Big Girl Bed

Two weeks ago, Vivian put up a good fight going into her crib at bedtime.  She did not want us to leave and jumped out of her crib chasing after us.  

B took her to the couch trying to get her to fall asleep, but wasn't having any part of that.  So, for the first time in her life, she slept with me.  It took singing and tickling to get her to sleep by 9:15pm.  Mind you, we started bath at 6pm since she didn't have much of a nap that day.

After that night, I vowed to never let her sleep with me again.  Child was all over the place.  I got zero sleep. Also, kid still woke up for the day at 5:20am.  Crazy thing was, she acted as if the night before never happened.  She didn't even remember what she did.  Well, I will never forget! 

The next night we tried again with the crib.  She had a good nap and thought maybe she would go to bed more easily.  Wrong.  Same battle.

Soooo, we blew up the air mattress and already turned her door knob around to lock her in her room and called it a night.  She was all excited about sleeping in a 'big bed'.  When we left, she if course ran to the door crying/screaming "last one!"  She lasted about 5 minutes before crawling into bed and going to sleep.  She slept until 6am the next morning! 

Vivian had to sleep on the air mattress until her queen size mattress arrived.  I ordered her an adorable quilt set that's fitting for a toddler.  It was actually difficult finding toddler appropriate bedding for a queen size without paying an arm and a leg.  I am very happy with the purchase.

I have a pool noodle tucked under the fitted sheet on the open side of the bed so she doesn't fall out.  This kid doesn't stay under the bedding, but flips and flops all over the bed.  Crazy.

Tonight will be night 3 in her forever-in-our-house-bed.  She's done great with bedtime.  We sing our songs and gives kisses and out the door we go. Bedtime doesn't take an hour now.

Now, with saying that, she does wake up for the day between 4:30-5am.  She's always been an early riser, but she was contained in her crib.  For two weeks now, minus the first night she slept in the 'big bed,' she has been screaming for me as soon as she wakes.  She runs to the door calling for me.  For a while, I ran upstairs quickly so she wouldn't wake Joanna up.  We now  have a Time To Wake Clock which lights up green when its time to call for mommy.  Of course, she's 2.5 years old and doesn't understand the concept right now.  She still calls for me, but its not constant screaming. I'm hoping it catches on that she sees I'm not coming in to get her until the light goes off.  Right now I have it set for 5:30am, which means she's been standing at the door for an hour or less.  

As far as Joanna, I have her box fan, a smaller fan and a box fan between their rooms to buffer the sounds.  She has been waking up and not going back to sleep until I get Vivian, but hopefully soon enough her sleep won't be disturbed.

Parenting certainly has its challenges.  For whatever reason, no one tells you the obstacles you will encounter.  You only hear stories of people saying, "oh I just put them to bed and they sleep all night until I get them."  

Anyway, Vivian decided it was time to be out of her crib and sleep in a 'big girl' bed.  Easier process when they decide and not you.  If only we can successfully get out of dispers!  Someday :)