Stowing away infancy

Our little girl is growing up. If I didn't notice how her long legs dangle out of the stroller on walks, or if I was oblivious to how she goes from crawling to sitting and spins around in two seconds flat, like she's been doing it all her life ... it's apparent in what *isn't* there.

We're in the middle of a significant baby gear transition. (The first of many, I'm sure.) Basically, a massive amount of baby stuff is about to invade our storage unit and join the newborn, 0-3, 3-6 and now a significant amount of 6-9 month clothes.  The Boppy, which was used several times a day during our early breastfeeding months, is now packed up. The need for the little plastic bath tub, which initially required the little newborn sling for our slippery young tot, is nearing the end. The infant car seat is about to be traded in for two convertible seats. The jumperoo is hardly used now, passing its peak time of use (for Elle, ages 4-7 months). The bouncy seat will join its cousin, Swing. The Bumbo hasn't been used in months.

Rockin' the sippy cup.

There are other signs that Elle's infanthood is quicky fading. The pacifiers are long gone. The nipples that have been worn out on bottles are getting thrown away and not replaced, because she's suddenly (thankfully!) embracing the sippy cup. I purchased a box of breast milk storage bags the other night and realized that they will almost definitely be the last I purchase for quite some time. I plan for a trip we're making this summer and realize it will be the last time I need to travel with the breast pump for the foreseeable future. Elle quickly figures out her new toys and is alllll about the cause-and-effect relationships: press this button, hear this song; pull this knob, watch these lights flash, etc. She's methodical and deliberate with what she plays with and how she plays with it.

The new annoying favorite toy in the house.

As Elle (rapidly) approaches the one-year mark, I've tried not to be sad about how fast time is going or how big she is getting. I miss certain parts of each age and stage but look forward to each new one even more. I've also preoccupied myself with the fact that she'll be one with the decision to stop pumping at that time. I'll continue to breastfeed her, but people, I hate, hate, hate pumping. That will be one thing I will not be sad about.

I have to admit, it's a bit emotional to pack away things that she's used for months. Things that might be used for a future sibling but will always have been Elle's first. I can remember how unsure she was of the jumperoo the first time we put her in it. How she was practically swallowed by the bouncy seat during her first days. How we tried four different kinds of sippy cups before she finally started to use one instead of just play with it.

But we've got new toys, new clothes, new gear, new car seats ... new adventures.