Out with the old....

Nothing symbolizes the babies growing and changing like finding new, loving homes for the 'baby stuff'. Never having done this before, I didn't know how odd (yet, freeing it would be). After all, it is just stuff. That sounds so damn logical, but tucked in all of that stuff are countless memories. In the past years when Dylan or Olivia would outgrow something I would ask John to make more room in the attic, garage, under the beds, or in the closets for storage.... knowing that we would be pulling that stuff down again in 6-12 months for the next little rug rat. Then came cousin Norah, another reason to store and stuff more outgrown baby things in storage spots around the house. Finally, even Norah has outgrown some of the 'baby stuff'.

Next on the hit list for November is the nursery set (crib, changer, glider, etc). Bunk beds are being planned for the boys and a princess room for Olivia. I do think I will cry like a baby when we disassemble the nursery :(

Pics of the things we have said farewell to so far:

High chair memories include: John picking out the BRIGHTEST high chair in all of Babies R' Us while I kick and scream my large 9 month prego ass begging for something neutral colored, my team at Franklin Templeton buying the chair for my shower gift, D/O/G first meals, propping up Ally for her first self-held bottle, Dylan and Olivia feeding the Kobe and Chey from the seat, Dylan and his waffles with syrup every DAY for the first 2 years of his eating-career, learning that you CAN wash the plastic seat cover in the washing machine, taking showers with all 3 babies in the chair rushing to get to work, putting Olivia (and then 2 years later Grayson) in the chair and in front of the TV so that I could take a work call, all 3 kids finally learning to wiggle and squirm their way out of the chair to a standing position....high chair retired!

Double Stroller memories include: Realizing that 3 kids and 1 mom= need a way to strap two down together, attempting to make Dylan (at 3.5 yrs old) grow up to big-boy walking status way too soon, realizing that Dylan wouldn't really do the big-boy walk and carrying Grayson in the Baby Bjorn while pushing the other 2 was much easier, learning that if you hang your groceries from the handles and your 2 year old gets out of the front seat the 3 week old will be eject from the back seat (tough physics lesson), learning that the kids would rather push each other in the chair than be strapped down...stroller retired!

On a separate house decorating note, we finally bought master bedroom furniture. This is pretty funny considering that the kids have had their 2 rooms decorated, redecorated, and are planning a re-redecoration in the coming months. We also redid the carpet for the second time. It is pretty refreshing in there, though we have to redo the windows still.

Here are some before and after shots: