her gift more than caring about the finality of releasing her nukie’s. But I’m talking serious addiction here folks.
I’ll admit, I’ve been much more enabling lenient of her habit than dad. Here she is hiding her nukie {in mouth} from dad. Sometimes she’ll walk around with her hand over her mouth thinking he can’t see it.
My heart is swelling just thinking of it …
And here she is one morning after waking up … with just a small sampling of her stash.
How in the world is this girl going to give up her habit? Does anyone know of a nukie anonymous program? What about something for nukie enablers? Sigh …
So the title of this post is ‘holding on …’ Don’t suppose I need to go into it, do I? Oh, alright, I will … :)
I absolutely want time to stand still. There I said it. I don’t want my baby to be a big girl. I finally started calling her a toddler when Tiffany, ever so gently, informed me she’s really not a toddler anymore either. How in the world did I skip that stage?
This is the last. My “bebe.” And yes, I take secret pleasure when she calls herself a “bebe.”
Why do we have to be in such a hurry for our kids to grow up? 5 year old girls shouldn’t be watching Hannah Montana and dressing up like rock stars {fo’ realz!}. We wonder why and how kids are growing up so fast these days … it’s cuz we push them. I’ve been guilty of it. And frankly, sometimes it’s just easier to say ‘okay’ than to fight with them about getting a cell phone before they’re 13 like you said they had to be. Ahem … just sayin’ …
My kids were all pretty early walkers, 3 of them before they were a year old {Hunter included}. Potty trained shortly after 2 years old. In big girl beds shortly after 2 years old. No longer using sippy cups, trained to say their ABC’s, etc., etc. All those milestones a mom could brag about to her friends.
But with Hunt … I just don’t want her to grow up. I kept her in diapers way too long … in fact, she’s still in training underpants. It’s like my last hur-rah … don’t judge me! ;)
I really felt the sting when we recently put away the training potty’s. I was even going to take a photo of my bathroom and the empty space where the little potty use to sit. But that would be pathetic, wouldn’t it? :)
I know I’ve gotta let go. And I will. All I’m saying is … I don’t think it’s wrong to take your time. Maybe we need to do that more often. Nurture our children. Savor each age, each milestone … not rush for one to be over so we can move to the next. Right? Do I hear an amen! Anyone? Anyone?
I mean seriously, aren’t they driving and in college before we know it? And they won’t be starting high school in training pants! Or do you think I could pull that off? ;)
I digress …
Hunter’ll be starting school in less than a month from now. She’ll be going to the same school as her big sisters {minus Tay}. She’ll be in the same room Wynter’s leaving. Piper was there for two years, then Wynt, and now Hunter. She’ll be in good hands with Mr. Mrs. Rodgers {Hunter calls her Mr. Rodgers … and again! I can’t bring myself to correct her … it’s too cute!}.
Huntie’s new backpack arrived the other day. Nothing like a pink & green dose of reality in a box from Pottery Barn Kids to help a mom to let go …
Good Luck to “baby” Hunter tomorrow! Wish we could be there to support her big change! I think you’re right about rushing things…as I was told when my lovely slow poke was taking her time (probably be you), they won’t get married with no teeth wearing diapers! :-) Might as well savor the baby stages…and she seems fine with that too! I think there is a big difference between holding on and holding back…and you & Hunter seem to have an agreed upon middle ground! :-)
Oh dear . . . the pangs of letting go are so hard! I completely understand wanting to hang on to Hunter’s baby-ness! (It has been brought to my attention that I did/do that with Meg!) Even knowing that our job as parents is to bring children into this world to let them go is hard to accept! That said, I think your nukie-release party is a great idea! If Huntie is ready to be a big girl in that regard, then smile through the tears, Momma! She’ll probably adapt to it better than you. ;-) (Again, I speak from experience.) Perhaps you could hang onto one nukie and put it into a safe, secret place so that years from now you can add it to her memento box as a reminder of her former addiction. We did that with Meg, and she loves her little treasure!
Oh my goodness. This was a tearful post. I am SO with you. I would sleep with my Mally girl every night if I could. It is SO hard to let go of that baby stage. The nuckie party is such a great idea and will be a wonderful way for her to say goodbye.
As a side, did Wynter and Piper have their parties on the same day?
I’m not there yet with Kaitlyn and I’m torn between wanting to have her potty trained by the time the baby gets here end of January or just letting her do her own thing. She’s so, so smart and yet she’s taking her fine time with things. She’ll be 2 in a couple weeks (OMG!) but she’s not talking very much right now – and while I want to get her to the sentences and conversations and sing-songs, I guess I need to just let her advance at her own pace. I don’t want to wish away these moments. She’s still all giggles and babbles and little phrases.
She’s sooooooooo independent, too. She doesn’t sleep with us EVER and she’s not big on cuddling (unless she is sick) and she doesn’t have any comfort objects – just whatever is soft and nearby. No nukies in our family, she never cared for them.
I have saved every piece of clothing she’s owned. Now I can excuse it by saying, “Well, this baby might be a girl!” I still have a special box of things that I’ll never give away ever. It kills me to have to buy shoes in new sizes.
I know know how you did this with four girls. I’m still on baby #1 and I have no idea how to let go of her baby things, even with another one to be the baby for me coming up.
Amen to it all! I would keep her a baby as long as I could too! Somehow it is not working with my soon to be 15 year old!!! Oh how I long for when they were little…
Oh..I know that stage all too well! Mine are 5, soon to be 4 and of course 6 months..We had Sam’s 5th bday the other day and it was so bittersweet. I tell myself that ALL the time. I really just need to let them “be”. Not that I nag or push..but I think as parents we all can attest to subconsciously pushing our little ones to grow up. I really think that was part of the reason I had another (well two)..I didn’t want to have all the firsts be gone. I really wish at times I could freeze time and stay in this stage forever. It all goes by way too fast. Sighhhh..Great post Tracie! Oh, by the way, I didi the paci thing and it was teh hardest thing..I think I was more bent out of shape than Sam.
You have an amen! Parenthood is joyful and heartwrenching wrapped into one amazing experience. Lovely post once again!
Amen to all of it! We do need to slow down & enjoy more. I still love sleeping with both of my kids & holding their feet. Weird, I know, but I just love holding onto their tiny toes.
It is so hard to say good-bye to something so permanent(i.e. nukies going up into the sky). Most stages just slowly go away & we don’t even realize that it is over, so there is no huge adjustment.
I’ll look into a Mommy’s Anonymous program for you Tra? Don’t forget you can cry on our shoulder’s anytime!
oh, those photos are spectacular. And I have to say, I’m with you. No harm done in letting them take their time :) And giving this mommy some time, too. Kindergarten is getting waaay too close. How did the binky party turn out?
Well written and perfectly put. I. FEEL. YOUR. PAIN! Every day that passes, every moment, every heartbeat is one that is going to be gone forever. Part of me wants to hold onto these with grasping fingers – but there is another part. A part that is full of excitement to see what comes next. Being a mom is SO hard!
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely wonderful.
I actually like what you have acquired here, really like what you are saying
and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it smart.
I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is actually a great website.
Hi! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers?
My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up
losing several weeks of hard work due to no backup.
Do you have any solutions to protect against hackers?
What’s up, its pleasant post on the topic
of media print, we all understand media is a enormous
source of facts.
It’s genuinely very complex in this full of activity life to
listen news on TV, thus I just use web for that purpose, and take
the most up-to-date information.
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and
I am impressed! Very useful information particularly the last part :
) I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this certain info for a very long time.
Thank you and best of luck.
Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it
from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine.
Please let me know where you got your design. Thanks
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely wonderful.
I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you are
saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you
still take care of to keep it smart. I can’t wait to read much more from you.
This is actually a terrific site.
hello!,I like your writing very much! share we communicate more about
your post on AOL? I require an expert on this
area to unravel my problem. May be that is you! Having a look forward to look you.
I just like the helpful information you provide to your articles.
I will bookmark your weblog and test again right here frequently.
I’m moderately certain I’ll be informed lots of new stuff
right here! Best of luck for the following!
My brother recommended I may like this web site.
He was once totally right. This put up truly
made my day. You can not consider simply how much time
I had spent for this information! Thank you!
Fine way of telling, and fastidious article to get information concerning my presentation subject, which i
am going to deliver in institution of higher education.
Very good post. I definitely love this website. Continue the good work!
This post is invaluable. When can I find out more?
Hi, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just curious
if you get a lot of spam feedback? If so how do you reduce
it, any plugin or anything you can advise? I get so much lately it’s driving me crazy so any assistance is very much
appreciated.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but
I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand.
It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward
for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
Remarkable issues here. I am very happy to see your post.
Thank you a lot and I’m taking a look forward to
touch you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
This is my first time visit at here and i am actually pleassant to read everthing at alone place.
Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging
for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your
site is magnificent, let alone the content!
I was curious if you ever thought of changing the layout of your site?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two pictures.
Maybe you could space it out better?
Hi! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone!
Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to
all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!
If you would like to obtain a great deal from this piece of
writing then you have to apply these methods to your won webpage.
It’s very simple to find out any matter on web as compared to books,
as I found this article at this website.
If you desire to obtain much from this piece of writing then you have
to apply these strategies to your won blog.
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert
that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts.
Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.
Everything is very open with a precise clarification of the
issues. It was really informative. Your website is very helpful.
Many thanks for sharing!
Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Finding the time and actual effort to generate a superb article… but
what can I say… I put things off a lot and don’t
seem to get nearly anything done.
Hi! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be
ok. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your wonderful post.
Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
Hi there! This is my first visit to your blog!
We are a group of volunteers and starting a new project in a community
in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done
a marvellous job!
Wow, that’s what I was searching for, what a data!
present here at this weblog, thanks admin of this web page.
hello!,I love your writing very a lot! proportion we keep in touch
extra approximately your post on AOL? I need a
specialist on this house to solve my problem.
Maybe that’s you! Having a look ahead to look you.
This is my first time pay a visit at here and i am in fact impressed to read everthing at one place.
Greetings! Very useful advice within this article! It’s the little changes which will make the biggest changes.
Many thanks for sharing!
What’s up mates, how is all, and what you desire to say on the topic of this post, in my
view its truly amazing in favor of me.
What a material of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable know-how about unexpected feelings.
Sling tv coupons and promo codes for november 2018
Hello colleagues, its impressive post concerning cultureand fully explained, keep
it up all the time. Sling tv coupons and promo codes for november 2018
Paragraph writing is also a excitement, if you be acquainted with then you can write if not it is
difficult to write.
Hello there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after browsing through a few of the posts I realized
it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m certainly happy I came across it and
I’ll be book-marking it and checking back
regularly!
I just like the helpful info you supply on your articles.
I’ll bookmark your blog and test again right here frequently.
I’m relatively certain I will be informed lots of new stuff proper
right here! Good luck for the next!
Inspiring quest there. What happened after? Thanks!