Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Odd Couple: Roomies

Well, we did it.

We bit the bullet and bought bunk beds. Michaela Byrd's room is much, much larger than Natalie's and it just made sense to move the girls into the larger bedroom.

I think sharing a room will be good for them. I shared a room with my younger sister until I was in 7th grade, and it was great.

Except that I hated it.

My sister used to sing every. single. Disney song she knew very quietly every night until I grew so incensed that I would start yelling. And then I would get in trouble. She's also bossy, and had all sorts of rules about who had to turn the lights out, the ceiling fan, etc. She's an evil genius, that one.

Being new to the whole concept of roommates, my girls were so excited that they jumped and danced and sang all afternoon as they *helped* T put the bunkbeds together. By the time bedtime rolled around, I was just sure that they'd be so exhausted that they'd fall into a deep slumber right away.

Not so...
After a stern warning about staying in bed, not leaning over the rail (!), and being quiet (!), T and I went back downstairs while the girls faced their first night sharing a room and Michaela Byrd's first night in a big girl bed.

Several minutes after the lights went out, we heard loud singing, tiny quick footsteps overhead, and giggling. T snuck up to check on them, and found Michaela Byrd on the ladder with Natalie behind her. Natalie still claims that she was trying to keep her little sister off the ladder, but if you believe that I'll sell you a summer retreat in Antarctica.

I naively thought they'd sleep in after their late night, but they were up before 7, singing and playing hide and seek in their room. It was a nice way to wake up. For them.

Natalie was a true *pleasure* to deal with the rest of the day...a crankier 4 1/2 year old has never been found. She was so exhausted that she fell asleep on the floor in front of the TV that afternoon.

The bloom has come off of the rose, so to speak, and I've heard complaints this week that range from "Michaela talks to me when I'm trying to sleep" to "Lolly [Natalie] won't let me sing my song."

It could be a long 14 years until Natalie moves out.

Until then, I get to do some decorating, as the room is a complete and utter blank slate! I'll share more about their cute bedding another day.

For now, I'm going to figure out some way to sound proof their room....

*Come back tomorrow for a super-fabulous Blog Makeover Giveaway from Laura Jane Designs!

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29 comments:

  1. So funny! I never had to share a room and have a boy and a girl so I don't think they'll ever have to share a room unless we're forced to downsize:-) Can't wait to see how you decorate their new room!

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  2. I loved this post! I am so sorry that I haven't been commenting lately, its mid-terms for me and 16 credit hours WON'T be happening again! I miss not having a bit of time to create, blog and chat!

    And yes...the whole sharing of the room thing is something that our boys have always done. I love it, mostly. They still have their tiffs and spats and door open vs. door closed arguments, but all in all, with as busy as our lives are, I believe its good for them and (hopefully) keep them close. At least for a while! Can't wait to see what you do with their room. NOW, if I could just find the time to take and post pictures of my boys room...

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  3. I think it's sweet. Of course, I don't have siblings nor do I have 2 little ones sharing a bedroom. :)

    Such cuties!!!

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  4. My older 2 girls share a room and my younger 2 girls share a room-let me just say, it has it's interesting moments. All my girls love their bunks-I hate making them up! I'm doing the older girls' room over now and have one thing I hope will give them each some of their own space. Can't wait to see your decorating-I have no ideas for my younger girls' room. Have fun with the new bedtime sleeping arrangements!

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  5. Oh goodness sounds like you and your sister all over again. My siblings use to fight over who had to sleep with me if we were away from home and had to share a bed. I use to grind my teeth and was the worst bed hog (or so they say). I can’t image if we ever had to share a room. I think it must be a great bonding experience though!

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  6. Haha! I used to share a room w/ Nem & then later on w/ Natalie, part of the perils of being the middle child, I had to share a room with both sisters at some point or another. I hope Natalie's & Michaela's dwelling isn't as violent as mine was w/ my sisters...man, girls are vicious. Haha!

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  7. Oh this brings back memories! When I was 6 my mom caught me pushing furniture and moving all of my sister's stuff out of her room and into mine because I had decided that we should share a room and make my little sister's old room into our playroom-so she let us! It was fun except I had to share a double bed with her and she was only two so she would wet the bed sometimes. Gross. I did love my playroom though! :)

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  8. Too cute! I shared a room with my sister for a while. She and I were and still are total opposites, so it didn't go so well. Your daughter's like to play together so they have a good shot of enjoying having a roomie! Enjoy making over the extra room!!!

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  9. I enjoyed reading this! You write so well Amanda, I felt as if I was there with you. Gosh, this is going to be a tough adjustment for everyone!

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  10. My boys had their own rooms, then shared, then hand their own rooms again and begged for bunk beds earlier this year. They got them and are back to sharing a room again. After all the back and forth, they actually like sharing a room even when they fuss sometimes. I just make sure that if my 8 yr old needs some space that I let him go in our room and watch tv or read for a bit. The longer they are together the better they will be (fingers crossed and hoping for you!)

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  11. Oh I love it! What great pictures of your sweet little ladies too! I was the only girl in our family growing up so I missed out on that experience. It was a big challenge for me to share a dorm room with a roommate when I went away to college because of that.

    Eventually our boys will be sharing a room. They are looking forward to it. We'll see how it goes!

    Can't wait to see how you end up decorating for the two girls at two such different ages...always a challenge. But you are SO creative. Keep us posted!

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  12. That's so funny! They will have good memories of it though.
    I had a younger brother and shared a room with him until I was 11!

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  13. So fun! My boys have shared a room for a long time...actually other than the nursery when they were babies they never had their own rooms. The talking will get easier, though mine do still get in trouble for talking after the lights are out! I can't wait to see how cute you decorate their room!

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  14. This made me laugh! They'll get used to it after a while. I shared a room with my sister until I was 8 and we used to engage in A LOT of silly behavior! I wasn't brave enough to have my girls share a room but they may have to if we move next year!

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  15. How adorable are they! I also shared a room until I was 14 with my younger sister, named Natalie! Things weren't always golden, but I hope that your girls enjoy it! What are you going to do with the empty room? Perhaps a craft room or a Mom cave for you?! You deserve it, after all! I wanted to let you know that I thanked you in my most recent post. I really appreciate the advice I got from all of your readers from your progress parties. It has really helped me fix up my living room. You are one of my favorite bloggers and I really enjoy reading your daily posts! Happy hump day! :)

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  16. What cuties! Hope they love their new bedroom.

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  17. Hhehehe Love this post. Reminds me soo much of my sisters. They continue to not get enough sleep. But who does right?

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  18. I was just going to say how I think those comforters are so adorable! They look too cute sitting together on the bed in the first picture.

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  19. OH my goodness! Just way too funny. Your girls are so cute. And I can't wait to see their finished room!

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  20. Really, could your girls be any cuter??!! They made me smile. Silly girls! I can't wait to see what you do with their room. And *I* desperately need a blog makeover so I'll be by tomorrow. (Like I'm not here everyday anyway. haha!)

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  21. They are adorable! It reminds me of sharing a room with my younger sister when I was little! We hate/loved each other! It was all fun and games until I cried because she hit me with a cabbage patch doll!

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  22. I was the only girl...so I never had to share! Ha! Hopefully they will soon settle into a nice routine. Good luck!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  23. Two of my boys are also roomies, by choice. They like to be together and think it's lonely and scary without the other. In fact, until about a year ago my oldest slept in there with them!

    He slept on the floor between their beds until we bought a bunk bed...then he decided to move out and take the bunk bed to his room.

    It works out nice for me, because now I have a guest room!

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  24. So cute, found you via SITS! Great blog!

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  25. Good for you! It'll be worth it for them to share a room. . . as soon as they learn to peacefully co-exist at night. And that'll be soon. Very soon. Right?

    So, that begs the question. . . what are you going to do with the empty room??

    I've been away from my computer since Monday--nice to be back here!

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  26. What cute girls! Don't blink. Sadly, that 14-year period you speak of will pass all too quickly...

    So share with us the plans for your now empty room!

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  27. I'm so happy to have a minute to visit here. Sharing a room will be fun for your girls and I'll bet that it will make them closer. So, what's the other room going to be?? You haven't gone on a cruise, so it might not be what I could guess....

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  28. To cute! As the oldest of 3 girls myself, I didn't have to share a room, the other 2 did. They didn't have bunk beds but they had a daybed with a trundle underneath. It worked well (as long as they put the trundle away in the morning)

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  29. too funny. i would have loved to have had a sister to "bunk" with when i was little. fun memories. :)

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