Catching up

This post will be a bit haphazard as I recap several things I want to record. First of all, my sweet baby has graduated to his "big boy bed". Monday, July 25: Age 2 years, 11 months and 4 days. We had our regular routine where he napped in his crib. At some point during the afternoon, Owen said, ok, I'm ready for my big boy bed now! I said, ok, well we need to wait for daddy to come home to help us take the crib down and move the big boy bed into your room. We continued to talk about this for the remainder of the afternoon, and by the time C got home, he was really excited about it. So, we started clearing out the room.. We decided when the big boy bed went in, the toy shelf would come out. Mostly for space issues, but also to remove the temptation of getting out of the big boy bed to play. Owen was so excited, he got to help take out the hardware that keeps the crib together, and helped move the pieces out of the room. He also helped by using his red plastic hammer on the rails of the bed frame during the disassembly of the bed from the guest room. The most exciting part was of course, opening the package of the Thomas sheets. We have been talking about the Thomas big boy bed for almost a year now, and the new still hasn't worn off! He was very happy to learn that now he would get to have, not one, but TWO Thomas pillows as well. We got the sheets on, installed the Snug tuck pillow (instead of rails) and unfolded the new denim blue comforter. After a few celebratory "monkey jumps" on his bed, he wanted to snuggle right under the covers. Can I tell you how small he looked in this enormous full size bed. I just wanted to hold him close and not let go! When bedtime finally arrived, he got more and more apprehensive about the idea of actually sleeping in the bed. When we were settling down to read our story, he asked a few times to have his crib (now in multiple pieces in the hallway) returned to its former home. He was distraught as well because when the big boy came, it meant the end of "binkies". We reiterated the fact that all the rest of his bedtime friends.. froggy and tiger and a slew of other helpful animals were always welcome on the big boy bed, but binkies just really had no place. He really did have a difficult time that first night going to sleep. I went in several times to lay with him and reassure him that this indeed was a good thing, a big boy thing that happens. He asked several times to have his binkies back.. and at one point, I was standing outside his closed door with the binkies in tow, with my hand on the doorknob! But when I was there, he seemed to be resting. He never did cry about the binkies, and I didn't want it to be traumatic for him. He woke up one time during the night (well, 5am) a bit confused as to where in the world he was! I went in and laid down with him and he fell right back to sleep. I snuck back out and returned to my own big girl bed :) The next day for nap, he also asked for binkies, but again I just explained to him that we didn't use them in a big bed, and that everything would be ok without them! He needed some extra snuggle time then too, which I happily provided, and he was off to dreamland in a few minutes. And, here we are, a week and a half later... a binkie and crib free household.

Another small anecdote, a few days ago, I walked out of the bedroom one morning. I had my glasses on, my hair was in every direction. Wearing a oversized tee shirt and blue stretched out pajama pants. Owen looks at me, and says "Awww.. Mommy! How pretty are you!" That unconditional love thing is pretty amazing.