My "Big Girl"

By the time Caden was 20 months old he was throwing (literally) himself out of his crib. I distinctly remember him hurting himself so bad that he couldn't even be lifted under his arms. So by the time I had Sydney, (he was 2 years and a few weeks when she was born) he was already in his "big boy" bed. I think part of it was due to his size (he was super tall), and the other was just his personality...he likes to push his limits. Sydney has been a whole different story. Even though Sydney was 2 1/2 when Thomas was born...she had yet to even attempt climbing out of the crib! I could not bring myself to 'kick her out' of the crib.

Thanks to Maranda, I was given a really nice cradle that I was able to put Thomas in. I usually have the baby in our room for the first few months before I actually move them to the crib. I figure if I am getting up a few times during the night...it is nice to have them close by. So it has been easy to keep Sydney in her crib. I thought as soon as I put her in a 'big girl' bed I would have to say good bye to naps or at least it would be quite the battle (it was with Caden). So I kept putting it off...yet I knew that I would need to do it soon.

Then two weeks ago, I put Sydney down for her regular afternoon nap. She always goes down pretty easily. I went about doing some things around the house. It had been a couple of hours, and I was in my room putting away some laundry. I glanced at the clock and noticed it was getting late, and I should wake Syd up so that she would be able to go to bed at a decent hour. I walked over to her room, opened her door, only to find her sitting on the ottoman of the glider singing a song to one of her toys! She turned, smiled, raised her eyebrows and said, "Mom...I climbed out of my crib!" She was so proud! I was shocked that she hadn't left the room!
So that night, we still put her in the crib for bed. In the morning I was already up, and was nursing Thomas downstairs. I kept hearing the door (we have those handle doorknobs) handle being let go again, and again. I continued feeding Thomas waiting to see her creep around the corner proud of her accomplishment once again....yet she never came! Finally I put Thomas down, and went to her room. Again she was just sitting in the middle of the room entertaining herself! It has been so bizarre for me. The minute Caden's feet hit the floor he was out the door. She just sits and waits!!!!

We eventually have put her in her 'Big girl' bed...we have her on the bottom bunk in Caden's room. Like I said before, I thought naps would be over once she was out of the crib, but for the most part...she will stay in her bed. She has on occasion left the room to go back into the nursery to 'change her clothes' (her clothes are still in that room), but most the time she will wait in the room until I come and get her! It really amazes me at how good she has done with it. She is such a good little girl. Yet she is growing up right before my eyes! Sigh!