Yes, yesterday was a big day. The long wait was over and Peyton finally got his new big boy bed.
On more than one occasion this week, when discussing the transition, Peyton joyfully shared that he'd still get to wear his pajamas and read his stories and sleep with his special friends. I was thrilled that he was processing what was happening so well and applauded myself for communicating so clearly with my 2 year old...and then he'd end his tale by saying, very sincerely, that I could come visit him in Grampa's workshop! Wait? What! Somehow after seeing the bed in the workshop all those times, he envisioned that the workshop was where the bed was and so the workshop must be where he would sleep!
To ease Peyton's mind we ceremoniously decided to head over to Grampa's workshop yesterday afternoon to help load the bed into the trailer and to keep a close eye on this special new bed as it made its journey from the workshop to Peyton's room. Unfortunately it wasn't the smoothest of transitions for the bed, but Peyton was thrilled to "help build the bed" after all. Evidently the bed was wider than our door frames and so poor Grampa had to disassemble some of the bed to get it into the room and then reassemble once again. Our little builder was delighted to get out his tools and immediately proclaimed, "Guys, we have a job to do!"
Several hours later, the job done, our bellies full and our stories read, Peyton climbed right up into the bed, snuggled among his animal friends and new sheets (he picked out new big boy sheet earlier in the day) and somehow instinctively knew to pull his new big boy comforter up under his chin (he chose to use the quilt that his Great Aunt Caroline made for him when he was born). So we sang our usual bedtime song and kissed him good-night. Only moments later he called out for us to leave the door open, to which we responded by bringing him a night light for security, and wondered if this was just one of the many requests and sleep delays we had in store for us that evening. But that was it. For hours he just laid there, occasionally fidgeting or murmuring and after what seemed like forever, I think he finally fell asleep, on his back, under the covers! (Note: Normally he sleeps on his tummy and very rhythmically and violently bangs his head onto the mattress. He tosses and turns and over the course of the night can be found in any and every possible sleep position and direction in the crib. We call him a tornado.) Miraculously, last night was different. Last night he fell asleep and awoke with his head in the same general direction. With the exception of a wee bit of early hour head banging, his head was still. He did great.
We didn't do as well. We both felt anxious, vulnerable, excited. "What was that?" Steve asked, worried, after hearing a distant sound (a car door outside). We peeked on Peyton via the video monitor. Without the security of the crib to contain our son, his room, the house, access to us, suddenly felt so available and frightening and limitless. We peeked on Peyton again. Peyton suddenly seemed so big and independent. "Can't he just stay little forever?" Steve wondered aloud, "Why does he have to grow up so fast?" How many times will we say that each other in the next several decades, I wondered, equally emotional. Time for another peek of our sleeping big boy. But, we were also just plain excited and curious to see how the night and next several days would unfold. Just one more quick peek. That's more or less how our night went.
Like Christmas, we were up early waiting to see what Peyton would do. Steve and I watched (yes the morning after, we're still peeking via the video monitor) as he climbed out and stood next to his bed for several minutes watching the door before climbing back into bed and waiting. This pattern happened several times before he disappeared and we heard the sound of him climbing into his rocking chair and opening books. When discussing the transition I'd even addressed that just like the crib he would wake up and wait for Mommy and Daddy to come get him, but I wasn't sure if this message got through, or if the new found freedom would get the better of him, but at least for this first morning, he didn't dare try to escape the confounds of his room. While I'm not holding my breath that we won't have to address this issue in the coming weeks, I'm pleasantly surprised that he didn't just bolt right out of his room, especially considering how proud he was of himself.
Peyton sure was one proud little due this morning. Rightfully so. He shared with me, "I slept in my big boy bed and could get in and out all by myself!" How right you are, my big boy. All in all, the big transition was a successful and joyful one.
Here's to big accomplishments and two proud dudes: Grampa and Peyton - Finishing beds and sleeping in them!
Wow! What a beautiful bed and how special that it was made by Grampa. That is so cool. And its so fantastic that Payton transitioned so easily to his big boy bed! What a blessing!
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