I have long been planning a big girl room as a surprise for Lily Rebecca’s second birthday. She must like to get her birthday presents early, because recently, when I was literally gone to pick up her mattress from the store, she climbed out of her crib. For the first time this year, I had put her down for a nap without her SleepSack because it was such a warm day. Luckily, she wasn’t badly hurt. Conant heard the big boom, hurried in, calmed her down, and gave her sufficient sympathy for the scrape on her ankle. Ever since then, she proudly shows off her aforementioned ankle and the slowly healing scab. If asked, she likes to tell you that what happened was “BOOM!”
We vowed to put her in a SleepSack and regulate the house temperature accordingly until her second birthday party to make sure she didn’t launch over her crib again. Then, this week, she learned to unzip her SleepSack, causing me to lose sleep as I worried about her more easily climbing out of the crib like she did on the none-too-soon mattress shopping day. So, yesterday, we decided to do her big girl room a few weeks early.
I bustled into action, hauling the two girls to a couple of stores last night for last minute supplies in the winter-like temperatures and gusty winds while Conant was at work. They were great sports, and Emma was excited for her sister’s surprise. After we got home and did our supper, bath, and bedtime routine, I started painting for Lily’s art line. This morning, the girls woke up early. I brought them downstairs, got them fed, left Lily safely buckled in her highchair, and rushed back up to her room to start cleaning it out. After a bit, I got her down to play and waited until Conant could play with them. Then I eagerly headed back to work. Later in the morning, Conant and my dad helped with the transition. We took everything off the walls and hung her name, arranged a nature mural on the wall, put up pictures, added the art line, placed a bow holder, and put in the adorable dollhouse bookcase that Grandpa built for her second birthday. I made up the bed in Love and Nature bedding. I decided to do a Love and Nature theme because Lily absolutely loves to be outside. I wanted to bring the outdoors in, especially since the winter months keep her inside more than she would like. For now, we left the mattress on the ground in case she rolls out while she is still so small.
My family made the day extra-special. My parents came a couple of hours before the reveal. My mom watched the girls to ensure it stayed a surprise, and my dad pitched in with his tools and handiness. Conant used his incredible artistic eye to help me plan and place things and his engineering talents to make sure everything was safe and secure. My brother, sister-in-law, and niece came in time to see the reveal and capture it on video. They are also some of Lily’s biggest fans. It was so nice to have us all there as she ceremonially made the transition to a big girl.
We worked hard and quickly, skipping lunch and forging through in order to get Lily in her bed by naptime. I felt a little like we were on a mini-makeover show…a deadline, a goal, and a hope of making someone’s dream come true.
When Lily saw her room, she took it all in, smiled, giggled, and flopped happily onto her bed. She was really glad to see the pictures she had colored hung on the art line, to find her books neatly placed on the bookshelf Grandpa made and Daddy and Mommy painted with love, and to share the excitement with those she loves. Emma was so excited for her little sis that she ran over to Lily and gave her a big hug.
Before her nap, I used the dollhouse to show her how the big girl stays in bed until the mommy comes to get her. She napped over two hours in her big girl bed this afternoon and stayed in her bed the whole time. When she woke, she called, "Mommy, uppa (up)." Tonight, she went right to sleep, snuggled in her very own bed.
My brother asked me how I felt about her growing up. I have to admit that as I put her in the crib one final time last night and saw her in there for the last time this morning, there was definitely some nostalgia.
We have been a crib family for over four years, and there is something uniquely sweet about that baby love. However, I am so grateful that I get to see her grow, witness her milestones, and parent her through each stage. Being a parent is a lot of work and sacrifice, but when you see your child’s pride in growing up and her joy at something as simple as a newly decorated bedroom, it is beyond priceless. I am so thankful that I have been given Lily to raise and very grateful that we can give her a big girl bedroom to love.
