Not for the faint of heart

This parenting bit.
Here's my little stint on how the 'big boy bed' move is going...so I can look back and remember as hard as it seems now, it's going to seem so much easier looking back.

Sunday Night(night 1)
We do our normal bedtime routine with Caleb in his big boy bed room that he happily played in all day. Plop him on his bed, sing some songs, and he lays right down. He snuggles up with his blanket and monkey. Say his prayers. Leave the room. Caleb whines and fusses for about 30-45 minutes and we do a few check ins ( I think maybe 2 or 3) but he isn't that upset and never leaves the bed.
Sleeps soundly (not a peep) for 11hrs! Wow Caleb. Too good to be true?

Monday Nap time (nap 1)
Normal nap routine but Caleb is extra tired from an earlier wake up (has been sleeping 12 hrs usually) so extra upset with me and cries for about 30 minutes with 1 check in. Never leaves the crib. Soundly sleeps for 1hr 15 minutes (a shorter than normal nap) usually naps 2-3 hrs but he is unable to go back to sleep

Monday Night (night 2)
Bedtime routine, cries/whines to sleep, 2 check-ins, asleep within 30 minutes, never leaves bed.
Silent as a church mouse....until 5:10 Tuesday morning....and our little guy has found his way out of his bed. (At least we have discovered he does it properly, a butt scoot down the little opening)We quickly walk him right back, tell him still time to sleep (it's only been 10 hrs and he usually sleeps 11-12). Sing a couple songs, hold his hand, and then leave. Door bangs..bring Caleb back to bed, soothe, and leave. Door bangs, 3rd attempt. Dave stays with Caleb. Then at 6:20 an hr later, Caleb sat up in bed, pointed to the door, signed more and said num num (food) and was done trying to go back to sleep. Which makes for a messed up nap time.....

Tuesday Nap time 10am (a much earlier nap due to extra early wake up) (nap 2)
nap routine, soothe, leave, door banging. I go back in (Caleb is sitting in front of the door with his blanket and monkey. Melt. My. Heart)and bring Caleb back to bed, soothe, Caleb is getting more drowsy, so I leave. Caleb promptly gets out of bed and door bangs. At this point, I decide to let him work it out for himself for a bit. I hear him get quieter and it sounds as though he is back in bed, then the door bangs, mama chants, then some soft whining and sounds like he is back in bed again....a few minutes later and it is quiet.
A quick peek in reveals Caleb soundly asleep. In his bed. I was kind of impressed. I thought for sure he'd be smack in front of the door, on the floor. But he knows where he belongs.



I'm going to continue my chanting 'he can do it, he can do it, he can do it' and so can I...