We recently had to put Evie in a toddler bed because she discovered how to climb out of her crib. I was pretty glad too, because I really wanted Charlie in the crib instead of the pack n’ play. A few days before her 2nd birthday, she made the transition. We weren’t really sure how this would go because Evie has always been an amazing sleeper. She rarely cried when she woke up or went to sleep. She usually seemed grateful to be laid down for a nap. But that first night of sleeping in her toddler bed, she woke up around 1:45 and would NOT go back to sleep. No crying, she just wouldn’t stay in her room. I was up with her until 5:15. Then she woke up crying at 6:30, (because for some reason, Jack and Evie always wake up around 6 or 6:30 no matter what time that go to bed the night before.) That was the worst of the nights, but I really haven’t been getting much sleep since then. Well last week I felt like I was at my wit’s end. I was tired and my patience with Jack and Evie was worn thin. And I realized that no matter how difficult life was at that point, the happiest I was during the days (when Jeremy wasn’t here) was when I was looking at Charlie. I felt a renewal when he smiled at me. That little face and those little coos really helped me get through and I thanked God so much for such a little treasure of a baby—and he really is. He doesn’t fuss unless there’s something to fuss about and I find that I almost never get irritated with him. I think it is wrong to have favorites when you have children, but surely there isn’t anything wrong with having day-to-day favorites? In fact, I think it’s impossible. I always love my kids equally, but I definitely favor specific ones on specific days. At night I used to always say “thank God for Evie” because she was the only one not waking me up at night. Then during the day I would say “thank God for Jack” because he would be so sweet and Evie would be—well, not so much. And really, in the end, it doesn’t matter because they all go through stages. Of course I’m going to prefer some stages over others, and no matter what Evie is putting me through right now with her terrible twos and her difficult sleep transition, she’s always going to be my sweet little Evie-Bear, and the sweetness of her hugs and her precious little voice is enough for me to forgive her of all of her transgressions. And really, that’s the only reason I have three children. God knew he had to make them cute and sweet or no one would want to populate the earth.
Note: while writing this, I have been trying to get Evie to take a nap. I’ve been trying to get her to go to sleep for two hours. I’ve been in her room countless times, and one of those times was spent cleaning up a mess she made of trying to change her own dirty diaper. I think it’s time to go look at a sleeping Charlie. Sometimes having a third child can actually make life easier.
