And oddly, none of these signs of growing up really bothered me until something big happened. Something defining in the life of a child finally came (and in my eyes... too soon).

This Big Boy Bed business has been a long time coming actually. T-Bone McWiggles (that's his full name for those that are truly in-the-know) has been attempting to jump ship from the crib for some time now. As has was unsuccessful for a long time, I kept hoping that he'd make it a little longer before he'd finally climb his mountain. Much to my dismay, this past week he figured out how to get himself out of his crib. Of course, the little stunt he pulled was not safe in any way and was causing him to get injured. Since I'm not a fan of my child getting his leg pinned between the wall and the top of the crib, or him landing on the floor between the crib and his dresser my husband and I knew it was time for the dreaded Big Boy Bed.

Sure, there have been tell-tale signs of growing out of his baby phase. I think that this is in part of his Big Brother Hayden that he so desperately wants to be like in every single way. But boy was I not ready for the reality that my baby would indeed grow up and not be a baby anymore. I think that I've just had it in my head that since there is a lot of uncertainty as to if I'll have another baby in the future (I say yes, my husband says no), I've had to be prepared somewhat that he may be my last. I think knowing this I've really tried to hang on to every last bit of babyhood he's had. He rolled over at 3 weeks, he crawled at 5 months, he didn't want baby food when he was a baby- he wanted the REAL stuff, he started feeding himself as soon as he could figure it out, he talked at 9 months, weaned himself (believe me, it wasn't my doing) by 12 months, and from there has sort of had the attitude that he can do anything. I feel like he's been in such a hurry from the beginning to get the whole "being a baby" thing over with.

And now he's in a big boy bed. Tomorrow he'll go to Kindergarten, the next day he'll graduate from High School, and next week he's getting Married. Today's milestone has made me want a button to put everything in slow motion in an instant. Time has gone by way too fast, and I don't think I'm ready for him to grow up.