The Streaking Jailbird

Oh, Everett-Bo-Beverett.  Such a little stinker.  At a bold 22 months, Everett decided it was time to scale the high prison walls of his crib.  We were sleeping one morning a week or so ago when some new 'noises' perked up my Mommy Senses and woke me.  After listening for a moment, I realized that the footsteps, fiddling with doorknob, and then opening and closing of a door were not the familiar sounds that I'm used to hearing from Anderson's room.  My heart sank at that moment. I whispered to Reese, "EVERETT GOT OUT OF HIS CRIB" while lying completely still.  I think I was momentarily hoping that if I was quiet and still enough that maybe 'it' wouldn't really be happening.

But, it did.  The next night we all went to bed as usual.  However, at 2 a.m., Everett appeared (quiet as a mouse) right beside our bed and announced in a bright and cheerful voice "Night Night!"  Reese and I about fell out of our bed.  We were so confused and saddened at the same time.  It was that next morning that Reese said out loud what we both knew: "There goes our nights of uninterrupted sleep."  That was a very short year 9 months of sleeping through the night that Everett gave us.  He was a terrible sleeper his whole first year.  :(

So, needless to say, the nights have not been very fun here lately.  Well, I guess they have been for Everett! Each time he comes out he has the same proud attitude and is as happy as can be, no matter what time it is. Luckily, there have been no tears involved or major resistance to us putting him back to bed.  But, he is slowly testing his freedoms more and more each night and I can see where this is all going.  So, we're trying to figure out what to do.  Crib tent?  Toddler bed?  Door lock?  Wait it out?  Of course we're afraid he'll fall and hurt himself either on the climb out or coming down the stairs.  That's the main concern.  The secondary problem is getting him back in the habit of putting himself back to sleep when he wakes during the night instead of hopping up to see what's going on "out there".

Just for some perspective.  Anderson actually has a difficult time climbing out of Everett's bed.  I really thought we had a LONG time before Everett would figure it out.  Apparently Anderson is just lacking in the climbing skills.

Don't ask what Anderson is doing...I have no idea????

So, if that's not enough for my Mr. Mess, he also has a new-found love of being naked.  Shortly after he's up, Everett has those jammies off and the diaper is long gone too.  It all began with an interest in the potty, etc.  It has now evolved into a multiple-times-per-day strip down.  Luckily there haven't been many accidents on the floor and the ones that have happened have been on the hardwood or tile.  Maybe this will be good for potty training?

Yep, that's Everett in his Birthday Suit carrying his purse briefcase filled with keys, wallet, a dog collar, a remote control- the essentials.

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