Toddlers. Growing so fast, hitting what seems like a new milestone every day. Running. Learning to use crayons (sometimes on paper). Beginning to talk. Understanding two step instructions. Climbing. Ah yes climbing. It started by climbing onto the couch. Followed by jumping on the couch. Then came climbing the stairs. Not particularly caring about carefully coming back down the stairs. Then she conqured pulling out a dining room chair and climbing up on that. But this week, at about 16 1/2 months, she completed her ultimate challenge.
No not that. Although we will be in New York next month so we better not leave her unattended. On Monday morning I woke up because I heard footsteps on the bedroom floor. I opened my eyes and saw Sabrina standing there holding her blanket looking at me. Funny, why is Gregg letting her run around at 6 o' clock in the morning when she should still be asleep. Wait, 6 o' clock? He leaves for work before 5:30. He wouldn't leave her out of the crib alone. He must have--Out of the crib? She climbed out of the crib by herself?!
She's been working on this little trick for a while now. We've already lowered the crib mattress but she's able to shimmy up the rails and then swing her legs over the top. How do we know this? Gregg caught her trying it about a week ago when she wouldn't go down for a nap. And of course, there's last night.
It was around 4 AM or so, and strange noises were coming from the video monitor in our bedroom. Gregg yelled out "She's starting her shenanigans!" and jumped out of bed. We had taken some precautions, like piling pillows on the floor next to her crib, and making sure we locked the safety gate on her door so she couldn't get out of her room. Gregg got her in mid climb while she was still straddling the crib wall and brought her back into bed with us. Based on the fact that she didn't fall asleep for another two hours and had a screaming fit, we think her new teeth are bothering her. She has two back teeth coming in on the bottom and we think some on the top. Once her screaming was over and the ibuprofen kicked in she fell back asleep. She never wakes up in the middle of the night; she sleeps right through. We think her teeth hurt and she wanted to come find us for comfort.
We didn't think we'd be dealing with this for a little while. But if she's going to be able to escape her crib, we'll have to make sure she can't get hurt. So today we ordered her a toddler bed. I didn't realize that they had such things. But it is low to the ground and has guardrails to keep her from getting hurt. She can't get out of the room because there is a pretty good gate on her door, and another one at the top of the stairs just in case. The bed won't be here for about a week, so we'll just have to keep on top of her until it arrives. There's always Plan B:
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16 comments:
I just love reading your blog. You are a great writer and have an amazing sense of humor, not to mention a little girl that is absolutely adorable. Good luck with the new bed. I have a 3 year old and a 14 month old and am worried that the 14 month old will climb out of her bed especially since she sees her big sister climb in and out of bed with her. Thank god she hasn't tried it yet! I am also starting my first surrogacy and can't wait to get matched. Can't wait to hear about what Sabrina does next. They grow up too fast!
Thanks Jennifer! Glad to know playing it by ear parenting makes someone laugh besides us!
Wow Bobby! You have a climber for sure. Kayla never did that. But we put her in a big girl single size bed at 15 months old so she never got the chance either. And Lucky you that she sleeps all night. Kayla is 25 months and still wakes up in the middle of the night for whatever reason!
Oh, too funny! She is quite the big girl now! My daughter is only 2 months old, and I'm appreciating the ease of life without her being mobile. I'm sure it will be a whole other challenge once she can move around. . . let alone get out of her crib! :)
She is growing so fast! I hope she likes her new bed. I don't think your dog will want to share his bed with her so that might not be a good idea. ;)
Bobby, she's getting so big, I can hardly believe it! Friends of mine have an 18 month old (T.E.R.R.O.R.) who loves opening the FRONT door and running outside. Quickly. So of course they keep it locked. About a month ago, someone left it open. My friend was in the kitchen and heard the door, and waited a beat before realizing it must be her son. By the time she got to the front door, he was in the middle of the STREET already! And they have a pretty extensive front yard and sidewalk.
Needless to say, the house is on lockdown. I feel like I'm in a jail everytime I visit :)
Sounds like there are better ways to wake up! At least, so far, she's had the common sense not to drop onto something hard! Good luck for the rest of the week!
A toddler bed already??? Wow she is growing up so fast!
I see no one suggested a crib tent. It keeps her in her crib and safe. Toddler beds just enable them to run loose while you're sleeping.
Sounds like she right on her developemental fast track.
Stairs in the house can actually be mae safe by teaching her to scoot on her tushie or slide on her belly down the stairs.
Congrats lol!!
I'm sure we wouldn't have the patience for a crib tent. Sabrina has done so well with each change in her life...hotel for the first 2 weeks; then right in her own crib/room from there, the end of the bottle, etc, so we think she'll settle into the toddler bed OK. We have been teaching some stair ettiquette as well, and she's getting the gist of it so far.
Oh my, the memories you brought back!! My munchkin's 13 now, but I distinctly remember this stage. Climbing was a favorite of his and one day when I went to use the loo for 1 minute, I came back to find him eating cookies on the kitchen counter. Cookies that had been on top of the refrigerator. He'd taken a kitchen chair, pushed it to the counter, climbed on the counter and then stepped on my bread box to get to the top of the fridge. Good grief, how do we parents live through the toddler years?!!! Enjoy every minute of it...it passes all too quickly. :)
oooohhh... knock on wood, at almost 19 months, rhys hasn't even attempted to climb out of his crib. however, as i came out from gathering the laundry today, i found him on top of the dining room table. ugh. we have his big boy bed ready for when that dreaded day comes, but we are hoping that it doesn't come for a loooonnngg time :-)
I think I read in your blog that you guys were thinking about adopting another child. My wife and I are going the route of IUI/IVF but while looking at adoption, I was in touch with www.helpusadopt.org. They provide grants to families who want to adopt. They are really trying to help the GLBT community. Thought it might of interest to you or your readers.
Bean is tall and so at about the same age when she started throwing her leg over the top of the crib we took off the side and added a bar. I don't have any regrets about it. At 3.5 she is now in a regular single bed. Go Sabrina! Good luck Bobby and Gregg.
ps. when you get to the regular bed size check out Garnett Hill for some awesome kid friendly sheets. The cost is prohibitive before they have more than a few life, but Bean has the most awesome pink Monster and also some insect sheets.
pps. Also, found the crib tent someone bought as a gift recently. Still in the box unopened. I wonder if I can return it nearly four years later?
*giggle* I love the sentence "Sometimes on paper".
Sabrina is a Madam......I just love her for it.
She keeps you guys busy, which is a joy in parenting!
Can't wait to see her all dressed up in here little dress for the wedding...
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