A big boy bed

Nick and I can plot our past through our experiences with Ikea. Almost 10 years ago we took our first trip out there together as poor struggling students who dreamt of having a lovely home together. On that occasion the only purchases we could fund were two bowls that cost 95 cents each but we took with us a catalogue and a truckload of inspiration. Since that time we have taken many many many more trips down the motorway to that blue and yellow design mecca. Our focus has shifted from suburban home to inner city pad back to suburban home again but it became a whole new ballgame when we went to design the as yet unborn Ollie's room. Apart from his cot and nursing chair, pretty much everything came from Ikea, including the many metres of fabric that I carefully sewed into bunting, liners for baskets and anything else I and my trusty sewing machine could fashion. And while it seems like just yesterday that I was agonising over which mobile to choose, we recognise that our little baby is becoming a real little boy, which is what lead to our most recent trip to Ikea...

THE BIG BOY BED!!! As Ollie is rapidly approaching the point where he can vault himself over the edge of the cot we needed to come up with a solution. We trotted ourselves out there on a Sunday morning along with literally thousands of other keen shoppers and braved the slowly snaking lines. It was pretty traumatic for all of us, particularly at the point when Ollie found his big boy bed but didn't want to give up the floor display and chucked a pretty big tantrum right there on the floor.

Cut to later that day, Ollie has had a nap, Nick and I have lowered our blood pressure and the transition from baby room to big boy room is well under way. First to go was the change table. Scene of many horrors over the past few years. Gone. Next went the cot. Now all we have is the big boy bed, shelves and one very super duper cool pull out table under the bed that houses Ollie's trains (my idea and I'm taking full credit for it. it rocks!). Here is a pic of it last night before he went to bed.

Stay tuned for more cosmetic changes but the general nuts and bolts are there. Luckily the transition to the big boy bed has been relatively smooth. Last night he happily went to sleep after Nick patted him to bed. He slept until 4.30am when I joined him in the bed (much nicer than sleeping on the floor beside the bed) as I was afraid he might climb out on his own. Tonight was even cruisier with a very tired Oliver Boliver falling asleep in his bed while I read him his bedtime story. Just the absolute loveliest.

Panda seems to have made the transition fairly well too. Here they are showing how much they loved the new bed last night.

The rest of the weekend saw us having the Brisbane based Aunties and Uncles over to celebrate Hayley, Simon & Fiona's birthdays (talk about economy). I whipped up another ridiculously tall cake concoction (if it doesn't need skewers to hold it up then what is the point?) which Ollie loved as it gave him the chance to lick the mixing beaters for the first time. He loved the taste of the cream. Actually I should be relieved that he was willing to eat anything at all given how fussy he has been with his eating lately. It is like world war 3 every time we have a meal, but that is another story all together.

Here are the house guests after we ate way too much food. Obear is having a nap as he was exhausted after Aunty Em chased him repeatedly around the loungeroom. Too much fun.

And another wonderful part of the week? We went to the library with a few of our baby friends including Sam and Audrey and Henry who we just happened to run into. Ollie was most impressed to see his girlfriend Ruby who he hadn't seen since before the move. The two of them just stood there and had a little cuddlefest for about 10 minutes. In true mother form I managed to capture it on film. It was pretty special, with lots of sweet soft little kisses as well.