No longer a baby

It has taken Lulu a while, but now, just over two, she begrudgingly acknowledges that she is a "toddler."  She no longer insists that she is the baby.  She has stopped asking to nurse, she is trying to give up naps--ha ha!  I like that one!--but she still keeps pretty close to her mama.

I don't think she grasps the idea of the new little one just yet, and we're not pushing on that one.  She's now heard his heartbeat and next week will see him on ultrasound.  Those things hardly capture what having a new sibling will be like for her, though, and I have no illusions.

Two weeks ago there was a little pinch and sting from all of this growing up, but I also feel a little relief.  The sooner she accepts her new station in the family, the easier it will be when the little one comes.  For now, I'm happy to have my extremely-lovey toddler climbing into my lap at every spare moment (and on the few occasions when I sit down).