Growing Up

The last couple days have seen a lot of big changes around here.

First, Andrew and Adam have been taking swimming lessons for the last week and a half. We've done swimming lessons in past years, but all the kids ever seemed to learn during those lessons was how to play ring around the rosy in the water. However, something has clicked this year, and the boys are both starting to swim! I watched in amazement yesterday as Adam swam the length (well, really the width) of the indoor pool and only put a foot down once or twice! Today we went to the outdoor water park after swim lessons were over, and the boys can now go down the big slides without life jackets. (I can hear my mother sucking in her breath. Don't worry. There is a lifeguard waiting at the bottom who helps the kids swim to the edge -- much to Andrew's dismay.)

Next, Libby has been working on potty training this summer. Without going into too much detail, she's pretty much there! We've made several successful diaper-free public appearances. So today I took the step of removing the changing station from her bedroom because it looked sort of silly...

With Libby's new BIG-GIRL BED! We've had it stored in the garage for a few weeks now and finally got a new mattress over the weekend. Yesterday Libby woke up super-early and then inexplicably refused to nap all day. And I decided that it was the perfect night for FIRST NIGHT IN A BIG-GIRL BED! So we took down the crib and put up the bed.

Bye, bye, crib!

Libby in her big-girl bed! Do not ask me how long ago I bought the bedding. I've been waiting for this.

OK, let's see how this goes! Night night!

Libby did great. She fell asleep quickly and stayed in bed all night. Even better, she stayed put in the morning till I came to get her. It helps that her bed has room for a trundle underneath and is super-high. She has no idea how to get in and out yet, and I have threatened death and disfigurement to anyone who shows her. I was pretty worried about the nap today, but it went really smoothly!

It feels really strange to have all these major advances happen for all three kids in just a couple days. More than that, it feels really good to have that crib out of here!