Heeeeeeeere's Evan!
I’m sorry, but the caption was absolutely essential. I almost fell over laughing when I saw his face.
After trips to three different real furniture stores and a few half-hearted searches on our local Craigslist we ended up buying a twin sized bed for Little Evan at Ikea. I don’t know why we even bothered looking anywhere else when the bed I had pictured in my mind was clearly modern, minimalist and Swedish while all the furniture at the traditional stores was heavy and tall and wooden. The salesman at our local store tried to convince me we shouldn’t get a twin bed at all, because eventually he’d need a full sized bed anyways so why not buy one now? Along with the matching dresser? And hey, how about this $400 mattress too? I tried to point out that 99% of college students I know sleep in twin sized beds so Little Evan’s “need” for a full sized bed was sort of subjective single bed with tv. Besides, my little 27 lb toddler still fits just fine in his crib. It’s not like he needs the space of a full. Heck, I can lie in the twin WITH him and we both fit fine. So basically, I told the salesman to shove it (politely) and we went to Ikea. Besides, I had already ordered super cute sheets from Garnet Hill in twin and I hate returning things. Flawless logic, that.
We bought this bed:
I love that it’s low enough for him to climb in and out himself and the extra storage space underneath. You can NEVER have enough places to hide toys and stuffed animals. So we bought the bed frame and the least expensive mattress they sell (my theory is between now and full potty training it’s going to get so gross we’ll end up tossing it anyways) and E swore his way through their wordless Swedish instructions and now it’s all set up and ready for Little Evan to start sleeping in it. Which is going…not so well.
Sunday night he lay on the bed but asked to sleep in the crib when it was time to turn the lights out. But for Monday nap time he climbed right up, lay down, asked for his milk and and kiss and told me night-night. I tucked him in, made sure he had his eight zillion different blankets and stuffed animals and left the room.
I listened outside the door. All was quiet. I came downstairs and listened over the monitor. I could hear him babbling a little and rustling his sheets. Then there was complete silence and I did a little happy dance of joy.
I texted E to tell him how I was AWESOME and that our kid was a big-boy bed genius and that when he got home we could totally take the crib apart for good because who needs it?! I made plans to hem curtains and move bookcases and blog the awesome new toddler room because the redecorating was totally going to be done super soon!
Ten seconds later, a little voice said “Hai!” and Evan peeked around the corner of the kitchen.
My heart totally stopped. My genius big-boy bed sleeping toddler was instead a genius room escaping (EVEN THOUGH there’s a child-proof cover on the door handle) toddler who managed to get out of bed and climb down the stairs in complete silence. I am TERRIFIED of letting him climb down the stairs on his own so the thought of him doing the whole flight without anyone there to spot him almost made me pass out.
So. No more big boy bed until we get a gate for the stairs. And any recommendations for door handle covers that ACTUALLY KEEP CHILDREN FROM OPENING DOORS are appreciated.
Adorable bebehs in the adorable bed
Final room makeover results have been officially pushed back until we can take the crib down for good. I’m hoping some time before June.
He asked to have Caroline lie in bed. I think he’d sleep with her all the time if I’d let him.
Uh, ALSO needed: a way to make that outlet/cords a little less dangerous. Because right now I can imagine about 4000 ways he could kill himself either accidentally or because he’s a toddler and doesn’t seem to remember playing with outlets is danger! no matter how many times I scream it at tell him. Unfortunately, that’s the outlet that the light switch works not using it at all is the worst possible option. Well, worst besides some sort of terrible tragedy, so maybe not really WORST worst. I’m just hoping there’s a solution besides never having light in Little Evan’s room.
“OK Mom! Go away! We’re good without you!”
Yeah kid, that’s what YOU think.
We are having quite a weekend, and by quite a weekend I mean dragging 2 kids all over New England doing a crap ton of shopping for house redecorating type stuff. I didn’t want to commit to furniture for this house if there was a chance we might be moving in the fall, but unfortunately E didn’t get the promotion he was hoping for and we’re here for at least another year. Which is bad for his career but good for our finances – selling right now would be a nightmare. But since we’re NOT moving we suddenly have a little extra money and a lot of extra motivation to spruce things up.
Also, new furniture always fits, unlike the jeans I tried on at Target last week. And even if I end up regretting the new rug we bought it won’t be as much as I regret the big heavy bangs I keep thinking about cutting myself. I’m so bored with this long, straight, boring mop on my head. It’s a true code red hair emergency around here. Someone hide the scissors.
Here’s what we all wore during Saturday’s shopping adventures:
Evan:
Shirt – Target
Pants – Hand me downs, I think they’re a brand from Walmart
Caroline:
Jammies – Carter’s (yeah, she slept ALL day so I didn’t bother with real clothes)
Mama:
Shirt & Jeans – Target
Sweater – Old Navy
Headband – Gussy
Necklace – Tiffany & Co, a gift from E two Christmases ago that I know he thinks I never wear so I’m proving I TOTALLY DO
Flip flops – Some beach store a zillion years ago and I am SO EXCITED it was (almost) warm enough for them!
New hair color – Feria, Pure Diamond Blond. Meh. All it did was make my roots a little lighter.
Coat – ModCloth. Isn’t it GORGEOUS? It’s perfect for spring and just so incredibly well made I die with happiness every time I put it on. I’m now totally obsessed with stalking ModCloth’s sale section.
Today we’re going to the big fancy mall in Rhode Island just in case the Apple store happens to get in a new shipment of iPads (ahahahahaha) and because they have a Pottery Barn, a Williams-Sonoma AND a Restoration Hardware. I’m going to die and go to housewares heaven. They also have a Delia’s, but I’m officially too old to shop there anymore, right? My 16 year old self is crying a little.
Sunday:
I found these while grocery shopping. E & I used to eat at the actual Sticky Fingers ALL the time in Charleston, including our first real date.
Now that Caroline's a litle bigger I pulled out the cloth diapers. They're working well.
Monday:
Stroller Strides! Also, bebeh with ears on her hood!
Seriously, if we do switch back to cloth it will be entirely for the cuteness factor.
Apparently Monday was Caroline day. Adorable hat from Uff Da - I have a mommy sized one!
Tuesday:
Waiting for me to tell him it's time to go to Stroller Strides.
The bubble machine is my secret weapon against tantrums. Even if it means bubbles in the kitchen.
I went to Staples for envelopes and Post-its. It wasn't nearly as exciting as this picture makes it look.
Wednesday:
Mommy multi-tasking: bouncing two kids at once. Great leg workout too!
Invitations: addressed & mailed!
Little Evan and I played a LOT of games with Chuck the Truck and his friends
WHY IS THIS GIRAFFE TOUCHING ME?????
Thursday:
Mural on the wall of our post office. That's some awesome art right there.
That cool brick building used to be a fancy hotel. Now it's rent-controled apartments and a restaurant that keeps changing names.
Oven mitts are his favorite toy. This week.
Friday:
Taken 20 seconds after I finished seaming up the vest. I like to wear what I make as soon as possible.
Yarn & pattern to make a husband-sized sweater. I'm a little scared.
We ran some errands, including a quick trip to Best Buy to see if they had iPads. They did not.
Saturday:
SOMEBODY got up at 5 am. At least she was adorable in her onesie from @lifeversiontwo
I dyed my hair for the first time in ages. It's only a little blonder. I'm not sure I love it.
IKEA! Toddler room makeover before & after pics coming soon.
Did you take any camera phone photos this week? Link up with one or lots using the linky below and grab the code (so it shows on your blog too!) over at Amy’s. It’s really fun!
I’m MIA today because I spent the whole morning finishing knitting this thing together:
It’s not very stylish but it’s such a happy color and was so easy to make I think I love it.
Plus I wrote a post for my dear friend Hannah over on her blog, Peggy Ann Design. It’s about organizing my cookbook shelf. I know, really riveting stuff. Check her out!
Then this afternoon I’ve got my pre-op appointment with the urologist so HOPEFULLY this whole kidney thing will be over for good in the very near future.
And if I get my way we’ll finish the day with a trip to Ikea for dinner. Such a nice Friday!
See you tomorrow for my iPhone wrap up!
