Big Boy Bed
I should probably create a "Sebastian" filter, to spare anyone who isn't interested in baby stories. But that would probably remove two out of the three people who read this, which seems pointless.
Sebastian has been getting awfully big; he's 39 inches tall and about 39 pounds. And his crib hasn't been getting any larger. He's been bumping into the top and sides at night, and crying. And I think Teri put him up to it a bit, but he's been asking for a big bed for a while now.
So on Sunday we headed to our favorite furniture store: Building 19. It's our favorite because it's so goddamned cheap, of course.
Unfortunately they no longer carry foam mattresses in sizes smaller than queen. Teri wanted to get a full-size bed (also known as a "double" size bed, approximately 54" wide x 75" long), because Sebastian's crib can be disassembled and turned into a headboard and footboard for that size. I was worried that we wouldn't be able to get the mattress up the stairs. As for a box spring, forget about it - we knew we'd have to use boards to convert the metal frame into a platform. But that was okay.
The clerk showed us a good full-size mattress that was pretty bendable. Or rather, he showed Teri - Sebastian ran off before he could see the bed. In fact, he ran quite a long way away and ended up half-hidden in a far corner of the sofa display area. When I caught up to him, I realized why - he was pooping, and wanted some privacy. He was actually pretty upset about having to go in his pull-ups (and now you know why I considered a filter for this post
). It was our fault, though; he'd told us both that he needed to go.
I brought him back to the mattresses, he took a few test jumps on the one we'd selected it and pronounced it acceptable, and we took it home (tied to the top of our car, of course).
Setting up the frame was easy. Cutting the boards to the right size was no problem. Getting the mattress up the stairs without destroying it was tough. Really tough. But during a break I thought things through, and figured out a way to get the mattress up the stairs without too much damage. Basically it's a matter of coming in a precisely the right angle, and then bending everything as far as it will go.
We set up the bed (with a headboard only for now, because the frame we'd bought wouldn't accomodate a footboard), and last night Sebastian had his first night in his own big boy bed. He did get up a few times to visit us in our room, but only at first; once he was properly asleep he stayed that way.
I only wish I had! Unfortunately Sam, our old cat, is going completely insane. He used to howl to try to wake us up to feed him at 5:20am. But that time has been moving steadily forward. Unfortunately feeding him doesn't help, because even if you do he'll come back at us and howl within half an hour.
Last night he started howling at 1:20am! I got up and went downstairs. I didn't feed him, but I dozed on the couch for an hour or two, which kept him quiet. Sometimes I suspect that half of the reason he howls is for company, not food.
Eventually I went back upstairs to bed. At about 3:20am he started howling again. This time Teri went downstairs, and she shut him up in the mud room.
At 6:30am, I was woken again by Sebastian. He wanted me to come into his bed and pretend to be moles. That's his latest game; he's Baby Mole, and I'm Daddy Mole (and of course Teri is Mommy Mole). We climb into our Mole Hole under the blankets and sleep, or listen to people walking on the ground over our hole, or talk, or dig, or eat dirt. It's fun.
Anyway, here's his new big boy bed.
Sebastian has been getting awfully big; he's 39 inches tall and about 39 pounds. And his crib hasn't been getting any larger. He's been bumping into the top and sides at night, and crying. And I think Teri put him up to it a bit, but he's been asking for a big bed for a while now.
So on Sunday we headed to our favorite furniture store: Building 19. It's our favorite because it's so goddamned cheap, of course.
Unfortunately they no longer carry foam mattresses in sizes smaller than queen. Teri wanted to get a full-size bed (also known as a "double" size bed, approximately 54" wide x 75" long), because Sebastian's crib can be disassembled and turned into a headboard and footboard for that size. I was worried that we wouldn't be able to get the mattress up the stairs. As for a box spring, forget about it - we knew we'd have to use boards to convert the metal frame into a platform. But that was okay.
The clerk showed us a good full-size mattress that was pretty bendable. Or rather, he showed Teri - Sebastian ran off before he could see the bed. In fact, he ran quite a long way away and ended up half-hidden in a far corner of the sofa display area. When I caught up to him, I realized why - he was pooping, and wanted some privacy. He was actually pretty upset about having to go in his pull-ups (and now you know why I considered a filter for this post
). It was our fault, though; he'd told us both that he needed to go.
I brought him back to the mattresses, he took a few test jumps on the one we'd selected it and pronounced it acceptable, and we took it home (tied to the top of our car, of course).
Setting up the frame was easy. Cutting the boards to the right size was no problem. Getting the mattress up the stairs without destroying it was tough. Really tough. But during a break I thought things through, and figured out a way to get the mattress up the stairs without too much damage. Basically it's a matter of coming in a precisely the right angle, and then bending everything as far as it will go.
We set up the bed (with a headboard only for now, because the frame we'd bought wouldn't accomodate a footboard), and last night Sebastian had his first night in his own big boy bed. He did get up a few times to visit us in our room, but only at first; once he was properly asleep he stayed that way.
I only wish I had! Unfortunately Sam, our old cat, is going completely insane. He used to howl to try to wake us up to feed him at 5:20am. But that time has been moving steadily forward. Unfortunately feeding him doesn't help, because even if you do he'll come back at us and howl within half an hour.
Last night he started howling at 1:20am! I got up and went downstairs. I didn't feed him, but I dozed on the couch for an hour or two, which kept him quiet. Sometimes I suspect that half of the reason he howls is for company, not food.
Eventually I went back upstairs to bed. At about 3:20am he started howling again. This time Teri went downstairs, and she shut him up in the mud room.
At 6:30am, I was woken again by Sebastian. He wanted me to come into his bed and pretend to be moles. That's his latest game; he's Baby Mole, and I'm Daddy Mole (and of course Teri is Mommy Mole). We climb into our Mole Hole under the blankets and sleep, or listen to people walking on the ground over our hole, or talk, or dig, or eat dirt. It's fun.
Anyway, here's his new big boy bed.