Brennan's Big Boy Room

After I found out I was pregnant, Kyle and I started talking about keeping Brennan in his current room and making the guest room the nursery or making the guest room Brennan's new big boy room. When the discussion first began, Kyle was in school and we thought he was going to deploy a few days after graduation. Deployment isn't over until November and I was hesitant to change Brennan's room then because it seemed like a lot of changes at once; new room, new bed, new baby in January. However, all of sudden Kyle said he could have the guest room transformed into a big boy room before he left. I had never even considered that a possibility, but was on board with making the switch. We quickly decided on a comforter and paint color and were ready to get to work.

We had company in our guest room until July 10th. I drove Amanda and her girls back to the airport that afternoon and when I returned home, the queen bed had been taken apart and the entire trim was painted in the room. The rest of the room went pretty quickly and the best part? It's almost all handmade by Kyle. I don't think many kids can say that.

Kyle made Brennan's toy box over a year ago I think. We moved it from his nursery into his big boy room before the room was complete and he immediately began playing in his new room.

He built the bed himself and stained it to match the toy box. He used these plans and I love the way it turned out. After he built the bed, we ordered Brennan's new mattress because he was sleeping in a toddler bed. The box spring was on back order, so it took a little longer than we planned to get it delivered. We had the bed set up already though and Brennan would climb inside the frame and play or read books. It was super cute. The mattress arrived July 23rd and Brennan has been napping and sleeping in his new room ever since. He had no trouble transitioning at all.

During a visit to Pottery Barn Kids, we saw this shelving unit. We both liked it, but didn't care for the $300 price tag. Kyle decided he'd just build it himself. So he got to work and Brennan had shelves that matched too!

At some point during this time, we made a trip to IKEA to look for a new dresser for B. We found the one we wanted (Tarva), but once we went to the warehouse to grab it, we learned it was out of stock. We kept watching the website and once it was back in stock, Kyle drove back to IKEA to grab it. We left for Kentucky on July 27, so Kyle didn't work on it before our trip, but as soon as we got back, he stained it to match everything else. So even though he didn't build the dresser, he made it look good.

We don't have anything up on the walls yet and I'm not sure I'll get that done while Kyle is away, but so far I am loving Brennan's new big boy room.

Paint: Behr Paint and Primer in One - Sparrow
Duvet, Down Comforter, Sheets: Target
Throw Pillows: IKEA

Big Boy Bed

We've taken the plunge! Last night was Brennan's first night to sleep in his new "big boy bed". His crib is convertible, so we purchased the toddler rail to go along with it and changed it out last night! Sort of on a whim, but oh well.

Just a little over a week ago, I looked online at BabiesRUs for the toddler rail for his crib. We weren't in need of it, but I just wanted to make sure they still made it. When I checked, it was out of stock. There was an option to sign up to receive an email when it was back in stock, so I did that fully expecting it to be weeks if not longer for a notification. Within two days, I got an email. Kyle and I discussed it and decided to go ahead and purchase it while it was there, so we'd have it when we were ready to make the change.

Brennan turned two in February. I know plenty of kids his age who are already in toddler beds. I know most people move their kiddos out of the crib when they start climbing out or if they need the crib for a new baby. Brennan to this day still does not stand up in his crib, much less try to climb out. He is capable of standing up in it, but will only do so if you ask him to. So we have no fear of him climbing out in the near future. And unfortunately we don't have another baby that needs the crib, so we planned on keeping B in there for a while longer.

Then the toddler rail arrived. Super fast. Two or three days after I ordered it online. I opened the box and started getting excited about switching his bed. I know most people would say leave him in the crib as long as possible, but I was so antsy to change it. One because I thought it would look cute. Two because I didn't think Brennan would make any attempts at this point to get out of the toddler bed. He still isn't a good climber and he's always been a great sleeper, so my thinking was maybe we should just change it while he's still so compliant most of the time and before he's a daredevil doing flips over his rail.

Kyle and I talked about it and went ahead and packed the toddler rail away under the guest bed the day after it arrived. I kept asking Brennan if he wanted to a big boy bed and he would adamantly say, "No!" every single time. Then last night after dinner we were in his room playing and he asked to get in his crib to play. I put him in there along with some stuffed animals and started telling him what his toddler bed would look like. He started getting excited. Kyle looked at the time and said, "I can change it right now. We have 25 minutes until praise team practice." And that's exactly what he did. Like I said; on a whim.

Brennan watched as Dada took the front off his crib and installed the new rail. It only took about 15 minutes and it was all set up. At this point, Brennan still seemed excited about it, but it was almost time to leave for church, so we didn't really get to look at it too much. After praise team practice, it was home and straight to bed for Brennan. I didn't make a big deal out of his new bed at all. We just did our exact same bedtime routine and then I put him in bed. I did have to lay him down with his head at the opposite end as normal because the toddler rail only installed one way, but he didn't seem to mind. I kissed him and walked out.

He slept like a champ. He woke up a little after 8 this morning. I went in there and he was still laying down in the bed saying, "big, big, big" over and over again. When I walked in the room, I asked him to sit up. He put his hands on the new rail like he was going to stand up, but realized it was different. I told him to scoot down to the end which he did. He scooted right to the edge and got out on his own. As I type this now, he's napping in his big boy bed. I'm hoping it continues to go this well! So proud of my big boy!

And yes, my potty trained, big boy bed sleeping child still sleeps with a paci. That's our next thing to tackle.

This is how he sleeps most of the time; with his hands behind his head.

Can you see his cheesy grin in this picture?

"Mom, pictures first thing in the morning??!!"

Good morning, sunshine!

He can get out of bed on his own now!

"I did it!"

I think he likes his new bed!

Ha! Ok so maybe he's still not fully awake.

So cute!