In Which We Loose The Monster

Well well well.
2011. Already!
When 2010 came in, I could still convince myself I had a baby around here.  Not so much now.  She's bossing us around.  She's clinched Her spot in the hierarchy above the dogs.  (Confirmed today when She commanded, with pointed finger, "E! Go Lay Down Ober There!"  And E slunk into the designated spot and curled up.)  She's fully into "Little One do it Self" mode.  And most of the time, She really can do it Self.  
So for the New Year, J and I caved and conceded that what we have here is a Big Girl.  And we rang in 2011 with a tangible admission of that fact- we took the rail off Her crib. 
Part of me was very resistant to this concept.  What? Let Her loose? Let Her run free?! Remove the only structure that ensures me at least 5 breaths during the day to myself?!?  This is like taking the door off a lion cage! Ahg!
Buuuut....part of me knows that She can't be penned in forever.  And that She doesn't really need those rails anymore.  She's perfectly capable of climbing in and out of a bed, this we know.  And, if I ever expect to lose the diapers altogether (She still wears training pants to bed) then the poor thing Has to be able to get to the loo when nature calls.  It has happened a few times recently that I'm in the middle of something when She wakes up from a nap, and it takes me a minute to get up the stairs when She calls me.  Then I find Her standing, legs spread wide with a disgusted and resentful scowl on Her face.  "Momma.  I try! I call, 'mommy mommy!' No mommy, no can hear me.  Had potty mommy! POTTY!!"  And really, I have got to agree with Her that this is unacceptable. 
So, despite the fact that an increase in Little One's freedom always creates the equal-but-opposite reaction of an inversely proportional decrease in mine, I handed J a screwdriver and said ok.  I knew it might be a rough transition for us all, but better to go through it now than during the even rougher transition of having a new baby around.
We spent nearly 3 hours today repeating the following soundtrack:
"Night-night.  Door shut.  *pause* Thump. Pitter-patter-pitter-patter.  Waaaaiiiiil.    Mommy! Mommy!  Hug-kiss, hug-kiss.  Night-night. *pause* Thump. Pitter-patter-pitter-patter."
There were some hurried whispers between parents threatening to throw in towels.  But then, thanks actually to J's magic, we heard.....nothing.  Ahhh.    Little One is, in fact, at this very moment! Sleeping peacefully in a big-girl bed, like a real little person.  I am so sad.  And so proud. 
This New Year is going to be a big one for our family.  There are some big changes blowing in with 2011.  I think they will all be good.  Including the one where I have a little baby. AND, a big girl.