A New Phase of Life

Well, for the first time in almost 7 years we don't have at least one of these in our house:



Last night Bobby took down the boys' baby beds.  We finally put up their bunk beds and they absolutely love them.  It is so funny because I always say they look so big but last night they didn't.  They looked so little sleeping in their new beds.  Nathan chose the top which is what we wanted.  He rarely gets up at night so we thought this was safer.  Noah chose the bottom which we were counting on because he is scared of heights. (that's about the only thing!) We were glad to see that both boys were very hesitant to climb the ladder.  For now our rule is that Mommy or Daddy must help you up.  We told Nathan that he had to call for us if he needed down for any reason.  We even practiced several times.  It feels a little like old times because we had the monitor turned up so loud last night listening for them.  They did great and went to sleep right away. 

I had to post the picture of the boys bed with Abby for several reasons. This was the age that  Abby went into a "big girl" bed. ( at around 2 1/2)  She was still such a baby.  We always thought of her as so much older than what she was.  I remember how she cried and wouldn't stay in her bed for a couple of weeks.  Transitions are so much easier on the boys because they always have each other.  The other reason I love this picture is that she had to "help" her daddy get the boys baby beds together 4 years ago.  Once again  she had to help Daddy with the bunk beds yesterday.  She is such a daddy's girl and she loves doing things with him. 

There have been so many changes around here this summer:

• Potty training
• Swimming
• Learning to play better together
• Big boy beds
• Boys going to school 3 days a week
• A big girl who is reading
• A first grader

For the past 6 1/2 years we have had babies and toddlers.  We have changed countless diapers and lugged around huge diaper bags.  I still think back to the days of preparing 16 bottles a day and I don't know how we did it.  We are starting a new phase and it feels a little strange.  I feel a little sad but it is also exciting thinking about all of the fun things we can do with our "big kids." 

Noah

Excited boys!

Nathan