I H-A-T-E Change

For a while now, people have made fun of me for two things. Ok, they make fun of a lot more than two, but there are two things about Barrett that most of my mommy friends harass me about.

One of those was his use of the bottle at 2 and a half years old.

He only had them at home, and since they were full of his carnation instant breakfast, I wasn't in any hurry to stop him from maintaining his weight. Besides, it made his happy in the mornings when he is GRUMPY.

It wasn't the questions from judgemental moms that made me take away the bottle a month and a half ago, it was the dishwasher. I could not stand reassembling all of Barrett and Fisher's bottles anymore, so one day I just told Barrett we were done with bottles. For two mornings, he complained, but since then, he hasn't even bothered me about it. He still gets carnation in a sippy cup, but he doesn't drink as much.

The other thing I was harassed about is the fact that Barrett was still in a crib, so a week ago, he moved to a big boy bed.

Honestly, the decision was not mine.

The other night while Doug and Barrett were playing puzzles in Barrett's room, Barrett told him that he wanted his bed to be an "in and out bed". So, without consulting me, Doug got his tools and converted the crib into a toddler bed.

I walked in about half way through the change, and Barrett was dancing around telling me all about what his daddy was doing.

I gave Doug THE look. You know, the what-the-hell-are-you-thinking-look.

I asked Barrett if he knew what to do if he woke up and it was still dark outside, and he answered without hesitation, "Go back to sleep." He followed up on his own that if it was "light time", he would come find mommy.

I guess he understood more than I gave him credit for.

After we left Barrett in his room to practice getting in and out and in and out and in and out, I explained to Doug that he would have to deal with this one.

That night, Barrett got in bed and went to sleep.

Fifteen minutes later, he came running out glowing with pride - and sweat (When he falls asleep, he sweats A LOT).

He happily danced and announced that it was light time. We pointed outside to the obvious darkness. His little shoulders dropped. We both felt so bad that he thought he had done it, but we also were struggling not to laugh.

Doug took him in his room, so Barrett could show him the light he saw. There was a street light glowing right in his window. Once Doug explained that the whole room had to have light for it to be light time, Barrett agreed and crawled back in bed.

At 7:30 the next morning, he walked into our bedroom to announce it was light time.

Huh?

I informed Doug that we were just lucky. We are in the honeymoon phase of this change. It was going to get bad at some point.

Over the next 5 nights and naps, there was no drama. He occasionally came out once right after we put him down, but nothing more than 5 minutes.

Doug was so happy to point out that I was wrong.

I didn't want to blog and brag because I knew it couldn't be that easy.

Then, it was Tuesday night.

We couldn't get him to stay in bed, but by 9:45, he apparently was out for good.

At 11:45, Barrett came strolling out saying he was ready to play.

For the next 4 hours, we battled. We, meaning, Doug and Barrett.

I was in bed irritated that I all I could hear was Barrett screaming, but I also felt a little vindicated. After all, I knew there would be issues.

At 3:45, Doug came and got in bed. I asked if Barrett was asleep, and Doug said he didn't know or care.

Fast forward to 3:47, Barrett is standing at the side of the bed telling his daddy that it's light time.

Doug pulls Barrett into the bed between us. Barrett tells me hi and asks why I am not up yet. I just roll over away from him.

I hear Doug getting up, and I assume he is taking Barrett back to bed.

Yeah, the old saying if you assume you make an ass out of u and me- whatever- assume and you make an ass out of Doug.

The bedroom door shut, and I am in bed with Barrett alone.

Barrett and I were up until Doug's alarm went off.

Barrett went out and woke him up, took a shower with him, talked to him the entire time he got dressed, and screamed when Daddy left.

I got out of bed and went to lay on the couch with him to watch a show.

Barrett finally dozed off around 7:00.

Fisher woke up at 7:05.

Did I mention I was sick that night too?

Thank God for my in-laws. They came and took the boys for the day while I threw up, slept, and prayed the Tami-flu would kick in.

So, my question is, why in the world do people think kids need to move into beds they can get out of?

Although, we have had no issues since that night. Does that mean it's over?

(No need to comment and tell me it's not over. I know there will be more nights of free roaming.)

Ugh, I really hate change.