BIG GIRL STUFF!

Since our baby girl is officially no longer a BABY, we've been enjoying a few 'BIG GIRL' changes around here!

No, Brooke has not joined the Burnham Fire Company as a junior fire fighter, but we DID take her to her 3rd Penny Bizarre on Friday night! Brooke has been to this small festival in my belly, last year right before she turned 1, and now again this summer. We enjoyed yummy food, placed our tickets in lots of (unlucky) prize jars, and visited with lots of Zig's family!

Brooke decided that, even though she was terrified of the screaming fire truck sirens all evening, she wanted to take a ride on "Daddy's truck."

She proudly pronounced that she wanted to 'try it,' so Daddy and Chief Matt took her on her very own private ride around Burnham - lights, sirens, and all!

On BIG GIRLS get to do something so special!

I snapped this picture of Zig's fire gear. If you look closely, you can see our last name on his tag, but even cooler...his helmet says "Zig." We're proud of you Daddy!

And on Saturday...

After more than a week of ALL SCREAMING, ZERO NAPPING, and EARLY RISING...

We decided it was time for another BIG GIRL CHANGE!

Bed rail for conversion crib. Check.

Door knob safety device. Check.

Brand new Dora pillow. Check.

My almost-2-year-old no longer in the crib. CHECK!!

Since Brooke hasn't been sleeping well, I've really been trying to find ways to make sleeping a positive thing for her. I don't want her to associate sleeping with screaming...and frankly, they've been one in the same lately.

During scream-fest 2010, one of Brooke's favorite things to do is throw every bink (normally only 2 or 3) out of the crib, then scream when she awakes to NONE.

So, we're trying the BINK MADNESS strategy...millions of special binks that ONLY come out at nap/bed time! This way, she always has binks, and it seems extra special to her to have this colorful array found only in her big girl bed!


...and how cute is Dora!!??

I'm not sure at what age kids are supposed to start using pillows, but she loves this one and seems to figuring out how to use a pillow at night time...

Night #1 was a success!

Aunt Meg talked me through my stress and fears of what COULD happen on this first night...

She COULD get up and wander around.

She COULD fall out.

She COULD still scream for hours.

But, she didn't!!

After a long talk about bed and how special this new change was, she layed her little head down with Dora and fell asleep. All night. Not a peep. No wandering. No falling. No screaming!

And this is how we found her Sunday morning!

We celebrated her full night's sleep in the big girl bed with dancing, singing and clapping as a family of 3!

Can you picture that! HA!

A serious case of bed-head, but a well-rested Brooke!

To celebrate this huge accomplishment, we took Brookie on an adventure perfectly suited for a BIG GIRL!

We spent our day in Hershey yesterday, visiting Chocolate World, Zoo America and the outlets!

I'd say this BIG GIRL was sufficiently WORN OUT!

Her nap was spent in the car, but she spent night #2 in the BIG GIRL BED last night without any problems at all!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

This morning, Brooke packed up a few binks and a cup of milk to take along with Mommy to school! How cute is she!!?

We spent the morning in my classroom finishing up a few last details before 6th grade orientation on Wednesday night...

And this afternoon - Brooke took her first nap in the big girl bed and slept from 1:20-3!

She's happy and rested and said that her nap was "good."

I'd say it's safe to claim victory! At least for today!

Happy week, everyone!