When we caught Max trying to climb out of his crib we decided it was time. Time for big kid bed. I was not ready. I was planning for that in about March when he was two. With one swing of his leg over the crib he changed my mind for me. I asked a few people for advice and input about their experiences and then started searching Craigslist and KSL. I looked for toddler beds and twin beds and finally settled upon this Fire Engine Toddler Bed. They normally sell for $225 and we paid $40 for it. If I had been able to find a twin bed for a good price I would have just gone directly to that but this will last him a few years and will be well worth the money. We borrowed James' Mom's truck and picked it up on Saturday. (The little boy who it belonged to started to cry as he realized we were taking it away. Even though of his own choosing he now sleeps in a bunk bed with his big brother.)
The look on Max's face was awesome! He loves it so much!!! He took his last nap in his crib and when he woke up we put the crib away and put the new bed in his room. We rearranged the bedroom and I really like the layout of it. He spent nearly the entire afternoon, almost til bedtime playing in his new bed. I was a nervous to see how the night would go with him having a new-found freedom. We had his normal bedtime routine and he did his normal protesting when I laid him down. No matter how asleep he seems to be as soon as he is laid down he gets up and throws a tiny little fit. In his crib it would take about 30 seconds before he laid down and went to sleep. I laid him in bed and he immediately stood up crying. I stood outside his door waiting to see what he would do. And to my relief he cried for just a minute, then laid down and was out.
The next morning it was so fun to hear him rattling around in his room playing with his toys. No crying or fussing, just playing. He opened his door and went to the stairs and called for Dad. And so my little boy is not quite so little today. In fact he grew up so much this week that I am wondering where my baby went.
This week we put away his booster chair. He fought it hysterically and would not eat anything. I was struggling not to take it personally as he refused to eat anything I offered. I decided to take away the thing that he was fighting against and see what happened. Much to my delight he now happily climbs into his chair and eats anything I put in front of him. How easily I am excited...watching him eat makes me feel like all is right in our world.
Also this week he had his first haircut, got a new bed, perfected drinking out of cup, learned to say please, ask for help, tell us when to change his diaper, drink out of a straw and with Daddy's help learned how to open doors. (I think all of the mothers will understand how I felt when Daddy proudly showed me how he had taught Max how to open the doors.) It was a week of watching my baby grow up right before my eyes. Proudly and a little sadly I watched and cheered for him.
He still wants his bottle, still refuses to hold it himself and still wants to be rocked to sleep. So there is still something for Mom to do. Maybe that is why I am in no hurry to push him to give up that last bottle. And maybe why I am feeling a bit baby hungry.
I let him play on something that I knew was unstable. Then I only half paid attention to him while I tried to subtly talk James out of buying something. We didn't buy it. The hurt crying child was not the reasoning I was hoping to use.
The look on Max's face was awesome! He loves it so much!!! He took his last nap in his crib and when he woke up we put the crib away and put the new bed in his room. We rearranged the bedroom and I really like the layout of it. He spent nearly the entire afternoon, almost til bedtime playing in his new bed. I was a nervous to see how the night would go with him having a new-found freedom. We had his normal bedtime routine and he did his normal protesting when I laid him down. No matter how asleep he seems to be as soon as he is laid down he gets up and throws a tiny little fit. In his crib it would take about 30 seconds before he laid down and went to sleep. I laid him in bed and he immediately stood up crying. I stood outside his door waiting to see what he would do. And to my relief he cried for just a minute, then laid down and was out.
During
After
He looks so grown up!
He is very happy with the arrangement and sometimes even chooses to play in the garage rather than go outside. Hopefully this will keep both of us sane through the winter months. Today I bought him a pair of snow boots and I am thinking I need a pair myself. I always liked to hole up during the winter months, but this year I will be found outside playing in the snow. The things we do for our children!
