We have been talking and toying with the idea of getting T a new bed for quite a while, but could never quite decide what we wanted. The other evening we were talking about a loft bed again and moving up to a twin size. We looked on IKEA, though Dave’s really not a fan of their furniture, and found the kids’ loft bed that creates a play area under it: pretty much exactly what I really wanted for Teddy. Then we looked on Craigslist and found someone selling it with the mattress – Sweet! Great condition, really nice family, awesome price/deal, and there you go = T got a new bed!
But T’s room is only so big and his train table (a must stay) is a rather large piece of furniture to work around…I moved that bed at least 3 times (which means I moved ALL of his furniture 3 times). I’m pretty sure I like the set up for the moment, though Dave and I want to try and put a book case under the bed so we can make the most of the space created under the loft. Plus, I have this cute little image of T reading in his little hideaway one day. 🙂 The “stairs” work for now, though we were both concerned about night-time movement. The bed has been put together for a week, all but one night of which he’s slept up top (the first night we had the mattress on the floor) and he’s gotten up every night to use the restroom and done just fine climbing out….knock on wood that continues!
I added lights underneath for T to use as his “night light” and it really does add a cool factor to his room. Plus, he got to help me put them up and any time he gets to use tools and help he’s super happy! Here’s how his room is set up for now:
<– This picture is looking from the door way straight – we had to move the plane mobile for obvious reasons, along with his map. The book case in the corner is the one I really want to be able to remove from the room. Then since we didn’t put the ladder rungs up thinking that we would be keeping the mattress on the floor for a while, the only place I could put this (—>) thing (bookcase/staircase/storage) was in this location, using it as stairs. It’s working out pretty nicely for the time being. Though Dave is considering some alterations to make it so we can put it under the loft as well for toy storage. Now we have a place to put stuffed animals that don’t have the honor of being on the bed (T has an “entourage” of animals that have to be on the bed with him.) What you can’t see is the hamper full of stuffed animals hanging out in his closet…oh wait, I believe I have a picture of that too! 
Here shows where I was left to put Teddy’s dresser. I took this the day before I came up with the idea to put the lights underneath the bed. Clearly I was going to have an issue with the lamp cord. For now, his room does seem to be a little crowded, but he’s very happy with the new bed and play area. 🙂
I was surprised that I wasn’t that sad to see his crib/toddler bed taken down…until I saw him laying in the twin sized bed. He looked so big for the toddler bed, and now he just looks like such a little boy. It is hard to believe that he is already three years old, becoming more and more independent. Seeing pieces of his “baby” furniture removed makes this growth all that much more real and tangible.
Despite how ever big he gets, though, he will always be my baby boy. 🙂
Team Thiessen 