Saying Goodbye...

In November we decided it was time to say goodbye to the crib.  If I had my choice Jo would still be sleeping in the crib, but for some reason she thought she was too big for it and would scream for hours on end when it was time to go to sleep.  So, we decided she was ready for a "big girl" bed. 

 The crib has been a staple in the nursery for the past 9 years.  It hasn't moved..except for the occasional deep cleaning which rarely happens;)...it has sat in the same exact location since we brought B, our oldest, home from the hospital.

It's full of teeth marks.  In fact, we thought about using it as a full size bed because that was the intention when we purchased this one because it is a convertible crib after all, but there were so many teeth marks on it that we decided it probably wasn't the best idea.

 Probably 99% of these teeth marks are B's.;)

 We used the same bedding for all three girls as well.  Bedding is expensive and I didn't see the point in changing it for each kid!  When we found out Jo was a girl, I thought about going all out on girly decor, but then I realized I would have to paint the room and strip the border and spend an arm and a leg on new bedding..and since she was probably going to be our last kid I quickly changed my mind!  Jo would stand on the bumper pad when she woke up so it smashed it down and no longer holds its shape.  (I know bumper pads are dangerous and they now recommend no longer using them, but my girls would not sleep without one.  They always got their legs stuck in the rails and one time my very strong husband had to physically bend the rails to get Jo's legs out..so bumper pads were a must in this house)

 She was excited to have one last party in the crib!

Then it was time to take it down.  We haven't parted with it just yet.  It's in the attic where it will probably stay...teeth marks and all!

 I have to say, I wasn't as emotional as I thought I would be.  I think I was ready for this "change".  I posted the above pic on IG (which I am farmmomof3 in case you want to follow me) and a friend commented, "Some things I was sad about and other things I wanted to shout, 'freedom'!"  That's exactly how I felt...freedom!!!!  For the first time in 9 years we don't have a baby in a crib!

Now, I wish I could say that the transition to the "big girl bed" was an easy one, but it's still something we are struggling with...3 months later.  It is getting better.

At first, Jo would take forever to fall asleep only to wake up several times in the night.  We tried everything and I don't think we slept at all for about a month...maybe an hour or two, but that was it.  It was like having a newborn in the house and I was an emotional mess!  Now, it takes her a bit to wind down, but she will stay in her bed until about 2am-3am then get in bed with us.

I've never been a fan of co-sleeping.  I don't disagree with it.  We have friends who co-sleep and if that works for you then great, it's just not something I wanted to start!  Well, guess what!  After several weeks of little or no sleep, we finally caved and she gets in bed with us when she wakes in the middle of the night.  If we try to put her back in her bed, it is a 3 hour long process.  I can hear Super Nanny in my ear saying (in her British accent), "Just tough it our for three nights and it will make a difference!"  Well, when she wakes at 3 am and is up for 3+ hours and I have to be up at 6:30 to get the other two on the bus, it just doesn't work.  And I need my sleep...just ask my husband!  We've tried just about everything...white noise, night light, oils...you name it, we've tried it!

But for now this is what is working for us...and at least we are getting a little bit of sleep.  This phase shall pass!...I hope!