Last night was Ava's first night in a big-girl bed. It could have and should have happened much sooner than this, but I had the hardest time making it happen. Not because I was sad to see my baby reach another big-girl milestone. But because I have been totally incompetent at making decisions. New furniture or convert the crib to a full bed? Paint the walls or wait until we get new furniture? Themed room or just pretty bedding? Go all out or stick to the budget? White furniture or darker? The list was overwhelming (seriously, people, it doesn't take much these days to tip me over the edge). I just couldn't imagine spending thousands of dollars on children's furniture that will get beat up and outgrown. But on the other hand I really wanted to make a special place for her. I delayed and delayed until it hit me that I had better do something or send my daughter to college in a crib. Stefan assured me we could always do more later. So we converted the crib into the full bed it was designed to be converted into, and I took Ava shopping Friday night for her very first big-girl bedding. She was so excited in the store that she kept yelling, "Look, mommy, it's my big-girl bed!" I was finally getting excited, too, and I suddenly couldn't wait to get her in it.
While Ava watched a movie last evening, Stefan put her bed together and we set everything up. Ava walked upstairs and into her bedroom to find her brand-new bed. She was stoked. And I mean beyond elated. I gave her a bath, brushed her teeth and did our normal evening routine, but my little girl turned into a squirmy worm as the excitement to get into her new bed built. She didn't even want to sit through story time, which has to be one of her most favorite times of the day. She climbed into her bed and we tucked her in. I very sternly laid down the law about not getting up out of bed or jumping around. Beds are for sleeping after all, not for playing. She sweetly said "yes, mommy" to my demands. We sang our usual list of bedtime songs and kissed her goodnight. She was immediately quiet and I said under my breath, "That was too easy." We didn't hear a peep from Ava the rest of the evening. I tucked her in before going to bed myself and was shocked at how well this was turning out. I was so proud of Ava for listening and going to bed like the fabulous little angel she is.
The Before Pictures
At 1:30 a.m., I was awakened by her crying. I ran in to her room and found her drenched from head-to-toe in sweat... and throw-up! With the exception of baby spit-up, Ava has never, ever, ever thrown-up. Ever. Seriously, never. I had no idea what to do. I turned on a lamp and there was stuff everywhere. On her. Her pajamas. Her hair. The sheets. The comforter. Her stuffed bunny. Everywhere. So I cleaned her up, but by this time she was wide awake. Then I had to get her bedding and her bunny in the wash. I only had one set of sheets and one mattress pad because Kohl's was out of stock on additional sheet sets. So then Stefan had to set up her pack-n-play. By this time she was even more upset because I had to take her beloved bunny away to wash it, and there was no sleeping after that. She came into bed with us and I listened intently until the laundry was done. As soon as the dryer clicked off, I ran in, got bunny and put Ava in her pack-n-play. Ava didn't sleep much the rest of the night, waking up every hour or so, bless her little heart.
I think she was simply overheated in her new bed. Ava was never one to like a lot of blankets and pillows in her crib, etc., so I think she just got too hot with everything on her new bed. She napped really well today in her bed with no covers, so tonight we put her to bed with just the top sheet and we'll see how that works. So far, so good.
The After Picture
