Big Boy Bed

It happened.  The stinker learned how to climb out of his crib.  The first time happened probably 3 months ago.  I heard an unusual rustling and thumping but thought it was probably just E dropping his trains out of his crib.  I was surprised to find a boy behind the door as I opened it.  I told him he couldn't climb out of his crib, and it kept him there until about a week before our trip to Utah.  Then it happened twice more and we decided to switch him to a big boy bed when we returned home. 

How is it going?  Well, we've have a few rough rounds, but he's slowly learning that he isn't supposed to get out of his bed.  I was breathing a sigh of relief that he didn't know how to open his bedroom door...until it happened the third night he was in his big boy bed.  Sigh...I almost cried.  But after a stern talking to, he no longer opens his door.  We had to laugh just a little the first and second time it happened as he guiltily slinked into our bedroom in the morning.  But it's not funny when it's happening during what is supposed to be kid-free evening time.  Sacred time. 

The first two nights I think he was too nervous to even entertain the idea that he could get out.  He told me "Mommy, I'm kinda nervous in my bed.  Hold you."  So I held him for a few minutes and then he was okay as long as "Pooh Beah" was clutched tightly under his arm.  The first morning when I went to get him, I found 3 books hidden under his sheets.  One of them was the People Who Love Me book that my mom gave him with all of their pictures in it.  I don't know why, but I thought that was adorable.  Especially knowing that he was a little nervous about being in a big bed.  So maybe he did quietly sneak out of bed, but maybe he carefully reached over to the bookshelf without getting out.  I turned a blind eye to the fact that he was reading books when he was supposed to be sleeping, but when I could hear him rustling around until 3 or 4 hours after his bedtime, I decided I couldn't ignore it any longer.  So I took a tip from my mom and Supernanny, and when I heard him the first time I went in and said "No Emerson, it's bedtime.  You need to stay in your bed and go to sleep."  And every time I heard him after that I went in, and without saying anything, put him back in his bed.  And you know what?  It worked!  When I put him to bed tonight I said "Goodnight Emerson.  Be a good boy and go to sleep."  And he said "And stay in my bed" in a singsong voice. :)

The thing I was really worried about was naps, but fortunately they've been going well.  I hope I didn't just jinx myself.  My kids are both good nappers, and it is going to stay that way, dang it.

Of course my camera battery was dead, so I had to charge it and take a picture the morning AFTER the first big night in bed.  And don't worry, that girly bedspread isn't staying...it's just the one that was on the guest bed that is now Emerson's bed.  He's so pleased with himself.

 And the fact that E moved into a big boy bed means that Sammi gets a big girl crib!  No more pack 'n' play for her!  (Except for naps.  I separate them for naps so they don't wake each other up, even though their naps do overlap.)

 Such a happy girl in the morning!

 He was so zonked for his nap the first day, maybe because he stayed up reading!?  I finally had to go wake him up so bedtime wouldn't get screwed up.

Next animal to tackle...POTTY TRAINING.  Not scheduled until January when we're done traveling for awhile.