Big Girl Bed - Take 2

After our last failure at converting from a crib to a toddler bed we were a little wary of the impending switch. I mean, she can't stay in a crib forever...I guess. Over the last few months Joe and I have giggled at how big she looks in the crib and how we were going to have to switch her soon. We talked about going straight to a twin bed this time though, instead of the toddler bed. We decided we would make a big deal of it. I would take her shopping and let her pick out new bedding.We would talk about being proud of her and how she is a big girl now.
So when do we want to do this? Close friends of ours recently announced their pregnancy and the baby is due in October. We decided to switch her after her third birthday and we would give her nursery furniture to the new baby.
Then the move to Texas happened. We did not want to move the baby furniture with us and then have to bring it back to San Diego. So now the question was to make the change before the big move or "new house, new room, new big girl bed."
We started talking to Sam about her bed being a baby bed and asking her if she was ready for a big girl bed. About a week after we started prodding her she announced, "I want a big giwl bed!" Joe and I jumped on it. We went out and bought mattresses that very weekend and I took Sam out to shop for her new bedding the next day. She was so cute trying to decide what she wanted in the aisle of Target. She ended up choosing "da squares".
Joe and I were filled with excitement and dread. Was this going to work? What were getting ourselves into? Another week of no sleep? Arguments? Frustration?
Joe set up the bed and we went through our normal bedtime routine. Before Samantha went off with Daddy for him to tuck her in I gave her a couple of final goodnight words. "Samantha the rules for your new big girl bed are no crying and whining and DO NOT GET OUT OF BED! Night night baby." Joe put her to bed and we held our breathes in the living room. I think she squawked maybe once and she was asleep. We could not believe how easy it was. Every night since it's been right to bed, even for naps! She absolutely loves her new bed! Once again I amazed at how when SHE is ready to take on the next milestone, it's easy!

       I think she likes it!                                                             SUCCESS!

                                                         Dis is my new big giwl bed!!!