It's cool to pee your pants!

Despite the loads of great advice I've received from friends and family to hold out, I decided that today would be "Transition to toddler-bed day" for Ava. What inspired the sudden change? We had her 2 year checkup today and the Dr started asking about how we are preparing her for the new baby:

Kristi: You mean besides reading her books about being a big sis and constantly telling her there's a baby in my belly...?
Pediatrician: Yeah... like, have you started potty training? Or, have you transitioned her out of her crib and into a toddler bed yet?
Kristi: No way! She loves her bed! And I don't want to start potty training yet either, otherwise I'll have to take her to the bathroom every 5 minutes to potty-- I've seen my friends at the pool and museum-- it's a huge pain in the arse. I was just planning on waiting on that... at least until she was 2 1/2 or so? She doesn't mind it and truthfully, I don't either.
Pediatrician: You really should start now. That way, when baby comes she will already be accustomed to being the "big girl" and can more easily help you with the "baby stuff"/ be your little helper. I really think it will make things a lot easier when the new baby arrives.

On the drive home, I thought about it some more. And truthfully, it made complete sense-- I had finally seen the light.

So when we got to the house, I did what came naturally to me- I immediately took apart the convertible crib that we bought for Baby Boy and put it back together in Ava's room-- only this time, as a toddler bed. Then I took her "baby bed" apart and swapped it into Baby's room.

The whole fiasco took me about 45-sweaty minutes. The entire time I was breaking one down and putting one back together, I was telling Ava how exciting it was that we were removing the baby bed and putting in her big girl bed instead. She seemed to take the bait-- mainly by jumping on the new bed nonstop, screaming "YAY!! YAY!! YAY!!" --Wear yourself out, kid. It just makes my life THAT much easier!

Then, it came time for the actual nap. I sat on the floor and read to her while she sat in her new bed. Then, like usual, I gave her a kiss and said I'd see her after her nap. I closed the door, grabbed the monitor and began to hold my breath for what would come next.

No big surprise- like every other monumental change I've dreaded implementing (and procrastinated on), she handled it like a champ. Scratch that... she handled it like a PRO... and as usual, I stressed about nothing.

She loves it. Sure, she played a little longer than usual, now having the new found freedom to run around her room rather than be confined to her crib (cage). But before a cry or howl ever escaped her, she was fast asleep in her toddler bed, looking similar to how her mommy sleeps-- out from under the covers, dress up-over her bottom and one leg hanging off the side.

Mission accomplished!

Hallelu-yer! Did I mention I love this kid?!

As for the potty training. I'll wait a bit on that.