The Big Room Share

Maybe we are trying to do too many things at once. Who really knows? I've decided, with Baby #3 coming in a few short months, that the 4 yo boy and the 3 yo girl should share a room ASAP. My thinking is multi layered. First, I need the crib for the baby. Second, LJ is old enough for a toddler bed. Third, RF and LJ are only 19 months apart. So the way I see it, she should move in with him, as he has the bigger room, as soon as is humanly possible, so that they can learn how to room share and sleep at the same time, hopefully before the sleeplessness of new baby arrives. True, Baby Kangaroo will sleep in our room for at least 6 months, but I want LJ to "forget" that the little room is "hers". I'm trying to avoid her being displaced. Of course, in a few short years, if we are still in this house, one of them will be moving again. Depends on which variety of baby we get!

The kids were all for the idea. In fact, they wanted to share a room AND a bed. I nixed that idea pretty quickly. Got a bed. Check! Built the bed. Check! Moved all of LJ's things into the middle room. Check! So here goes nothing...

Day 1: Naptime
Ummm... Not going to happen. While I did not expect them to be able to lay down, LJ with the new found freedom of a toddler bed especially, and just quietly go to bed, I was also really irritable about the whole thing, probably because I am too pregnant to spend all morning building a toddler bed with no instructions and missing hardware! Still, I thought it best to take the opportunity to remove every single toy from the room. Oh well, at least they will be very very tired come bedtime.

Day 1: Bedtime
Its more than 2 hours before bedtime, and LJ's doing the I-can't-keep-my-eyes-open-head-nod while I read stories. I thought it was pretty important that she climb into that bed awake, so I whisked her off. We both squeezed in and sang a song, and I told her I would come back to check on her in 15 minutes. She was out cold right away. RF had no problem quietly hopping into bed and nodding off as well. But let's not go counting any poultry just yet.

Day 2: Naptime
Everyone is pretty tired. Its a Saturday and Daddy's home. These two things should make life a little easier. I tuck them both in, explain what I expect of them, and with only one or two reminders that its quiet time, they both sleep for a good 2 hours. Excellent!

Day 2: Bedtime
We all get ready together. We make a big deal of the big girl bed, and things go pretty well. There's the usual "Mommy I need..." nonsense, but all in all, not too shabby. I am starting to feel like a success. This feeling will likely be my downfall...

Day 3: Naptime
See Day 1: Naptime, only this time I had high expectations and other things to do. Two hours of constant reminders of quiet and revoking of privileges and attempts to not completely loose my head. All to no avail, except that our afternoon plans were now cancelled. Sorry Chuck-E, maybe next time.

Day 3: Bedtime
And here we are again, 1.5 hours early but everyone's tired and behaving atrociously. RF is laying on the hard, cold floor, crashing extra loud toys together. LJ is whining through the thumb she has glued to the inside of her mouth while she follows me around, pulling on my clothes. RF goes to cuddle with Daddy in our bed while I handle the terrible 2 yo. I get her into bed, sing a song, and off I go. Within 10 minutes she is up, crying, "But I awake Mommy I awake!" Well I think we are ALL aware of that one honey! Then comes the thrash and screech tantrum. I finally calm her down, get her back into bed, let her pick the color of the nightlight and tell her I will come back in 15 minutes to check in on her. I assume she is out cold, as I hear nothing. Maybe I should check. I'd hate to be counting feathers just yet!