Our Big Boy & His New Bed

It's true, Fintan has been sleeping between us in our Cal King bed for over a year. Long story. That time has ended. With much celebration and child-involvement, we not only purchased our little angel his own "big boy bed" and graduated him to "big boy" status, but he has actually slept in it both nights!

It is, perhaps, the ugliest and cheapest twin bed Ikea has to offer, but we (a) didn't feel the need to spend a fortune on a bed for so little a guy, and (b) plan to graduate to a bunk bed in the next few years, because those are more fun. This one is fine - and big enough for mom or dad or grandma to curl up with him and read a story.

I think his favorite part about it is the big maple leaf blanket - it was his shower gift from Sunshine Annie. Now we really get to make use of it!



Here is our big boy snuggling in his new bed. Next to the bed is his rotating train lamp, which he can watch in the dark and dizzify himself to sleep (hey, it worked last night).

As part of our process of transforming him from "our baby" to "a big boy" we:

• made a big deal about him being a "big boy" now starting at least a week earlier
• hyped him up to help us shop for his big boy bed, which he enjoyed
• let him feel a part of the decision (although ultimately he had nothing to do with it, as we ended up going back to Ikea as a last resort)
• let him help us take down and put away the crib
• let him help Daddy build the new bed (safely)
• let him help Mama clean and rearrange his bedroom
• spent a lot of time hyping up how cozy it is
• continued making a big deal about how he was going to be such a big boy in his own bed now
• also encouraged him to use the step-stool in front of the big toilet, so that he could use the "big boy potty" instead of his little plastic potty
• snuggled with him to make him feel secure
• praised him the next morning
• etc.

All in all it's been quite successful so far!

Here's our big boy taking photos out front...

Here's our big boy in his new hockey gear! (he still needs a real helmet but everything's still a tiny bit too big for him)

He can't wait to go play hockey!!! (we'll be taking him to stick-time so he can learn to skate while being distracted by actually hitting the puck, which he does quite well out in the driveway)