Big Boy Bed

I should probably create a "Sebastian" filter, to spare anyone who isn't interested in baby stories. But that would probably remove two out of the three people who read this, which seems pointless.

Sebastian has been getting awfully big; he's 39 inches tall and about 39 pounds. And his crib hasn't been getting any larger. He's been bumping into the top and sides at night, and crying. And I think Teri put him up to it a bit, but he's been asking for a big bed for a while now.

So on Sunday we headed to our favorite furniture store: Building 19. It's our favorite because it's so goddamned cheap, of course. Unfortunately they no longer carry foam mattresses in sizes smaller than queen. Teri wanted to get a full-size bed (also known as a "double" size bed, approximately 54" wide x 75" long), because Sebastian's crib can be disassembled and turned into a headboard and footboard for that size. I was worried that we wouldn't be able to get the mattress up the stairs. As for a box spring, forget about it - we knew we'd have to use boards to convert the metal frame into a platform. But that was okay.

The clerk showed us a good full-size mattress that was pretty bendable. Or rather, he showed Teri - Sebastian ran off before he could see the bed. In fact, he ran quite a long way away and ended up half-hidden in a far corner of the sofa display area. When I caught up to him, I realized why - he was pooping, and wanted some privacy. He was actually pretty upset about having to go in his pull-ups (and now you know why I considered a filter for this post ). It was our fault, though; he'd told us both that he needed to go.

I brought him back to the mattresses, he took a few test jumps on the one we'd selected it and pronounced it acceptable, and we took it home (tied to the top of our car, of course).

Setting up the frame was easy. Cutting the boards to the right size was no problem. Getting the mattress up the stairs without destroying it was tough. Really tough. But during a break I thought things through, and figured out a way to get the mattress up the stairs without too much damage. Basically it's a matter of coming in a precisely the right angle, and then bending everything as far as it will go.

We set up the bed (with a headboard only for now, because the frame we'd bought wouldn't accomodate a footboard), and last night Sebastian had his first night in his own big boy bed. He did get up a few times to visit us in our room, but only at first; once he was properly asleep he stayed that way.

I only wish I had! Unfortunately Sam, our old cat, is going completely insane. He used to howl to try to wake us up to feed him at 5:20am. But that time has been moving steadily forward. Unfortunately feeding him doesn't help, because even if you do he'll come back at us and howl within half an hour.

Last night he started howling at 1:20am! I got up and went downstairs. I didn't feed him, but I dozed on the couch for an hour or two, which kept him quiet. Sometimes I suspect that half of the reason he howls is for company, not food.

Eventually I went back upstairs to bed. At about 3:20am he started howling again. This time Teri went downstairs, and she shut him up in the mud room.

At 6:30am, I was woken again by Sebastian. He wanted me to come into his bed and pretend to be moles. That's his latest game; he's Baby Mole, and I'm Daddy Mole (and of course Teri is Mommy Mole). We climb into our Mole Hole under the blankets and sleep, or listen to people walking on the ground over our hole, or talk, or dig, or eat dirt. It's fun.

Anyway, here's his new big boy bed.

Big Boy Bed

I should probably create a "Sebastian" filter, to spare anyone who isn't interested in baby stories. But that would probably remove two out of the three people who read this, which seems pointless.

Sebastian has been getting awfully big; he's 39 inches tall and about 39 pounds. And his crib hasn't been getting any larger. He's been bumping into the top and sides at night, and crying. And I think Teri put him up to it a bit, but he's been asking for a big bed for a while now.

So on Sunday we headed to our favorite furniture store: Building 19. It's our favorite because it's so goddamned cheap, of course. Unfortunately they no longer carry foam mattresses in sizes smaller than queen. Teri wanted to get a full-size bed (also known as a "double" size bed, approximately 54" wide x 75" long), because Sebastian's crib can be disassembled and turned into a headboard and footboard for that size. I was worried that we wouldn't be able to get the mattress up the stairs. As for a box spring, forget about it - we knew we'd have to use boards to convert the metal frame into a platform. But that was okay.

The clerk showed us a good full-size mattress that was pretty bendable. Or rather, he showed Teri - Sebastian ran off before he could see the bed. In fact, he ran quite a long way away and ended up half-hidden in a far corner of the sofa display area. When I caught up to him, I realized why - he was pooping, and wanted some privacy. He was actually pretty upset about having to go in his pull-ups (and now you know why I considered a filter for this post ). It was our fault, though; he'd told us both that he needed to go.

I brought him back to the mattresses, he took a few test jumps on the one we'd selected it and pronounced it acceptable, and we took it home (tied to the top of our car, of course).

Setting up the frame was easy. Cutting the boards to the right size was no problem. Getting the mattress up the stairs without destroying it was tough. Really tough. But during a break I thought things through, and figured out a way to get the mattress up the stairs without too much damage. Basically it's a matter of coming in a precisely the right angle, and then bending everything as far as it will go.

We set up the bed (with a headboard only for now, because the frame we'd bought wouldn't accomodate a footboard), and last night Sebastian had his first night in his own big boy bed. He did get up a few times to visit us in our room, but only at first; once he was properly asleep he stayed that way.

I only wish I had! Unfortunately Sam, our old cat, is going completely insane. He used to howl to try to wake us up to feed him at 5:20am. But that time has been moving steadily forward. Unfortunately feeding him doesn't help, because even if you do he'll come back at us and howl within half an hour.

Last night he started howling at 1:20am! I got up and went downstairs. I didn't feed him, but I dozed on the couch for an hour or two, which kept him quiet. Sometimes I suspect that half of the reason he howls is for company, not food.

Eventually I went back upstairs to bed. At about 3:20am he started howling again. This time Teri went downstairs, and she shut him up in the mud room.

At 6:30am, I was woken again by Sebastian. He wanted me to come into his bed and pretend to be moles. That's his latest game; he's Baby Mole, and I'm Daddy Mole (and of course Teri is Mommy Mole). We climb into our Mole Hole under the blankets and sleep, or listen to people walking on the ground over our hole, or talk, or dig, or eat dirt. It's fun.

Anyway, here's his new big boy bed.

Captain Hook

Another Sebastian post.

Sebastian just peed in his pull-up. making a huge mess. Teri was naturally upset, so Sebastian came running upstairs to see me. It's the classic toddler "play Mommy and Daddy against each other" ploy.

Teri called for him to come down, because he needed to take a shower. He grabbed my patriot's (to him, "pirate") hat, and put it on. As he came to the top of the stairs he said something about Captain Hook, but I didn't quite catch it.

"Are you Captain Hook?" I asked.

"No, you are."

"Then who are you - Mr. Smee?" (The first mate character from Disney's Peter Pan).

"No, I'm Mr. Pee!"

Captain Hook

Another Sebastian post.

Sebastian just peed in his pull-up. making a huge mess. Teri was naturally upset, so Sebastian came running upstairs to see me. It's the classic toddler "play Mommy and Daddy against each other" ploy.

Teri called for him to come down, because he needed to take a shower. He grabbed my patriot's (to him, "pirate") hat, and put it on. As he came to the top of the stairs he said something about Captain Hook, but I didn't quite catch it.

"Are you Captain Hook?" I asked.

"No, you are."

"Then who are you - Mr. Smee?" (The first mate character from Disney's Peter Pan).

"No, I'm Mr. Pee!"

Bridge of Echoes

On Saturday we went to the Bridge of Echoes in Needham, MA with my parents, my brother and his wife, and their kids. The videocamera died for some reason (I don't yet know if it's permanently dead), but I got some decent shots with the still camera.

On the way to the bridge we took a small detour to see this waterfall. Apparently that's some sort of restaurant in the shot; pity the water looks so dirty, as otherwise it looks like a lovely place.

It took a bit of climbing to get to the top of the aquaduct (the bridge is actually an aquaduct), but it was worth it. The part over the river must have been close to 100 feet high. Teri's agoraphobia kicked in; it didn't help that the walkway isn't flat, but rather has a peak shape that makes you feel as if you're being pushed to one side or the other. The view was incredible. Incidentally, those are the tops of very tall trees alongside the aquaduct. On the way back a couple of canada geese flew by, honking; they were high above the river, but actually just below the height of my head as they skimmed over the top of the aquaduct.

The iron railings on the sides were also quite interesting, because they were simply packed with yellowjackets. The railings are hollow and in some cases rusted out, and the bees were swarming everywhere. I tried to get some close-up shots of the bees, but maybe I was too nervous - when I downloaded the photos, the bees were just out of shot.

Creepy - you could hear the buzzing as you walked down the aquaduct.

Here's a shot from the middle of the aquaduct. That restaurant next to the falls is in the lower part, of course. Needham has some spectacular radio towers.

Another shot from the top of the aquaduct. These are the start of the steps down to the street. It's a long way down, particularly if you're carrying a 39-pound boy who's too tired to walk.

Top to bottom. It may not look that high in this shot, but that's because this is the shortest part; the river is actually well below the street level. That's my father down below, although that's not his truck.

Cross over the street and you soon reach the head of another staircase that leads down to the inner base the bridge, and the echo platform. I don't know what she sees in it, but since Teri likes this shot I'm including it here.

The staircase down to the echo platform. My father and brother are at the bottom, and Sebastian's head can be seen as refreshed (but not entirely willingly) he climbs down on his own.

An experiment: a composite photo of the entire span from underneath. I stood in one spot and started out with my head bent way back to get the side of the arch behind my back, then tried to space shots out evenly. Not perfect, but kind of fun to create, I guess.

The echoes were pretty cool; Sebastian enjoyed them, as did we all. If you'd like to know more about the bridge, here's an article about it. And here's a page with much better photos than mine.

Bridge of Echoes

On Saturday we went to the Bridge of Echoes in Needham, MA with my parents, my brother and his wife, and their kids. The videocamera died for some reason (I don't yet know if it's permanently dead), but I got some decent shots with the still camera.

On the way to the bridge we took a small detour to see this waterfall. Apparently that's some sort of restaurant in the shot; pity the water looks so dirty, as otherwise it looks like a lovely place.

It took a bit of climbing to get to the top of the aquaduct (the bridge is actually an aquaduct), but it was worth it. The part over the river must have been close to 100 feet high. Teri's agoraphobia kicked in; it didn't help that the walkway isn't flat, but rather has a peak shape that makes you feel as if you're being pushed to one side or the other. The view was incredible. Incidentally, those are the tops of very tall trees alongside the aquaduct. On the way back a couple of canada geese flew by, honking; they were high above the river, but actually just below the height of my head as they skimmed over the top of the aquaduct.

The iron railings on the sides were also quite interesting, because they were simply packed with yellowjackets. The railings are hollow and in some cases rusted out, and the bees were swarming everywhere. I tried to get some close-up shots of the bees, but maybe I was too nervous - when I downloaded the photos, the bees were just out of shot.

Creepy - you could hear the buzzing as you walked down the aquaduct.

Here's a shot from the middle of the aquaduct. That restaurant next to the falls is in the lower part, of course. Needham has some spectacular radio towers.

Another shot from the top of the aquaduct. These are the start of the steps down to the street. It's a long way down, particularly if you're carrying a 39-pound boy who's too tired to walk.

Top to bottom. It may not look that high in this shot, but that's because this is the shortest part; the river is actually well below the street level. That's my father down below, although that's not his truck.

Cross over the street and you soon reach the head of another staircase that leads down to the inner base the bridge, and the echo platform. I don't know what she sees in it, but since Teri likes this shot I'm including it here.

The staircase down to the echo platform. My father and brother are at the bottom, and Sebastian's head can be seen as refreshed (but not entirely willingly) he climbs down on his own.

An experiment: a composite photo of the entire span from underneath. I stood in one spot and started out with my head bent way back to get the side of the arch behind my back, then tried to space shots out evenly. Not perfect, but kind of fun to create, I guess.

The echoes were pretty cool; Sebastian enjoyed them, as did we all. If you'd like to know more about the bridge, here's an article about it. And here's a page with much better photos than mine.