After four years, almost to the day, a crib cannot be found anymore in our house. My husband took it down today. It isn't needed. Our babies grew up.

I remember reading the crib assembly instructions as if it were last week. It was a bear to put together. Our daughter, who will be 4 in August, slept in it until she was 21/2 -- she didn't want to give it up after our son, Minor, was born.

Minor is 19 months now. After a weeklong vacation at the beach and no cribs, I had him try out his big-boy bed -- shaped like a race car -- to see if he could (and if I could) handle it. He did really well. It surprised me because he was so young. Alexis had a hard time -- he has Alexis to show him the way. After over a week, it was time to take down the crib. There isn't enough room in their room.

I have mixed emotions ---sad that the "babies" are gone, but happy that the kids need less "hands-on" care.

Maybe this is why people have a third child!

So, I am left with a crib with chew marks and loose screws.

Sigh.

But I think I'll store it in the closet. Just in case. Even though we are not planning a third, you never know ...