a big change

This weekend the girls got their own rooms. 

For most of last week, I cleaned out the guest room, prepped the room for paint, primed, painted 3 coats, put up new curtains, moved clothes, and prepped for Little Bird's big move into her own room. Every day she asked me when she could sleep in her room. Saturday would be the big day(!) I told her again and again.

Both girls seemed very excited about getting their own room. They would run back and forth from each room declaring which one belonged to who. I knew that Little Bird "got it" since she had spent a few nap time/quiet times in there, but I wasn't sure about Little Pie.

Friday night before bed we talked about how this was the last night that Little Bird would sleep in their room. Tomorrow would be the big day and she would finally be able to sleep in her room. Both girls were giddy.

Then Saturday morning came. Daddy woke up early. I slept in and finally got up around 7:30. The girls were still asleep.  Then it was 8 o'clock. Then 8:15. Then finally at 8:30 I peeked in their room to see what was up. Both girls were lying there so quietly yet so wide awake. For the first time that I can remember they weren't chatty upon waking up. 

Did they know it was their last morning together? Did I just make the wrong decision to separate them? Is my heart breaking that they are sad to be losing each other? Is this still the right choice?

I began to have doubts (but then again, when do you ever not have doubts when it comes to parenting decisions?). 

Little Bird's side of their sweet baby room.

Little Pie's side of their sweet baby room.

Despite going back and forth in my mind about what to do, we went ahead with the change and Daddy and I spent the entire morning taking down cribs, moving and putting up toddler beds. I moved the rest of Little Bird's clothes. I hung pictures and voila(!) each girl had her own room, unique and specific to her.

Their baby room is now Little Pie's Little Girl room!

The guest room is now Little Bird's yellow Little Girl room.

Someone was very excited to try out her new bed!

There are still a few things to do to make both of their rooms perfect, but for the most part both girls LOVE their own rooms. Actually, they were more impressed with their "new" beds than they were with their new rooms. 

So Saturday afternoon was our first test. We put the girls down for a nap. I didn't think they would nap since they got up so late that morning, but we were not going to deviate from our schedule. Both girls stayed in their beds and talked quietly to themselves and their babies for more than an hour. I would say that was a HUGE success!

That night was our second test. Each girl got her jammies on in her own room. They each picked out a book to read from their own room and we finished our normal bedtime routine. This time, however, we said our prayers together in Little Bird's room. Then the girls gave each other the sweetest goodnight hugs and kisses. Both went down in their beds happily and slept the night away.

I didn't sleep much because I was waiting for a little girl to wake up and get scared or wake up and leave her room. Thankfully everyone else in the house slept peacefully!

The next morning I got up and while I was making my coffee I heard Little Bird wake up and start playing quietly with her buddies. I waited a little bit and went in to get her up. She was patiently waiting in her bed and was so proud of herself for sleeping so well in her Little Girl bed. I was so proud of her too. 

A few minutes later we heard Little Pie rustling in her bed and Little Bird was so excited to go in there and get her up. They gave each other the sweetest good morning hellos! I'm so proud of both of them for being such big girls and handling this big change so well.

I knew that this change was going to be good for the girls, but I also expected that Little Pie would have a few problems with it. At first she seemed very excited and accepting of the change, but yesterday while I went to the store, Daddy tried to put the girls down for a nap. Little Pie wouldn't stay in her room or in her bed. When we put them down for bedtime, Little Pie called for me a few minutes later. She talked about how Little Bird was in her own room. It was almost like she was trying to see if things were going to change back. I gave her some reassuring hugs and kisses and told her I was so proud of her for being a big girl. But I knew she sort of missed her sister. The rest of the night went fine (I didn't sleep again!), and she woke up the next morning so excited to see Little Bird.

Today at nap time/quiet time Little Pie wouldn't stay in her bed or her room again. I laid down the law though. I told her she had to stay in her room until I came to get her. She could read the pile of books I gave her, but she couldn't get up until I came to get her. She got out again and I heard Little Bird tell her to go back in her room (little miss bossy!). She wasn't happy when I put her back in her room, but I reassured her again. A few minutes later I heard her crying for me. I went back and gave her lots of reassuring hugs and kisses (which is much easier to do now that they are not in cribs) and told her I'll be back in a little bit. 

Both girls are now asleep...during nap time. It's a dream come true! I knew there would be some bumps in the road, but overall I think the change has gone so well. I think it was perfect timing for all of us and I'm so proud of my BIG Little Girls!

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Now on to the next big change....POTTY TRAINING! ugh!