He's a BIG Boy Now!

On Thursday, after Scott, Austin and I got home from Austin's Preschool Easter Egg Hunt I attempted to put the tired, cranky boy down for a nap. Apparently that wasn't on Austin's agenda because as I was changing him into shorts he started thrashing about like an exorcism was happening. He was thrashing and flailing so much that I had to set him down to get a better hold of him. When I did he then proceeded to go to his closed bedroom door and open it. After picking my jaw up off of the floor and telling Scott, Austin ran out of the room screaming like a bat outta hell. What?!  Where did he learn how to do that?  I don't want him to open doors - I was excited he didn't know how. . . guess growing up is mandatory.  He then started flinging himself on the living room floor while I was trying to pull his shorts up. After some intervention by Dadda the shorts made it safely on without anyone getting a black eye (due to the flailing LOL). I then picked him up and slowly rocked/swayed with him a bit to calm him down.  After he was relaxed I set him in his crib.  He was out like a light within seconds!  After leaving I quickly ran to the grocery store while Scott was home.  When I came back Austin was awake and Scott told me he only slept for 10 minutes.  HUH?!  I walk in and smell poo - of course, who in their right mind would want to go to sleep with that?!  Here's where the growing up before my eyes starts yet again. I turn around to turn the light on and when I turn back Austin is falling over the edge of his crib.  I luckily catch him mid fall only to have his lower half slam against the ground!  Close call!!!  I'm still trying to grasp what the heck happened and how.  So I placed him back in his crib where he showed me how exactly he managed to climb and catapolte his way over.  I immediately told Scott who wanted to see for himself, which of course, Austin didn't do LOL  That afternoon Dada proceeded to convert his crib into the toddler bed.  I'm so thankful to have a husband - and Austin should be so blessed to have a father - who can do things like this at a moments notice! 

The New Big Boy Bed:

Looking at his bed from the door

His Star nightlight

I didn't know what to do.  We weren't prepared for this. We knew it was going to happened one day soon but Scott and I were thinking by summer  - not right now!!  I'm so thankful to have technology and the social networking sites such as Facebook.  I posted for all my friends to share any advice or tips on how to convert over to a toddler bed successfully.  After reading through them all we kind of knew what do do and expect.  So after much collaboration with other moms of toddlers as well as various Aunts, Co-workers and friends Scott and I moved all of the toys that were in Austin's room and placed them into the computer room.  The computer room was slowly being converted into a make-shift playroom anyways so now it's truly a playroom.  99% of Austin's toys are in there minus his Ikea table/chairs, rocking dinosaur, and his pint sized rocking chair - all of which are in the living room.  Here are a  few pictures of the new playroom:

This is the "Co Co" (color) and "Booh" (Book) area

I won't write out how the days and nights were in glory detail but I will show you what happened.  It was so adorably funny to watch Austin realize the newfound freedom he now had being in the big boy bed.  Prior to putting a childproof knob on the inside of his bedroom door he'd try to escape.  He'd run into the living room giddy with excitment.  He knew it was past his bedtime but I could tell he was thining, "THIS IS JUST SO COOL"  LOL  Scott, unfortunatley was gone Thursday night - Sunday night due to a church youth competition, so it was just Austin and I for this change.  In the first few days of this transition I probably put Austin back into his room more times that I've ever done in the past year together!  I was very persistent and I was bound to be successful!  It's funny. . . . I know I'm stubborn and I know Scott is stubborn but MAN O MAN what did we create?!  Here's how long it took Austin to fall asleep in the first 5 days:

Thursday night: it took only 25 min (due to being overly tired from the Preschool activities & 10 min nap)

Friday nap: took 2 hrs 10 min till he fell asleep

Friday night: 2 hrs and 35 min till he fell asleep

Saturday nap: 1 hr 30 min till he fell asleep

Saturday night: 1 hr 10 min till he fell asleep

Sunday nap: went to sleep right away LOL tired boy!!

Sunday night: 1 hr 45 min (only 10 min were spent OUT of bed!)

Monday night: 30 min till he fell asleep (his norm even in his crib!) = success

Tuesday night:  45 min till he fell asleep (norm) = success

Napping in his big boy bed.

As I type this it's been a long and crazy week but Austin is getting better and better!  It's still surreal to see him sleeping in is big boy bed at night.  Every night we wonder where did our lil boy go?