Farewell Bassinet, Farewell
It is with bittersweet feelings I write of the passing of our beloved bassinet. Our bassinet was handed down from my sister Cecily. My niece Lily resided within it. Vivien slept in it till she was about 8 months, and Rex has been in there on and off for the last 8 months as well. Being passed around like that has not made our bassinet like a broken down whore in our eyes; oh no, our bassinet has been a loving part of the family, albeit one who is hard to get through doorways because of its sturdy wide bottom (not to be mean, it has a wide bottom).
It's still very pretty. Blue and white and in mint condition. I fondly remember the terror of new motherhood as the post-partum doula I had hired when Vivien was new showed me how I could continually rock the bassinet and pat the swaddled Vivien as she cried and eventually she would sleep. It seemed like black magic at the time. Which why I hung on the doula's ankles begging her never to leave me as she tried to walk out the.
In our now smaller home, that bassinet has gamely traveled from our bedroom, to Oliver's bedroom when he is at his moms, to the playroom when Oliver is with us, sometimes stashed in the dining room when we didn't know what the sleeping arrangements would be that night. Back and forth more times than a candidate goes to Iowa. But did the bassinet ever yell, cry, stomp its foot and say, "I must be counted here. Am I worth nothing? Can't I have a place? Are you really putting your baby son to sleep in a closet?" (Yes, a couple of times that happened too.)
But a few days ago something happened. Rex would not go to sleep in the bassinet. He cried and cried, and not in a good way. I then realized the poor kid had about a half inch of space between his feet and the edge of the bassinet. In fact, once when i put him in recently, his feet hung over the side of it.
But bassinet is not to blame. It's done its job well.
I'm sad because there will not be another small baby of mine to put in the bassinet.
I'm happy because there will not be another small baby of mine to put in the bassinet.
See, bittersweet.
As I wrap plastic around it and place in lovingly in its temporary resting place, the garage, I hope that one day another worthy family will love it as we have.
Farewell, dear bassinet, farewell.
Oh, the stab in my heart!!
I remember packing up the onesies and outfits with the snaps on the crotch. All done. Big sigh.
He is about the cutest little thing. I just wanted to say how adorable he is!!
thanks. that last shot should be captioned, "hello, yes, they are about to pack it up.
It took me three years to hand off some of Viv's toddler clothes to my best friend and even then I told her to have to come back since I will be buried with them.
How cute, he looks like he's talking on the phone.
I love giving everthing away as soon as I'm not using it. Hate storing things. Sometimes I'm too hasty though… I gave away my son's crib bumper last week thinking he didn't need it anymore and when the pacifier started falling out of the crib I had to go out and buy a new one.
Then again we live in a small house and not too much room to keep stuff.
Your son is precious. I remember when we got rid of the bassinett as well..it was very sad. In a couple of months the crib will be converted into a "toddler bed" (my daughter is 15 months) and I don't know what I'm going to do with myself!
This is my only baby; I can't have more, so I have cherished EVERY single moment with her…I'm a better person b/c of my daughter. She has taught me the "Power of Now" like Eckhart Tolle's awesome book.
We actually still have the bassinet that I used when I was a baby - which was actually passed down from an 80-year-old man who lived down the street from my grandparents growing up.
When we moved, there was talk about tossing the bassinett - it would probably never pass safety standards today… but I had to keep it. Rumor has it that it's 80ish years old, and I couldn't bear to part with that much history.
Plus, when I was about 6 months old I was napping in it when somehow the reinforced bottom suddenly became un-reinforced, resulting in me and the foam mattress falling to the floor. I survived, the bassinet got a makeover… so I have to keep it. Right?
Awe…We packed away the crib and as I cleaned it and packaged it up, I remember thinking and telling my husband how bittersweet it was that "the next baby that will be sleeping in this crib will be our grandchild!" YIKES!
Frances, good for you. I have to catch myself all the time to stay in the moment.
Sarah, reminds me of the unsinkable molly brown.
Adriana, oye, I hope I'm alive for that myself! Yes, it's s such a mix of excitement for passing milestones and all these little good byes.
Thanks Daphne. I really enjoy reading your blog. And I'm not a "Master of the 'Now Moment' " person by any means but I try every day…not as easy as it sounds!
Daphne, Rex is just a perfect "Gerber" baby! What a precious boy! I also enjoyed your eulogy for the bassinet. It sounds like it was lovingly packed away for safe keeping until it is needed for duty again.