Friday, June 12, 2009
"Bella, What Ya Thinking Bout"?
(The pic has nothing to do with the story - just wanted to share a day by the pool)
It has been a pretty darn cool week, but the highlight has been..."the big girl bed"
After our neighbor told us of their 2 year old, taking a header out of her crib, I have been concerned for Bella's safety. She is fearless when it comes to discovering new things and it was only a matter of time before she too took the dive.
Fortunately, she did not...ever! But, it made me think, when do you transition a toddler from crib to bed? Well, depending on who you talk to, I have researched and found it varies...GREATLY! Have received advice from parents and pediatricians, neighbors and friends, 15 months, all the way up to 4 years. 4 YEARS? Lord, no way I am lifting this kid out of a crib, several times a day...uh uh, not gonna happen.
So, when our friends told us of hearing that tell-tale thump, upstairs, I figured it was time to start looking into it for our little one.
Of course, the thoughts of how she would deal with this transition, this new change in her life, concerned me. So, for the past week or so, I have been psyching her into it. She prides herself on no longer being a baby. Reminding us over and over how she is now a "big girl." We ask her if she is a baby or a big girl, and she just about screams...NO, BIG GIRL! Bella is a big girl now! Soooo, one to stay with a theme, I kept on her...telling her over and over..."your big girl bed is coming"..."Bella's gonna have a big girl bed soon" "Are you excited to sleep in a big girls bed"?...I kept this up, until eventually, SHE was telling ME the same....
First step, bought her a standard size pillow. I was as, if not more, excited than she was to have this in her crib. FINALLY, I could get rid of the "pickle pillow"...(a small, green, firm, curved pillow. Not really sure what it was intended for, but, she seemed to like that it was a pickle...;-) Researching online, I found, best not to place a standard size pillow in a crib. Especially for infants, but, toddlers have also been known to have issues with a large pillow in a small space.
Eh, it was time. We needed the big girl bed.
Taking advice from yet another neighbor/friend...I ventured to Costco. Thinking I would price them there, then go on to our local mattress store and negotiate. Boy, was I surprised to find the mattress store was having a huge sale. It was 150 bucks cheaper than Costco - who would have thought? I had to have the mattress set...NOW!
Picked out a full size set (her crib turns into a daybed and full size bed - without the side rails - she is gonna have this till she is 18!!) and proceeded to wait 24 hours for delivery. Well, I got that wrong. For an additional 50.00 bucks they will deliver. I figured, eh, I can do it myself...it should fit in the back of my car...afterall, full size sets are just slightly larger than a twin. WRONG! Duh me, they are just smaller than a queen size set. LOL. Had to head back home, but not before calling my neighbor, and gotta love them, they offered their big ole Expedition! No more wait, I could get it home that night. If only you could have seen me tying that box spring to the top, and shoving the mattress in the back...not a pretty sight. Good thing I was alone, as I was cussing up a storm.
Next day, I took down the crib, placed the mattress and box spring directly on the floor. (again, taking advice to place it there for about a week, get her used to the idea).
That didn't take long...within hours, she was so excited to take a nap on her "Big Girl Bed". I was in shock, as she usually give me little hissy fits at nap time...not this day...uh uh, she went right down. Even sang herself to sleep...and in the 36 hours since, has slept all night and taken two naps...WOWSA! It worked!
Damn, our little girl has a big girl bed...not so little anymore...SIGH!
AAAWWW OF THE WEEK:
Bella was sitting in our family room, and as I glanced over, had a look of deep thought. I asked: "Bella, wotcha thinking about"? She replied: "I am thinking about my Daddy"...man oh man, did I melt in that moment!
SHOUT'N OUT TO MY PEEPS & PALS over at DAD_BLOGS Check us out, we give great advice and loads of fun stories, groups, discussions and welcome Moms too!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
21 BellaBuddies left comments! Ya know ya wanna!!:
We transitioned our oldest at 18 months. We're terrified to transition our youngest who is over 2. It sounds like Bella took to it fabulously. Congrats to her and her big girl bed!
Congrats on the big girl bed! You did a great job in prepping her for it. I loved when we moved my kids out of the crib and were able to watch them figure out that they didn't have to wait for us to come in and get them; they usually hung out in bed to read or play for a while (we were lucky: haha) before calling for us, and we'd say "Come on out!" They'd be like, "Oh yeah! I can!"
Also: Smart purchase on the crib set that turns into a double bed! :)
Way to go Bella! And way to go Daddy! You did a great job. That must have been a very comfortable mattress!!
Oh and I teared up at her answer to 'wotcha thinkin about'... so sweet!
That is an awesome awwwwww moment. I'm glad it's documented.
B. That girl needs to be in 1940's HollyWood!
Yo BellaDad, way to go! Did mom say, "but she is so young, I am not sure she is ready"?
You took the bull by the horns and did what's right before you got to hear that disheartening header thump.
Awww a Melty Moment for you too! Whoo Hoo!
Oh man - big girl bed... awesome execution with getting her excited about it first. I need to learn a thing or two from you.
We just recently got a bike trailer and forgot to get Niamonster excited for it. She was non-too-happy to be put into it.
Uh. Doiy.
I know you welled up with fatherly pride when she said, "I'm thinking about my Daddy." Moments like that make being a father special.
Wonderful job on prepping her for the change! We too, had purchased a convertible crib - however - ours only made it to the toddler bed stage. Our girls tore it to pieces. Yes, girls. Tore. to pieces. They were using pieces as drumsticks by the time they were through. And no, they had no tools. :-(
Our son is in a convertible crib as well and I am hoping it survives to be converted.
But congrats on getting Bella in a big girl bed!
Mar has been in her bed for about a month now (she's 2 1/2). Full size, on the frame, everything. Big comfy blanket, pillows, a guard rail on one side and a trundle on the other. Xav (almost 6) loves to sleep on the trundle.
Mar feels like the queen of the castle on her bed and she sleeps much better than she ever did in her crib (and thus so do mom and dad!).
Congratulations on the transition! I'm taking notes. There are definitely deals to had out there as well, so I'm not surprised you beat Costco. Retailers continue to struggle.
And as for the Awww moment, how can you go wrong with that pre-Father's Day verbal hug!
Congrats on the big girl bed. That is a big step. After that you have to deal with the wandering around in the night. At least that is what I hear. I am still dealing with the crying in the middle of the night.
I put the boys in bunkbeds WAY before Jed was ready. Truth be told, they probably are STILL too young for them...but they love the "big boy bed".
Nothing makes me smile more than an impromptu "I wuv you"...big awww, indeed.
I have a COMPLETELY legit excuse for being absent...but I'm back now! Glad to know I was missed.
We've been thinking about making that transition to the big girl bed real quick, especially since she sleeps on the floor next to her toddler bed. She fits in it, I swear- she for some reason though prefers the comfort of the hard floor- time to change it up! -Jason
Knowing Bella. She could probably tie some sheets together and lower herself out of the crib with ease. We always keep a plastic dome over the top of the crib and punch holes in it.
What a wonderful moment to always remember! Awwww indeed.
Congratulatons to Bella on her big girl bed and to Daddy for it making a fun, exciting time for her! I love the way you built up to the moment.
BTW, very cute photo.
I saw the little cutie yesterday and got a high five. Now that I've figured out how to comment (it wasn't hard but for some reason I made it that way), I may stop in more often
Ralph Wilson
This may have nothing to do with your posts and I hope you are not upset by me asking but curiousity killed the cat. When you say you "mixed your stuff" and voila baby are you saying you and your partner mixed your stuff together so she is biologically both of yours? I have to ask because if so I am amazed. I had no idea something like that was possible and I think it is a great idea! Sorry, had to ask!
Yes and no. Yes, our "stuff" was mixed...but then, it becomes a crap shoot (so to speak)...only one can fertilize the egg,. Therefore only one of us is Biologically connected...or so science dictates for now :-)
Legally, we are both the parents.
Ok that makes sense! Kinda like saying it does not matter exactly who "made" her you both love her and are both the parents. Sorry, I was just so intrigued. She is absolutley gorgeous by the way! I am going to start reading your blog daily!
Your Bella is so amazing. I just wanted to let you know!
Smated, very kind, thank you!