An Even Bigger Big Boy Bed

Less than a year ago, Little B graduated from his crib to a "big boy bed" as we began preparing for Little Lady's arrival. We didn't want him to have any notion that that baby was taking anything away from him, and since he had already been climbing in and out of his crib with ease during the day (but not at night, thankfully), we figured it was time.

We found his toddler bed at a yard sale. It was in amazing condition (the sellers were grandparents and the bed had been used maybe three times before their grandchildren outgrew it!), a terrific bargain, and just the right size. We were thrilled with the find and the plan was that he would be in it until the baby outgrew the crib. Then she would use the toddler bed and we would convert the crib.

Well.

We didn't count on our tall three-year old outgrowing that "big boy bed" in less than a year! He's the height of some five-year olds, and he had been telling us that his feet hurt at night. Turned out that his toes were sticking through the slats at the base of the bed! We took to tucking his blankets in under his mattress at night so his feet couldn't push through.

When we first moved to Texas, we popped into our local IKEA, just to check things out. We had seen a reversible loft bed that we thought looked like a lot of fun for "someday." Last month, I found one in great condition (it just had a sticker on one of the boards) on an online garage sale site for an amazing bargain, so we picked it up and hid it until just the right time.

Last week, N had to make a trip down to Houston, and B missed his daddy so very much. All things considered, things went really well ... until the lights were turned off and song/prayer time began. Then the tears began to fall on that fuzzy blue blankie, the one he used to suck on before I hemmed up the borders with flannel. 

"I just miss Daddy, Mama. I just want Daddy to come home." 

I stroked his hair and told him I was sad, too. I cried with him and prayed for him. And later, as I nursed the baby, I listened to my little boy's sniffles turn into muffled sobs as he tried so hard to "not wake up baby sister."

Well, after that, I decided that he had earned his new bed. He was a great helper as we put the bed together.

And, as always, Little Lady was a chipper encourager in all our hard work and happy to give lots of giggles and kisses, as she absolutely adores her big brother.

Lying together on the Blue Bunny Blankie and giving kisses

We had one more surprise in store for our little man. A new big bed meant that he needed new sheets and blankets!

Covering his eyes as I took his new bed set out of its hiding place (in the guest room closet)!

He was SO excited that he let out a squeal and immediately embraced all the items in a big hug!

I think he approves.

For the past few months, he has been really into "Planes." He has loved airplanes ever since he was just a tot (moving to this area was great, because we see planes flying overhead all the time), but ever since we got him "Planes" for Christmas, he can seldom be found without a little airplane in his hand.

I have to admit, there was a tiny part of my heart that grieved at yet another change that signified my baby boy going from toddler to little boy. I nearly cried as he informed N that night that he didn't need his fuzzy blue bunny blankie to sleep with anymore.  

But it sure is nice to be able to cuddle next to him at bedtime and not have toddler bed rails digging into my back! 

We took down that front rail after the first night. It was an accident waiting to happen for us AND we could foresee B swinging from it. When he's older, we'll flip it over so he can have a loft bed.