More big boy

Well, as we prepare to move, we are getting rid of some things. Since Connor is not such a baby any more, we decided to sell the crib and changing table and some other things. This all happened rather suddenly, so Connor came home from school on Wednesday to discover that his crib had been replaced by a toddler bed. We played the "big boy bed" angle relentlessly and it pretty much worked. He was excited at first and then seemed a little uncertain, but ultimately he climbed right in at bedtime, without a tear. He was awake a bit longer than usual, which is understandable, since it must have been a bit disorienting. But compared, of course, to our attempt to get Jamie into the toddler bed, which not only failed but set off a 2-month, knock-down, winner-take-all battle of wills over sleeping, this was a great success. Now we move to potty-training. Joy.

In other ways lately Connor seems preternaturally mature for his age. He is surprisingly able to give voice to his emotions, and those of others. Sometimes Sarah asks him to give her a hug and he declines. "Don't be sad," he says. "You're right," Sarah agrees, "You don't have to hug me." "No," says Connor, "I don't."

Part of the strangeness of hearing this comes from the fact that he has this sweet little voice that still sounds like a baby's. This is even more incongruous when he voices his displeasure with us. If he doesn't get what he wants, of course sometimes he cries. Other times, however, he just squints his eyes, furrows his brow and says, "You made me MAD!"