Our "Practice Child"

My sister posted about her kids hitting milestones the other day...something about loose teeth and poop in the toilet. I extend big congratulations her way! Kooy hit a milestone last night. The problem has been entirely Matt and I's fault. We fully own this one. Everyone is suffering and we really need to put a stop to it. We know we made a mistake, luckily, everyone knows the first one is for practice and all the rest are for real, right? We'll do better on the next one. ;o) For the last "really long time" our bed has been "the family bed." We were weak and tired and allowed it. It started out with Kooy crying in the middle of the night and we would go get him and let him lay down by us. Then he would stay all night until Matt got up for work (at 5 am) and he would carry him back to bed. Then, he started waking up when Matt tried to take him back and he would cry, so we would let him stay. It was that or I would have to be awake at 5 am, and anyone who knows me at all, knows that really wouldn't benefit anyone in our house. Again, we were weak and tired and one night it was time for bed and Kooy climbed right into our bed, pulled the covers up, and said "g'night!" We would carry him to bed after he fell asleep, but only if we weren't asleep yet either. Eventually, that just became the routine. Kooy came to bed with us, and then woke up with us in the morning. I know, I know. You don't have to tell me. I don't know how long we let that go on but it was longer than a month for sure. We would tell Kooyman that he's never going to get a brother or sister if he didn't sleep in his own bed! That didn't work. So we got all strong and consistent. We went and bought a new spongebob pillowcase, blanket, and lamp. We do a bedtime routine. He now at least falls asleep in his own bed...but then between midnight and 2 am he's right in bed with us. That's been the situation for a few months now. Well, last night Matt took him back to bed. He cried a little, Matt laid there until he fell asleep. And that was it! He stayed in his bed until 7:15am! To be honest I was very skeptical it was going to work so well. Now I am motivated. I know it won't be that easy every night but I know it will work. This could be the beginning of a wonderful new chapter in our life. WE WILL BE STRONG AND NOT RELENT. KOOY WILL SLEEP IN HIS BED FROM LAST NIGHT FORWARD. WE WILL ALL SLEEP A LOT BETTER. HOO-RA!
p.s. Next step is the binky. He is way too old. We are currently limiting it to naptime and bedtime. We started talking to him about The Binky Fairy and that she needs his binkies to give to all the new babies. I saw it on SuperNanny. Once we get the bed thing down the Binky Fairy will come. I don't want to traumatize him all at once. Just in baby steps. :)