Somehow, due to a strange disruption in the space/time continuum, Lil Sis is nearly one year old.
No longer able to ignore the fact she’s not a baby anymore, I’ve been having a big clear out, and it’s been a bit more than a little emotional.
Some of the baby stuff I was happy to see the back of – things that cluttered up my lounge room floor, and got in the way (plus the money I got for selling them on Ebay meant I could buy more lovely new things to fill those empty spaces with!).
But other things have been surprisingly hard to wave goodbye to.
I actually got a bit teary when I handed over our Fisher Price baby swing. Lil Sis practically lived in it for the first four months of her life – we even nicknamed it ‘The Lifesaver’ because it never failed to rock her off to sleep.
When we moved house last November, she lay in the rocker the entire time, sound asleep and completely oblivious to the utter chaos going on around her.
I also got more than a little misty when I sold her co-sleeper bassinette.
For 16 weeks Bubs lay in that bedside cot, just inches away from me. I slept teetering on the outside edge of the bed, just so I could get even closer to her. I can’t begin to guess the number of times I reached over in the night to lay my hand on her gently rising chest, or stroke her head when she started fussing.
But the lady who bought it was such a sweetheart, and I loved the idea that she and her newborn would enjoy that same amazing closeness too.
With Big Sis there were two things I felt particularly attached to.
One was a burgundy velvet dress she wore to her very first wedding, at 6 weeks old. The second was a sheepskin Gap hat with ears that kept her snug during her first Winter.
She looked so freakin’ adorable that one time we were out Christmas shopping and the salesperson actually thought she was a teddy bear. Just looking at it evokes such warm, happy memories that I could never give it away.
Am I just a total sap, or do you have something strange that you felt sentimental about too???
You are not a sap. I shed loads of tears when I gave away the boys baby things
I’m still pregnant with number one so I see this coming in my future! I’m a real hoarder when things have sentimental value attached…wonder what I’ll be sobbing over in a few years time?!
I haven’t hoarded anything – out with the old, on with the new… I don’t know why this is as I am generally very sentimantal. Btw, the clutter gurus on telly would tell you to put the dress and the hat in frames and hang them on the wall.
I am (possibly) selling my Phil & Ted’s tomorrow, and I have been feeling quite sad about it all day. I know it’s only a pushchair, but it means my babies are no longer babies (and haven’t been for a little while now!)… You are not alone! Emma 🙂
Not a sap at all. I have some things that are very precious to me as they invoke all sorts of memories. In partic is the boys’ wicker bedside cot whioch was made for me when I was a baby. I keep that so that my boys children may one day sleep in it too. In the meantime it holds all their teddies!
My baby is 4,5 months old and I am grasping at every minute with her, trying to delay her becoming older so quickly! Very intrigued about your sheepskin Gap hat with ears. Is there a picture,please? I’d love one for my little girl!
I sold it the Phil & Teds. I even said goodbye to it in my head when I was helping put it in the new owner’s car. I am completely stupid! Emma 🙂
The Mad House: Not that I’m happy to hear you were upset, but it’s nice to know I’m not alone!!:)
First Time Mum: It’s quite weird what you end up associating those baby memories with – I didn’t feel any attachment at all towards the first pair of shoes (although, in saying that, I have kept them too!).
Midlife Single Mum: I think I need to be a bit more ruthless – our house is way too small to hoard anything!!!!! x
Emma: You did it – congratulations, or should that be, commiserations?? It’s not the actual item though, is it – it’s the memories attached. Now go and have a cup of tea to calm yourself. 😉
Tattie Weasle: Awww, how nice would that be if your grandchildren used it too???? Lovely idea!! x
Snow_Bunny: I’ll take a pic later and Tweet it to you! They seem to bring versions of them out each Winter so you should look in store. It’s weird isn’t it – half of you is so excited and proud when they learn new stuff and the other half is screaming: ‘SLOW DOWN!’ x
Oh, lovely! Thank you!I am @pandcands on Twitter.
Not a sap at all! I even shed a tear when our little lad went into Size 2 nappies! There’s something just so sad about letting go of those early days.
Mind you, I keep finding myself thinking “If I could just freeze him at the age he is now…” I’ve been thinking this since he was born!
Sniff.
Mammasaver: I did the same! Tried to tell my OH, and he just looked at me like I was totally nuts!! Men just don’t ‘get’ it, do they?? x
I thought about getting rid of stuff with both my kids and never could quite get around it it. Just as well now.. lol x
Just reminding you of your promise to twit me a picture of a GAP hat, please! Thank you.
Not at all! I cried and cried when we sold our Moses Basket. Both my babies slept (or tried not to) in that basket and selling it was confirmation that I was done with babies. The travel cot, the actual cot, all of it! And don’t get me started on that swing! We had it too and it was a lifesaver!
Thanks so much for joining in the Showcase on Love Mummy Blogs last week. Hope to see you there again 🙂