Bittersweet

My baby is such a big boy! It makes me so sad! Ever since he was born, he has been either rocked to sleep, slept with us, or parented to sleep in some way such as holding his hand. We have taken a lot of flack for it, but it has worked for us. It was a labor of love, though, because while we felt like it was good for building his confidence, independence, and self esteem, it took a ton of patience. There were nights where it was so tedious and difficult, and I would sit in his room and wish that he would just go to sleep on his own. Naptime has always been especially difficult. He would take a long time to calm down, and I would either sit in his room for 45 minutes trying to get him to fall asleep or take him for a drive until he fell asleep. So today at naptime, I asked him to lay in his bed while I finished doing something. I went in there a few minutes later, and he was asleep! I was in total shock because that has never happened before. At bedtime tonight, Jon and I each read him a couple of books, gave him hugs and kisses and daddy walked him back to his room. He said goodnight, and asked him to lay in his bed. No more than ten minutes later, he was out! I am just so surprised! I have been wanting this for so long, but now that he is doing it, I'm sad! I can't believe he wants to lay in there and doesn't need me. I know I am hormonal, but my baby is getting too big! I just hope that when the new baby comes, he doesn't feel like he has been banished back to his room to go to sleep alone.