mommy and madison's transition

Even beginning this posting is bringing me to tears.  My sweet Madison is growing into a beautiful young girl and I am completely in disbelief.  I still remember holding her all day long, just looking down at that peaceful, sleeping beauty and wondering...How am I this lucky!!  How am I this unbelievably blessed!!  Now when those fleeting moments come when she "lets" me cuddle her like a little baby, I try and not let go.  You always say, "I am never forgetting this moment," but you do.  As hard as you try to journal, blog or ingrain into your mind that look, smile or laugh the memory is never quite the same.

All these emotions have come up, unexpectedly, for me when we decided to transition my sweet girl into her big girl bed, aka a toddler bed.  She was not thrilled about seeing her bed be taken down and put into brother's room but was excited to see her brand new bed going up.  She was running up and down the bed.  We filled it with some her favorite babies, stuffed animals and blankets.  We started off okay for the two naps on Sunday but the evening was a little more difficult.  Lots of getting up and crying at the door.  I read a few websites (all of which said 3-4 years old was better to wait until...great to hear after we already did it) and most just suggested being persistent.  So we have.  I would go back in wrap her in a blanket, sit with her in the bed and rub her back until she drifted off to sleep.  I did that about 3 times, allowing the crying to extend a little more each time.  The final time was about 15 minutes but when I looked in the monitor she had crawled back in bed and went to sleep.  My heart was hurting hearing my little lady cry but I knew, if I broke early, the transition would be that much more difficult. 

We are now on Day 7 and my Madison has done so well.  Good bye crib and hello toddler bed!