Operation Big Boy Bed

If you were a fly on the wall in our home the last few weeks, you would have been keen to a resounding chorus of, "Honey, Carter needs his Big Boy Bed set up!" "We only have two months to go before M2 arrives and Carter needs to begin the transition from crib to bed." "M, seriously. SET UP THE BED."


I know what you're thinking. Poor Impatient AP. Poor Husband.


Sunday was The Day. As The Husband casually walked into Carter's room that morning to scoop him from his crib, over the monitor I heard him say, "Guess what, big man? That was your last sleep in the crib! You're getting a big boy bed today!" 


And I would be lying if I said my heart didn't catch a little in my throat. It was really going to happen. What I pushed for all along for so many weeks leading up to this ordinary Sunday. Our baby would be transition from his crib to his brand new Big Boy Bed. 


To think I was so concerned about how C would tolerate The Transition, I hardly gave thought to how I would do! 


The Husband worked all morning, finishing the chair rail in the nursery, disassembling the crib in Carter's room and reassembling it in the New Nursery. As Carter and I played in the playroom and lounged on the couch eating Cheddar Bunnies and watching Puss in Boots, the Big Boy Bed made it's way up to Carter's room. 

Shortly before nap time was due to commence, the bed was finished and I didn't waste a minute dressing it with brand new Jersey sheets purchased just for the inaugural occasion. I fluffed Carter's brand new pillows and even went as far as stuffing his brand new duvet into his Curious George duvet cover. 


Of course he wouldn't be sleeping with the giant duvet but I needed for it to be perfect. The unveiling of The Big Boy Bed. 


The final touches included an extra pillow and guardrail and as I placed C's Curious George stuffie a top his freshly made bed, I could barely hop off before Carter came tearing into his room, immediately clamoring up onto his new bed. 

I prepared myself for bumps in the road. I prepared myself for More Playing and Less Sleeping. Although I had envisioned a seamless transition, I anticipated something much less... seamless. 


I laid down next to Carter as we readied ourselves for nap time. I tucked him in with his favorite lovie, two nunnies and began running my fingers through his curls. Within minutes he was out. 


Of course I couldn't leave his room without snapping a few commemorative pictures and as I did, my heart leapt, once again, into my throat, tears springing out of nowhere into my eyes as I dwelled upon how small he suddenly looked in that bed. 


My little boy who looked so big in his crib. So ready for The Next Step. Now appeared to be so tiny, so little in this brand new twin bed of his. 

Carter napped for two full hours. The longest nap he's taken in months. I couldn't help but think it was just a coincidence and choked on my hubris and the thought that This Might Not Be So Difficult after all. 


He awoke well rested and couldn't stop chattering on and on about his new bed. Pointing to his bed, to George and to his new pillows. 

We continued to play and lunch that afternoon and well into the evening and after having friends and family over for fun and good food, I knew it was time for our ritual bath and bed. I whispered a silent prayer as M carried Carter upstairs for his bath, that bedtime would go as smoothly has nap time had but it wasn't without anticipation of a long night and lot's of "get back to bed's." 


At 9:15pm, a bedtime much later than usual thanks to our dinner guests and evening full of fun, Carter and I settled in together. It has to be said that this beat rocking him in the rocking chair any day. 


As Baby Brother continues to grow more quickly now, the real estate of my lap was shrinking exponentially as each night wore on and it was becoming near impossible to rock the thirty-five pound toddler. 


There is something to be said for Big Boy Bed Snuggles. 


Tucked in tight with his lovies, I once again began to run my fingers through his blonde curls. Tracing imaginary lines down his cheeks, over his forehead and down along his perfect little nose, I silently prayed words full of thanks for such an incredible gift. As his eyes began to grow heavy, I was reminded how lucky I am. 


Carter slept peacefully for 10 hours that first night. I awoke to his ritual "Ma? Dad? Sheesh?" catcalls and upon hoisting myself over the baby gate that safely blocked the entrance (or exit) to his room, was greeted with the happiest of toddlers sitting up excitedly in the middle of his bed. 

It's true. I anticipated finding him asleep on the floor or worse, sitting atop one of the shelves in his closet. 


But there he was. Successfully having survived Night One in The Big Boy Bed. I knew he would be OK and furthermore? I would be too. 


You may be wondering, "How did you know C was ready for a bed?" And well, the answer is, I just knew. It's my Mom-Gut, if you will and it's pretty much what has led me from the moment they placed that 9lb. 10oz. squishy baby in my arms nearly 21 months ago. It's how I knew Carter was ready for solid food. It's how I knew Carter was ready to turn forward-facing in the car. It's how I knew he wanted to start sleeping with a pillow. 


It's how I know that he's not ready to give up his pacifier at nap and bedtime. Along the same lines it's also how I know that he's no where near ready to begin potty training, although some recent events have me second guessing that decision.


Truthfully though, I've always been one to just let him do his thing and watch for those subtle and other times not-so-subtle cues as to his needs. Thankfully, this Mom-Gut hasn't led me astray as of yet. 


Operation Big Boy Bed has been a raging success thus far. Now, don't even get me started on how the New Nursery looks with the crib set up in it.

There goes my heart leaping into my throat again... 


* As always, thanks SO much for reading ILYMTC and the crazy drivel I manage to throw up here day in and day out. If you'll permit, I'd like to take .03 seconds and be super annoying and beg for you to click here and "like" this picture on FB. You see, if enough of you amazing people "like" it, I'll win an awesome gift card and can then spoil myself rotten with a Cape Madras tunic once M2 arrives as I yearn to retain some modicum of post-baby style. Who knows, maybe I'll even convince the fine folks at CM to allow me to host a giveaway as well. Thanks so much, Loyals! XO!