Fish Out of Water

Oh, my Land'o'lakes, what have we done?

John, you started it. (But I finished it, so technically, it's a wash.)

After Sprite had a very peaceful night in her Elmo couch, enjoying what I assumed to be a temporary parole from the crib bars, thoughts started to take shape in my mind of a future without the safety of the pen. (I know, I know, I shouldn't think.)

As Sprite played in her room the day after, I kept looking towards the crib. Then my inner voice started talking and had a one sided conversation with my reasoning.

You know, she did fine last night without the crib. And don't forget the crib is convertible, just take the front off and you have a toddler bed. Because, that's what she is, a toddler. It will be very easy to make the change. The kid will be fine. She's growing up and all you're doing is holding up the process. You're almost out of Ziploc bags. There was a coupon in the Costco mailer. Better cut it out while you're looking for the Allen wrench. Shut up, shut up, shut up!

I made up my mind and marched over to find John who would in turn find an Allen wrench since my inner voice neglected to tell me what one looked like, let alone where it was. Once he returned with it (And let me tell you, it looks NOTHING like a wrench, Allen!), I banished Sprite from her room while I made the transformation, turning her nursery into a little girl's room. (You would think John is the hands-on one in this relationship. Nope. All me. I like to build. Bookshelves, tables, drama...)

The whole process took less than 10 minutes. I thought there would be more fanfare than that. I thought it would require time and effort, a major shake down to find the manual, sweat and tears, and at least a cameo appearance by a D-list celebrity. Actually, it took 4 steps of unscrewing and re-screwing of the posts to convert it, mere seconds to remember the manual had been zip-tied to the bottom of her mattress springs and within reaching distance, a few tears as I visualized her falling out of the bed, and a door knock by our neighbor who looks like she could have been in an 80's movie, but is definitely not a celebrity.

Sprite came into her room as I carted out the front slats (which had her aquarium still attached. *Sob!* I used to covet that thing when Sprite was just a month old and hated to be put down. I always used the aquarium since the music would last for 15 minutes so I could eat something/use the bathroom/take a shower/let the dogs out. No more fishies. *Sniff.*). She paused as she took in the new look of her bed/former crib and immediately jumped onto it after realizing she no longer needed Mommy or Daddy to lift her for access.

Last night, she looked excited to be trying her new bed. (Yeah, it's been there since the beginning, but now there's an front entrance. It's new to her.) John decided we should lay out the Elmo couch in front of it in case she had a dream about qualifying for the gymastics portion of the Olympics and pole vaulted herself out of bed.

Sprite watched from her perch on her BRAND NEW toddler bed as we set up the couch and then immediately jumped onto the Elmo couch and snuggled down.

She didn't want to sleep in the bed.

John and I looked at each other. "Maybe she'll climb into the bed after we leave," he suggested. We said our good nights, collected our kisses, and closed her door.

I checked on her 30 minutes later. She was asleep, looking like a party crasher in her own room as she was splaid out on her Elmo pull out while the bed was occupied by the dolls she had thrown up there.

When John and I re-grouped for bed, we confirmed she was probably unsure about the bed seeing as this was a new change. And just like the fishies in the aquarium have a new view of the guest room while we figure out storage, Sprite has a new view of her own situation and is probably trying to adjust to the change as well.

I, for one, am never listening to my inner voice again.

Except for the Ziploc bags. We do need to buy more.

Comments

[Allinole]

What a big girl Sprite is! Time flies.

[Kirsten]

Awwwww, I say Awwww alot..lol Very cute don't forget you can always purchase a bed rail for night time acrobatics. I've tried to get Meggers to sleep in her own bed (which cost a lot and is equipt with two bed rails)but she always ends up in mine, I'm a sucker. ~sigh~

[Wendy]

Maybe you could put the Elmo couch up on the bed for a couple of days?

[HeatherPride]

Oh mom!! That is a big moment! It was sentimental for us as well - followed by regret as the nighttime roving began! Hopefully Sprite stays more contained!

[Laurie]

At least you got to make the decision by yourself. My lovely mother-in-law decided to put my daughter to bed in a bed one night while babysitting without discussing it with me! UGH! It eventually worked out, though. With my son, I simply told him not to get out of his bed until I tell him it is OK. That was when he was 2. He is now 5 1/2 and he still shouts from his bed every morning "can I get down now???". Funny the things they actually choose to listen to!

Anyway - keep trying with the "new" bed. That little Sprite will figure it all out soon!

[Betsy]

We are approaching similar milestones in our house. Though, rather than be a step forward, I think we've taken a step backwards since Isla is now,by some strange twist of fate, an a lot of middle of the night yelling, sleeping with me in a big bed. Sigh.