Little Man is growing up…It’s amazing really, when I sit back and watch him “read” a book to himself, or as he colours, or counts his trucks and dinosaurs, because sometimes I still see him as that little baby we brought home almost 4 years ago.

I have been looking into area pre-schools, hoping to enroll him for the fall. My thinking is that it would be nice to get a few quiet hours through the week with him at school and Bug home with me. But…the pre-schools are all 5 days a week, 4-5 hours a day. That’s not quite what I’m looking for. And, the more I think about it, since we plan on homeschooling, how many kids in pre-school will be homeschooled? I hate to see him make these connections, and then we lose track of each other because he’s not going to kindergarden or anything like that. So…yeah…pre-school is not in our future. And that’s ok. Wisconsin doesn’t require you to report your children as being homeschooled until they turn 6, so I’ve still got some time before that starts. And, we can just go at our own pace, and focus on what he’s interested in.

Potty Training is going GREAT! Last month, it was our goal to get him going potty all by himself, and he’s doing it. He just needs assistance with wiping his butt and getting his undies and pants back on. It is so nice to not have to go in with him each time and help him do his business. I know Granma appreciated it this morning, when she popped over to watch him for a bit.

Sleep training as not been the easiest, though. We have co-slept until now. And as my pregnancy continues, I need to be able to get a good sleep without being slept on, kicked, etc. It would also be nice to NOT be sleeping on the edge of the bed. So, we brought Little Man’s bed into our room a few months ago. He would sit on it as we got ready for bed, but had zero interest in actually sleeping in it. We did try a few times last month, but he just resorted to massive tears and freakouts. Squatch and I have been telling him that he will have to be sleeping in his own bed when Baby Bug gets here, and Nanny & Papa told him he cannot come visit unless he sleeps in his own bed.

Tuesday night, Little Man decided he wanted to sleep in his bed. He climbed in, I bundled him under the blankets, and he curled up with all his “guys.” Then…the storms started…and the thunder went crazy, and we both jumped into the big bed. Last night, however…He walked over to his bed as I pulled my pregnancy pillow to the floor next to him. He curled up with all his guys, I bundled him under the blankets, and he reached out a hand. “Mama, could you turn on my shark sounds?” So I grabbed my phone and turned on the whale songs he likes to listen to (he insists they are sharks; silly goose!), held his hand…and he was passed out in 5 minutes. I snuck my hand back, lay on the floor for 15 minutes, and then curled up on HALF OF THE KING SIZE BED!!!

You guys…I haven’t had that much space to myself since he had a sleepover with Nanny back in August. He sat up after about 45 minutes…just a dozing, half asleep sit, and I managed to get him to lay back down and right back to sleep. The same thing happened close to midnight, and he got back down again. He didn’t wake up until close to 7 this morning. I got such a good night’s sleep…no toddler faces laying on mine…no feet unexpectedly kicking my face, neck, or stomach…no requests from Squatch to pull Little Man back over to my side of the bed. It was AMAZING. AND…he cannot wait to sleep in his bed by himself tonight. His only request – his blue blanket that was in Daddy’s car and one more to stay warm. Whatever he needs, he’s got it.

It’s such a huge step…this little bit of independence for him. And I know we will see some backslides, especially once Bug arrives, but that’s ok. It is perfectly ok. Our children aren’t meant to be babes forever. They need to learn, and grow, and become independent. And they all do it on their own schedule. Just because my almost 4-year old is just now finally sleeping in his own bed doesn’t mean he’s not as grown up as your 1-year old who has been on his own since he was born. We just have different parenting styles. And our kids reach those independence milestones at different ages and in different ways.