Big Girl Bed!!

It's Official!
Kate now sleeps in a big girl bed. Back in May, when we thought we were having another baby, we started to think about moving Kate to a big girl bed. She was old enough. She could already climb out of her crib. It was just a matter of choosing what type of bed (and affording it). I thought a toddler bed would be the easiest (and cheapest). Since Kate is quite little, she would be able to use it for a couple of years yet. I already had an extra crib mattress and plenty of extra crib sheets too. We would just need to buy the frame. But then.....WE GOT LUCKY! Our dumpster diving is getting quite notorious in my family. In our neighborhood, people are moving a lot and so they just throw out perfectly good furniture. It may need a nail or a cleaning, but it is still in good condition. So....as you may have guessed by now, Kate's darling little bed was a dumpster diving deal! We cleaned it up and it works perfectly. Plus it looks adorable, like a little piece of doll furniture. hee hee
Kate was really proud of her bed and she had very little trouble making the transition from crib to big girl bed. It probably helps to have a big brother who kept telling her "now you are big just like me Kate! Wow!" He wanted to sleep in it too! This transition must have made her feel more "free" and independent because when she first got the bed she wandered more in her room and took longer to go to sleep. Sometimes, she would come find me downstairs or fall asleep in the hallway. That ended pretty quickly. Kate has pretty much always been easy to put down. You show her the bed and she lays down and goes to sleep. LOL She is pretty much back to that now. Except that she now comes in our bedroom and climbs in bed with us every morning between 5 and 6 and sleeps there till 7. Oh well....I can't say I don't enjoy the cuddles. What a sweet girl!