Time Flies

These are the last few days of having a 3 year old - this weekend Grace turns 4.

I remember the day I found out I was pregnant....the 13 days that I waited past her due date....and especially the moment she was born. I remember like it was yesterday.

I also remember how hard it all was in the beginning. Long nights, long days, not knowing what I was doing, being so afraid of making a mistake, and being so tired.

Nothing has changed inthe past 4 years. Nothing.

I have all those fears still. And the days and nights havent gotten any shorter.

The only difference is that now I have some experiences to look back on to figure out how to deal with issues as they arise.

Lately, we have started dealing with a topic we havent encountered ever before...sleep issues. Most of my friends with kids of any age have dealt with the sleep issues.....we never have. Grace slept 6 hours each night starting at 5 weeks old. Since then, she goes to bed at 7:30PM and wakes up around 6:30AM during the week. Perfect schedule. Until now. These days, she cries and cries and cries when we leave her room. At least 30 minutes of the evening are spent with her various requests.....a drink of water, potty, a book, another blanket, etc, etc, etc. But she doesnt really need or want these items...she wants to stall!!! Tonight, I went upstairs after 10 minutes of screaming up there---the story I was told by Grace was this: Swip.er (from Dor.a) lives in her dresser and he is going to try to bite her unless I rub her back and go night-night with her. After awhile, I came downstairs and now its quiet upstairs.

I guess what I am trying to say is that whatever stage you are experiencing as a parent is hard. And then you look back a few years later and even though you remember that it was hard, its okay cause it hasnt gotten easier....the topics just change.

Wonder what is in store this coming year?!