Tara is now two and a half. Time to shop for a big girl bed. We are looking at bunk beds to help with the tight confines of the room she shares with her big sister. But (I suppose) this time the crib won’t be disassembled and stored away until “next time.” There won’t be a next time, and that is a bit wistful. A little bit sad.
The crib has been great. A real solid piece of furniture that has done us well through three babies. That despite us breaking all the ‘safety’ rules when it comes to buying a crib. We found this one at a YARD SALE! Whilst shopping at the kids flea market at the Kitsilano Community Centre, stocking up for the soon to arrive Adam, we popped by a yard sale over on Arbutus and King Edward. It was a moving sale….the family was returning to Hong Kong after only a few months. The crib stood in the corner of their garage and looked shiny and new. It had hardly been touched by their tiny baby.
So despite us not knowing the brand, provenance or retail value of the crib, we bought it. We still don’t know who made it. The crib is a blank slate….a mystery. A mystery that has proved to obviously be one of the better brands of cribs due to the sturdiness of the make, the ease of assembly, and despite having one of those dreaded drop sides. The side takes a SUPERMAN to get it to actually slide down.
I still remember the fun I had getting all the bedding ready and decorating around the crib for Adam. We didn’t have a nursery and had the crib set up in a corner of our bedroom at our old apartment. I found wall decals and a toy net for his stuffies, and his bedding was a mix of new, old and found. It sat there all ready….waiting for him to arrive. A symbol of what was to come….a hint of the future after the giant preggo belly.
My mom has three little photo albums that chronicle the first year’s of each child. It also chronicles the growth of a woman who was totally naive about motherhood, and maternity fashions….why did I keep wearing coveralls!??? I like to think that with each kid I gained at least a little wisdom about parenting, mothering and fashion.
The crib has seen three houses and three babies. I think it is time for it and myself to say we are done with that part of our lives. Time to embrace our future, and be ready to handle yet another toddler turning into a strong willed creature, happily following in the footsteps of her siblings.
It’s sometimes sad to let go of things that you’ve been using for years. My mom even saves our baby pillow when were still months old. I can still see these stuff at home. How much was that crib when you bought it? It looks really sturdy from the picture.
Thanks for sharing this! Good way to remember childhood!
-Cerise
There probably won’t be a “next time” for me, either. But I’m not totally ready to throw in the towel, so for now our crib’s staying in storage.