Spanglish Accent: One small step for man...

In a baby's first year, just about everything they do is an event. So many things are "the first" - the first time the baby rolls over, the first time they sit up, the first solid foods, even the first time they poop (if you are a parent, you know that I am right about the last one being an event). It's a year full of milestones and accomplishments and no other year will ever be quite so full of opportunities for parents to brag to anyone that will listen, ad nauseum. There is a level of excitement that is a bit disproportionate but it just seems so important at the time. The first time the baby finds her feet and figures out that they can be a handy chew toy becomes a reason for the phone tree to be activated so all relatives can be informed of how cute/smart/flexible the newest progeny is - Guess what baby did??? She can find her feet and chew on them! Isn't that just the cutest thing you have ever heard??? And let's not forget friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, and heck, perfect strangers that just happen to be in the ~~wrong place at the~~ ~~wrong time~~ mere vicinity. They must see the newest trick that of course, only THIS baby could do. The baby turns into a circus act, being asked over and over to perform, on command, and to perfection. And somehow as parents of said progeny, we think that others care about these things. Thank goodness babies are too young to remember how foolish their parents are in this first year.

In the second year (and the years following), the first's slow down, but they get bigger. It is no longer an event that the baby can get her toes in her mouth, now it is more of a worry (should she still be doing that?). It is more about learning to walk, talk, and potty train. It's about learning to feed themselves with utensils, dress themselves, blow their noses and wipe their own tushies (and you thought you were done once they were potty trained...this is one no one tells you about). The milestones are just as big and important, but they don't get talked about as much. Oh, if someone asks you about it, you will answer but you have learned that other people just don't care about your child's every move as much as you do. No, really, they don't...

But I digress - Stinkerbell is in a Big Girl Bed! She was the most amazing baby ever. She took to it like a duck to water! I have never seen a baby adapt to such a big change so quickly! She is a natural at sleeping without falling out of bed. And she even tucked herself in under her blanket with no help from me. Can you imagine the fine motor skills that requires??? I think I see an Ivy League school in her future - but of course only if that is what she wants... (she says, tongue firmly in cheek)

You mean the whole front has to come off? And I will have to be trusted to stay in it, not because I can't get out but because I have to make good choices??? Hmmmm, I don't know about that...