Blessings in Disguise

Disclaimer: The following post is my way of "considering it joy when [we] face trials...", it is in no way meant to imply that I would ever wish our daughter sick.

This week has, as tiring as it has been, was good for me. For one thing, it helped me not to take a few things for granted that I realize now I have been. Our health, which is generally excellent, for one, and our daughter's disposition, which is normally about as sweet as any mother could wish for.

I found myself getting very frustrated (read: impatient) with Norah this week as she would burst into crying fits. I began questioning my parenting skills when she would look me in the eyes and defy whatever instructions I had just given to her. Then my sweet husband reminded me, "She's sick." And he was so right. As she's starting to feel better, she's already reverting back to her sweet, obedient, happy self.

Another, unexpected blessing Norah's infirmary has helped facilitate? She has made the transition into the "big bed", all by herself...without any pushing. It was my goal to have her in it by the end of October, but with her being sick, I stopped worrying about that plan. However, after having cuddled in the big bed together while she's been sick, I guess Norah realized it was way more comfy than her rock-hard crib mattress. (Not to mention, it gives her the freedom to get out of bed unaided.

For the second night in a row last night, Norah requested to sleep in her "big bed", so I hesitantly complied. I explained to her that mommy and daddy were going night-night, and Maggie (the puppy we were sitting for in our backyard) was going night-night, and the kitty cats next door (who she frequently visits before her evening bath) were going night-night, and that it was time for her to go night-night too. I also told her that if she got out of bed, she would get a big spanking.

To my surprise, she stayed put all night long...until precisely 5:40am when I woke to hear her crying in the pitch-black hallway. I jumped up and rushed to her aid (half-afraid she'd broken her neck falling from her bed), and she ran and clung straight onto my leg, saying, "Scare-wee....scare-wee!" We made a quick trip to the potty (the only place I could figure she'd have gotten out of bed at 5:40am for since she'd already passed by her toys, and she can't open the fridge by herself yet), I returned her to her bed, and I went back to mine. I was almost giddy when I found her still there when I awoke. So, naturally, I had to photo-document (including her applauding herself when I told her how proud I was of her).

My favorite series of pictures were the ones above, of her "dismount" process. I know, she makes it look easy, but when she got to the third frame, she turned around and requested her stool (which Daddy had moved the night before, in fear that she might roll out of bed and knock herself out). At least she's being cautious!

Of course, now that she's officially sleeping in her "big room", it lights a bit of a fire under me to finish decorating. Room reveal pictures still to come...eventually!