Oh, the great moments in parenting! The first time your newborn smiles; the first coo; the first step; the first night in a big boy bed; the first night you convert the big boy bed back to a crib. So special.
So Mark and I decided that it was time we convert the cribs into what is known as a "transitional bed". The cribs we bought the boys came with a little conversion kit that makes it into a day bed - no front, just two little safety bars to keep a toddler from falling out in the middle of the night. We made the decision to change over because the boys are getting bigger and we were thinking it might be a good idea to put them in a bed before they can figure out how to climb out of the cribs (and possiby do some damage to themselves along the way).
And today was the big day! I went to Ikea this morning with Owen and he chose a cute black and white set of sheets with elephants, monkeys hippos and birds. We got a pillow and a duvet for each of the beds. We were all set. After their nap this afternoon, the boys helped daddy (and I use the word helped loosely) set up the big boys beds. It was all very impressive and both boys immediately jumped into their beds and said "I nap!" So cute. Then we have some dinner, we talk to Ga-Ga online about the big boy beds, we take the laptop upstairs to show Ga-Ga and Pops the big boy beds on the web cam, we play in the den and then its suddenly bedtime. We go through the usual bedtime routine of brushing teeth, changing diapers, getting into jammies and cuddling and then into the beds they go.
I think we should have known we were in trouble when Will put his head down on the pillow for a second and then popped back up and said "All done nap" and proceeded to get out of the bed. Now Mark and I had fully anticipated that they wouldn't necessarily stay in their beds, but we didn't expect Owen to start screaming like he was being tortured or that William would try to climb up onto the little safety rail to see if he could do a backflip onto the floor. Don't worry, Mark grabbed him before he was able to execute the manoeuver. We decided to put them back in bed one last time, say goodnight and close the door. Two seconds later, Mark is sitting in the den with Owen and William by his side. Okay. so then we decide we'll sit in the bedroom with them and rub their backs as they quietly fall asleep. Cue the two of them pushing past us to crawl out, open the door (which has a "toddler-proof" lock on it. Uh-huh. riiiight.) and wander around whilst Mark and I laugh quietly about the whole thing.
"So, should we just change the beds back?" Mark asks.
'Boys, do you want Daddy to change the beds to cribs again?"
"YES!" they reply immediately. Okay then. Luckily it only takes us 10 minutes to put the beds back into crib format and the boys are in bed before 8pm. However, Owen is still not impressed by the great switcheroo and then the greater switcheroo back again, and is currently crying in his crib. I've been in to see him a couple of times and he's okay, but I think it was all a bit too much excitement for one night. I guess we'll wait a couple of months (or until they're 2 1/2) and then try again. I don't mind that we didn't just stick it out tonight as some parents do - it was pretty clear they weren't ready as soon as we tried putting them to bed - and we're just chalking it up to a learning experience for the parents. And a funny story to tell on the blog.
Owen watching daddy get Will's bed ready. I guess this is a Before, After and Before Again picture, since this is what the beds look like still.
Helping daddy...
Owen (on the left) seeing how high he can jump whilst daddy installs the safety bits
Now its Will's turn! Man they can get some air on those mattresses!
So Mark and I decided that it was time we convert the cribs into what is known as a "transitional bed". The cribs we bought the boys came with a little conversion kit that makes it into a day bed - no front, just two little safety bars to keep a toddler from falling out in the middle of the night. We made the decision to change over because the boys are getting bigger and we were thinking it might be a good idea to put them in a bed before they can figure out how to climb out of the cribs (and possiby do some damage to themselves along the way).
And today was the big day! I went to Ikea this morning with Owen and he chose a cute black and white set of sheets with elephants, monkeys hippos and birds. We got a pillow and a duvet for each of the beds. We were all set. After their nap this afternoon, the boys helped daddy (and I use the word helped loosely) set up the big boys beds. It was all very impressive and both boys immediately jumped into their beds and said "I nap!" So cute. Then we have some dinner, we talk to Ga-Ga online about the big boy beds, we take the laptop upstairs to show Ga-Ga and Pops the big boy beds on the web cam, we play in the den and then its suddenly bedtime. We go through the usual bedtime routine of brushing teeth, changing diapers, getting into jammies and cuddling and then into the beds they go.
I think we should have known we were in trouble when Will put his head down on the pillow for a second and then popped back up and said "All done nap" and proceeded to get out of the bed. Now Mark and I had fully anticipated that they wouldn't necessarily stay in their beds, but we didn't expect Owen to start screaming like he was being tortured or that William would try to climb up onto the little safety rail to see if he could do a backflip onto the floor. Don't worry, Mark grabbed him before he was able to execute the manoeuver. We decided to put them back in bed one last time, say goodnight and close the door. Two seconds later, Mark is sitting in the den with Owen and William by his side. Okay. so then we decide we'll sit in the bedroom with them and rub their backs as they quietly fall asleep. Cue the two of them pushing past us to crawl out, open the door (which has a "toddler-proof" lock on it. Uh-huh. riiiight.) and wander around whilst Mark and I laugh quietly about the whole thing.
"So, should we just change the beds back?" Mark asks.
'Boys, do you want Daddy to change the beds to cribs again?"
"YES!" they reply immediately. Okay then. Luckily it only takes us 10 minutes to put the beds back into crib format and the boys are in bed before 8pm. However, Owen is still not impressed by the great switcheroo and then the greater switcheroo back again, and is currently crying in his crib. I've been in to see him a couple of times and he's okay, but I think it was all a bit too much excitement for one night. I guess we'll wait a couple of months (or until they're 2 1/2) and then try again. I don't mind that we didn't just stick it out tonight as some parents do - it was pretty clear they weren't ready as soon as we tried putting them to bed - and we're just chalking it up to a learning experience for the parents. And a funny story to tell on the blog.
Owen watching daddy get Will's bed ready. I guess this is a Before, After and Before Again picture, since this is what the beds look like still.
Helping daddy...
Owen (on the left) seeing how high he can jump whilst daddy installs the safety bits
Now its Will's turn! Man they can get some air on those mattresses!
4 comments:
I had to re-read the first couple lines to make sure I understood what happened. Then I laughed pretty hard. Such silly monkeys.
Thank you for making me laugh so hard! So cute.
Tonight I asked Aiden who his favourite friend was at school. Usually he chooses from the same set of friends he chats with us about at home. Tonight he looked at me and quietly said "Andrew. He's my best friend."
My heart just melted and I thought how lucky we are to watch this unique bond grow between two brothers:)
This tale is so funny!!
Kids really do things at their own pace, don't they, and there's just no forcing them!
Good luck
Shirl
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