Bye-bye Baby!

I will not cry. Nope. I didn't cry. I almost did. We put the new bed rail on Rayler's big boy bed last night. I decided to start him napping in his big bed today. Naps, then bedtime, then potty training. One battle at a time, right?

Checking out the new rail last night

So, all morning it's been eating at me. "He's taking a nap in his big bed today. Not his crib. He's not a baby anymore". And I'd find myself with a lump in my throat that I couldn't quite swallow. But I didn't cry.

After lunch we blew bubbles. (ie I was procrastinating) Then I changed his diaper, rounded up his sippy, Eddington Pig, and his blankie. I took him to his new bed, showed him that his pillow was on the "big boy bed", gave him a huge hug, and found another annoying lump in my throat. I sat him on his bed, kissed him, and told him to go to sleep, and not to get out of bed. Then the fun began.

The first 4 minutes consisted of him crying and trying to climb off the bed. I'd wait till his feet hit the floor then I'd pop in, put him back on the bed and say "Night-night!" and walk out and close the door again.

Minute 4

Minute 8

Laying quietly and kicking the wall

Minute 10

I guess we might need to move his basketball goal...

After that we had one or two attempts to get down and some crying.

Minute 20

Standing and shaking his bed rail. He wasn't crying at this time.

Then we had some naughtiness. He would slide off the end and just hang there. Not "technically" off the bed, but certainly not on it. He got a swat on his leg when he did that. Throw in a little more crying, not from the swats, just sitting there crying, and then he started to wind down.

Minute 24

You can't see him because he's at the very end of the bed (far left) considering climbing into his crib. I was really surprised that he didn't.

Minute 30

Not asleep, but laying down. 

Minute 38

Asleep!

Eh, he's at the wrong end, but he's asleep. In his big boy bed. That's what counts. Sweet, sweet victory for Mama!

So sweet!

All in all, it went a lot better than I had hoped for. There was no screaming or tantrums. Only "I'm 20 months old and want to take a nap. My aging and forgetful Mama put me in the wrong bed. This is strange." And then the novelty wore off and he went to sleep.

Now, let's see how much of that we have to repeat tomorrow!