No more crib for Nana!

Well... we knew the day would come. But, we were hoping it wouldn't for at least another 6 months!

I had just told some ladies that Giuliana had not ever even attempted to climb out of her crib, and how easy bedtime was with her. Every night, we would just sing her 3 favorite songs while rocking in the rocking chair (Jingl.e Bells, ABC song, & Twinkl.e Twinkle). She would drink her
"milky" and "wa wa", and then we'd lay her in her crib (usually with a variety of toys... Batma.n figures, little princess dolls, stuffed animals, and always her purple blanket) and say "Goodnight Nana... sleep well... we love you!" And, she would happily say "Night, night mama... love you! Sleep well." We'd hear her sing for a while... sometimes at the top of her lungs, etc. But, bedtime was SO EASY! She would just go to bed.

Literally, the night after I told them how easy bedtime was... it all changed. Dan put her down (and she wanted mama to put her down... mama puts her to bed 99% of the time, so that's what she's used to), and she was NOT happy about it. She screamed her head off. Just as I was going up the stairs... there she was, walking out of our room, sobbing, yelling for me. I was shocked. She just climbed out of her crib! And, we have a new baby due in just weeks.... ACK!!

So, I tried to re-do the bedtime routine, put her back in her crib. Only to have her repeat her crib-climbing stunt just minutes later.

It's been a few weeks now (started on March 17th). We've purchased a toddler bed and tried having her *feel like a big girl* by putting it in Gabby's room and having them go to bed at the same time. This resulted in Giuliana playing for hours... and essentially keeping Gabby awake
too.

So, now we moved the toddler bed into our room to hopefully allow Giuliana to get used to sleeping in her new bed. Once she does, then we'll try putting her in Gabby's room again. It just wasn't fair to Gabby to be kept awake by a crazy little sister when she really needs her sleep so she can do well and school and her activities.

Giuliana is now napping pretty consistentely in her toddler bed in our room. And, at bedtime, she'll often want to start in her toddler bed.... but doesn't get serious about falling asleep until we ask her "Do you want to sleep in mommy & daddy's bed?", to which she'll reply "Yeah... momma-dadda bed." We usually have to sit in the rocking chair for a good 5-15 minutes - so she knows we mean bedtime-business. But, then she'll fall asleep.

Hoping it only continues to get easier as she gets more comfortable with her new toddler bed and freedom of being able to get out of bed as she pleases.

The timing of all this new bedtime routine is less than desireable. I'll keep my fingers crossed that bringing a new baby home doesn't disturb the progress we've been making!

Yikes!