So last night was Liam’s first night in Harry’s room.  Or, what will now be known as “The Boys’ Room”.  (GAH!)  We got home from running our usual plethora of errands yesterday and Kile went immediately to work, setting up the borrowed crib in Harry’s the boys’ room.  I watched, because I’m helpful that way.  I went to great pains to set up this crib (which luckily is exactly the same crib as the one he’s been sleeping in) with his same bedding and stuffed animals and the like.  I even put a crib soother in there to entertain him/act as a bribe.  I moved his monitor and set up a night light.  Then?  It was out of my hands.

I did take that opportunity to put the dust ruffle on the crib in Evie’s room (formerly known as “Liam’s Room”).  It is now without a mattress in there so I couldn’t set up the rest of the crib, sadly enough.  I’m hoping to get the window valance up this week sometime, as well as her name letters which are painted and ready.  I still want to paint the walls, put up the wallpaper border we have.  But one thing at a time.   I have a hard time believing that’s not Liam’s room anymore.  It feels so empty.  And at the same time, I’m delighted because I can now work in there when Liam is sleeping.

At 7:30 last night, we had our moment of truth.  I went upstairs with Kile and Liam and made goofy faces at Liam while Kile brushed his teeth.  I listened avidly and pointed to the pictures as Kile read him “Runaway Bunny”.  Liam could hardly focus on the story, he was so busy craning his neck and checking out this crazy looking new room he was in.  Harry’s The boys’ room is quite a change.   His old room was pale yellow and very soothing.  This room has blue walls and a darker blue ceiling, with glow in the dark stars stuck up there.  There’s a brightly painted rocket ship on one wall and lots of Buzz Lightyear themed stickers up on the walls.  There’s the Star Wars and Monster Jam posters too.  Not to mention Harry’s loft-style bed and computer set up on his desk.  (I won’t even go into the smell, but rest assured I’m working on a good solution for that.)

We set Liam down in the crib and showed him Piglet (his favorite) and his bottle of water (the only bottle he gets anymore and he rarely drinks from it, but likes to know it’s there).  We showed him the crib soother, which he immediately started to play with.  Then we turned out the lights and said goodnight.  The crying started and I could hear the note of fear in his voice.  We reassured him that it was okay as we backed out off the room.  His cries followed us down the stairs and greeted us via the monitor as we re-entered the living room.  We told each other that he had to just get used to it eventually.  Then I qualified that, saying that if he was still crying like that in a minute, I would go up and reassure him again.

Turns out? I didn’t need to do that.  He stopped crying and we could hear the sounds of the soother over the monitor.  A few snuffling noises and then… nothing.  Well, he was pretty tired.   He’d gotten a barely 30 minute catnap in the car that afternoon.  When Harry went up to bed about an hour later, Kile went up too to make sure Liam was well asleep and that Harry didn’t wake him.  No worries, Liam was out cold.

By the time we went to sleep, I was worrying a bit.  I wished I had peeked in on him too, just for my peace of mind.  But I didn’t want to go in there and wake him up and create a whole new set of problems.  Still…

Next thing I knew, it was 6:30 this morning.  The house was quiet.  Not a noise came from the monitor in our room.  I started to stress some more, alternating with telling myself that I was worried for nothing.  Still, how unlikely was it that he would sleep so well in there his first night?? So I laid there for about a half hour more.  Kile got up and took his shower and I thought for sure we’d hear some stirring when the shower came on as it is located on the same wall as Liam’s crib.  But… nothing.  Shortly after 7, we snuck into the boys’ room and found Liam, turned completely around in his crib, but sound asleep.  Even Harry and Pup were still snoozing soundly.  We left the room, grinning.  SERIOUSLY?  He slept that good??

Harry’s alarm clock went off at 7:30 and the first thing we heard on the monitor was some happy babbles from Liam as he undoubtedly saw his big brother up and about.  I wondered if he had known Harry was in there all night long.  Kile ran up to fetch him and returned downstairs with a happy faced baby in his arms.  My heart just about burst with pride and love.  He did it.  He made it through the first night.

There’s no guarantee right now that every night will be that easy, at least until he’s fully used to sleeping in there.  And I’m even less confident about naptime.  I expect there to be some adjustment time.  If there isn’t?  I may just pass out from shock.  At the very least, having him moved into the boys’ room at last is a huge weight off my shoulders.  Next to tackle: cleaning out the inside of the minivan!  The excitement never ends around here, I tell you.