Isabel reached another milestone – she’s growing up so fast.  For Christmas, she got a ‘Big Girl Bed’.  We went straight for the full bed with trundle rather than waste money on a ‘toddler bed’.  The timing was clearly because she demonstrated a level of maturity to warrant the new bed and definitely not because we need the crib for Connor. 

She loves it.  And to be honest, it’s been much easier than expected. (so far.  No jinx)

First thing that had to happen was a transfer of ALL stuffed animals and blankets from her crib to her Big Girl Bed.  That was critical to success because it’s physically impossible to go to sleep without at least 1 penguin (Peter), 2 unicorns, 1 baby doll (Emma), 1 alligator, 1 lobster (awkwardly named Crab), 1 frog, 1 bee, 1 dog (Bailey), 1 pig (Mabel), 1 duck, 2 baby blankets, and 2 saints rally towels as blankets for the stuffed animals. 

Second thing that had to happen was convincing Isabel that she didn’t want the crib anymore and that she should give it to Connor.  This took some quality logic manipulation by dad, daddy, and Aunt Jonnie.  The quick recap is:

Adults: Are you a Big Girl?

Isabel: Yes.

Adults: Who sleeps in Big Girl beds?

Isabel: Big Girls.  

Adults: Are you a Big Girl?

Isabel: Yes. 

Adults: Where should you sleep? 

Isabel: My Big Girl bed. (Halfway there)

Adults: Who Sleeps in Cribs? 

Isabel: Babies. 

Adults: Are you a baby?

Isabel: No.

Adults: Do you know any Babies? 

Isabel: Asher.  (technically yes…but not where we were going)

Adults: And Max too? 

Isabel: Yes. 

Adults: Do you know any other babies? 

Isabel: Baby Connor.  (Yes!!) 

Adults: Who sleeps in cribs again? 

Isabel: Babies. 

Adults: Who should sleep in the crib?

Isabel: Baby Connor. 

Adults: Good Idea!  Do you think we should let baby Connor sleep in the crib? 

Isabel: Yes.  (Parenting win!!)

Third thing is nail everything to the wall so she can’t climb it and pull it down and kill herself.  Install a baby gate on the stairs.  Lock the throne room bathroom door so she doesn’t plummet into the toilet during a sleep walk. And otherwise re-babyproof the upstairs of the house.

Fourth thing is HOPE.  Hope she doesn’t get out of bed in the middle of the night and wreak havoc upstairs.  Hope she doesn’t figure out how to open the doors and wander into our room and keep us up all night.  Hope she goes to sleep and doesn’t just stay up all night playing in her room. 

We tried to put the comforter on her bed and she had a meltdown – so she just has sheets on her bed.  (Not a battle worth fighting) Then Jake and I read to her laying down in her bed the first night like a Kleinmahon sandwich.  We read book after book in an effort to get her sleepy.  It was adorable and everyone felt very loved….until she decided daddy had to leave the bed but dad had to stay.  Alright…One more book by dad (again not a battle worth fighting) I tried to tuck her into her sheets and she had a meltdown so she gets to keep using her baby blankets.  (you guessed it…not a battle worth fighting).  I snuggled her and laid her down.  She wanted a book so I gave her one.   After I left the room, she quietly “read” herself to sleep on top of the sheets and without any blankets on.  This happened the first two nights.  A true Kleinmahon miracle! 

Then during her Sunday nap, I woke up to her yelling and crying.  Confused on the time of day and thinking she fell out of bed, I rushed into her room only to find… her leg “trapped” inside a zero in one of her learning numbers books with a fold out flap.  Apparently as part of her reading, she puts her foot inside cut out shapes.  Genius!

Each morning, when we go in her room to get her up she says “I wanna get out”.  She hasn’t realized she can simply get out of the bed whenever she wants.  PLEASE DON’T RUIN THIS FOR US!!