a big kid

yesterday, we converted gabe's crib to a toddler bed. translation: now gabe can come and go from his own bed as he chooses. i was not sure how this would work out, but i knew that i wanted to give him some time to get used to sleeping in a "big boy bed" before we gave his crib to ezra.

last night, we put him down, and almost immediately, he was at the door knocking and politely reminding us that he was, in fact, on the wrong side of the door and that we should kindly open it so that he could come out and play (he can't open the door himself yet, thank goodness). steve went in after a while and led him back to the bed (we suspect that in the dark room, he was having trouble remembering how to get back), and then, having turned on the night light, told him goodnight for a second time. this time, it took only a few minutes for gabe to decide that he was not okay with the situation and to make his way again to the door where he knocked more desperately to be let out. eventually this led to gabe lying on the floor sobbing and yelling "mama" through the crack at the bottom. we let him go on this way for about ten minutes (or maybe not even that long, but it felt like forever), and then i went in, gave him a hug, led him back to the bed and tucked him in for a third time. after that, we didn't hear another peep out of him all night.

this afternoon, it only took one re-tuck to get him to sleep.

tonight, he went to sleep without getting up once!

i recognize that this may not last forever, and that eventually he may learn that there are, in fact, toys behind the closet doors that he can play with whenever he so chooses, but it has been such a fantastic transition so far, and i could not be more thrilled. here's to hoping it stays that way.

and just because i have been posting so sporadically lately, here is a whole pile of pictures from our visit to fort matanzas today to make up for it: