Big Girl Bed FAIL

So last night was the night we decided to finally move Ava into her big girl bed. Ever since I read in Parent's magazine that it's best to keep them in their crib for as long as they still fit in it (as long as they're not climbing out of it) I haven't been in a huge hurry to make the switch. After all it is nice to know she's safe and snug in her "cage" and not roaming the house or pulling down the curtains in her bedroom at 2am. But we're getting tired of Madelyn being in our room and I think all three of us will sleep better in our own space. Ava jumped to sleeping 10 hours a night soon after we moved her to her own room.

All that to say that yesterday we bolted her shelves to the wall, put safety latches on her closet doors, double checked everything to make sure it was child proof and then Ava and I put her new sheets and blanket and pillow on her bed and had the talk about how to stay in our bed until morning. She's taken a handful of naps in her big girl bed and done very well and she was very excited to go "night-night" in her new bed. We video taped her getting into bed, we read our Bible story and prayed and she snuggled down like she was going to go to sleep. But I guess the excitement was just too much.

At 12:30 I gave up and put her back in her crib. She never got out of her bed, she just never fell asleep either. For a girl who usually promptly goes to sleep at 8:00 every night this was unheard of. I know I could have just left her and she would have eventually fallen asleep but I'm the type that can't go to sleep myself until all my little chicks are sound asleep and I've checked in on them. So I guess we'll just nap in there today and try again tonight with maybe a little less fan fare. She should be plenty tired after her late night last night.

I'm catching more and more Spanish words coming from Ava. The other night Tony said, "I think she's speaking Spanish because she's holding her hands out wide and saying "largo" and then bringing them in small and saying something else." We determined she was indeed and saying "corto", Dora must have been teaching them "long" and "short"? Could it be that Dora can actually teach her to be bilingual? If only, that would be awesome. I may need to brush up on my college Spanish so I can keep up with her.

Yesterday we went for a walk out to Lewisville Lake. We walked out on a dock and we're sitting there taking a little break and enjoying the beautiful weather. Ava was sitting next to Tony who was laying on his back. Tony licked his thumb and rubbed some dirt off of Ava's cheek, then laid back down. About 10 seconds later I see her stick her thumb in her mouth and then lean over to wash Tony's face with it. Startled him and cracked me up. So of course she kept doing it. Sticking her thumbing her mouth and then scrubbing his cheek with her slobbery finger. So funny.

Also yesterday, she and I were in her bedroom doing something and I heard Madelyn start crying in the other room where Tony was. I asked Ava, "Can you go see why Madelyn is crying?" just because I was curious about what she would do. Ava said, "Yeah" and trotted off down the hall to Madelyn, very business like. I followed and came in to see her putting a toy in Madelyn's hand. Tony said Ava had come running in, found Madelyn's lion and gave it to her, than found the toy for her and was saying, "It's ok Madelyn, don't cry Madelyn and patting her tummy. After that little test I'm pretty sure I can go to the mall by myself and leave Ava to watch Madelyn.

Here's some more pictures of Maine. I think this may be the last of them and so the pictures of our trip to South Padre are on deck. :o)

Signing me and Madelyn in at the Reunion under my Grandpa Frank's (deceased) name

The Rush Family Reunion
8/21/2010
Benedicta, Maine
"To Work is To Pray"

Aunt Rita, my Grandpa Frank's sister

Harold, my Grandpa's brother

My cousin Robert

And his wife Sara

Aunt Rita asked to hold Madelyn. They both really enjoyed each other. She sure has a knack with babies.

Uncle Jerome my Grandpa Frank's youngest brother