We have been trying to work out how we can go see Cody's family for an overnight visit. The boys are too big and smart to allow themselves to be trapped in a pack and play now, but they have not had the chance to prove that they can handle a non-crib bed. They definitely will not sleep in the same adult bed as each other or the same bed as us. We've been in a holding pattern trying to decide what to do. You may think we could just go and let them tire out so they would comply. That will not happen. My boys are like gremlins if they don't get enough sleep. They will not tire out. They will just scream until daylight.
Anyway, we decided we would give toddler beds a shot. The cribs convert to a toddler day bed by removing the front panel. This is the path we chose.
Let the games begin.
Cody prepping to remove the first panel. Ben unsure of what is going on.
Cody asked him to get a screw driver, so he went to his tool bench to get the tool.
It's coming along
It's off! He figured out what was happening and was filled with GLEE
Alex came to join the party
(Alex long hair + yellow shirt. Ben short hair + gray shirt)
Alex filled with GLEE
At this point they basically just jumped around in circles. Once the other bed's front panel was off, they ran between beds jumping on each one. They tackled each other and laughed their booties off.
Video proof
Then things calmed down. We were getting close to nap time.
Ben testing out the bed
Alex slowing down
Talking to us about how much fun he was having
Getting irritated by all the pictures
FUN TIME AGAIN. Alex making a run for Ben
Chasing each other in circles up and down on the bed
Alex belly flop
This is probably the highest degree of happiness I've ever been able to capture on camera
Diving on to the bed
Sleepy time again.
Running out of steam
Just kidding!
Slamming the closet door. He would then hop down run around the crib, open the door, run back to this spot, and slam it again
They like to do summersaults. Sometimes it is successful. Sometimes it really looks like they are going to snap their head right off their body
Talking about the closet some more
Here they finally started calming down. We were about 45 minutes past their nap time, and they had been going strong bouncing and jumping on the beds for over an hour. They settled in to Ben's crib together and I gave them a snack.
Watching them sit together peacefully, we thought maybe we had a shot of putting them down for a nap and things going well. They were really... really tired. They had burnt some of the excitement off. They were in a nice-to-each other mood. We had high hopes.
After their snack, we put each baby in his own bed. We calmly explained the situation and our expectations of good behavior.
We gave them kisses, turned off the light, and shut the door to quiet, exhausted little angels.
Oh. Boy.
The things we heard inside that room through the door are not easily forgotten. They went bananas. Each baby took a turn being calm, reasonable, and tired, but the other boy was always in the opposite mood. One would snuggle in, and the other would come jump on his face and start screaming. Alex wanted to be with Ben, and Ben was angry that Alex was touching his blanket. They found a diaper cream tube and smeared it all over their walls, beds, faces, and tool box. They moved their furniture around and messed up their closet and dresser.
I sat outside the door telling them to go to sleep and holding it closed when they tried to open it. They went back and forth from laughing hysterically and screaming/crying. I would check on them, put them back in bed, and tell them to go to sleep. There was no "own bed". One would just run to the other's bed and start jumping.
They would be quiet for a while and then start craziness again. After maybe an hour of this circus, we officially threw in the towel and opened the door to find this.
Boys - 1, Parents/Beds- 0.
We put the front back on the crib and rode through the giant mood swings until they could get to sleep that night.
When we do it again in the future, we'll try to bring a little more order to the process. I have no idea how we are going to be successful with two in one room. This is exactly how potty training goes awry when one starts slamming the one on the toilet in the head with the toilet seat.
Bonus pictures I found on the camera
Alex
Ben
Alex.
They can put on their own pants and boots. They are also getting more picky about the shirts they wear. Since they are basically dressing themselves, their outfits are sometimes pretty interesting. Truth be told, 99% of their outfits are boots, a diaper, and a shirt (often times their police costume shirt or their fireman yellow jacket)
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