crib vs. toddler bed

Ethan has always been a climber! It wasn't surprising that he figured out how to get out of the crib last week at just 20 months old! But that doesn't mean I was ready! The thought of moving him to a toddler bed at this age was almost too much for me. And yet, the bed was stored on its side in my closet along with all my clothes, suitcases, AND Ethan's crib! So, for his safety and for the sake of a little space, we moved him into the bed.
After 3 days without naps and 3 nights of Kelly or I sitting by his bed from 2-6am, we gave up and went back to the crib. It didn't help. Ethan still did not nap! He was SO crabby and WE were so crabby! Kelly and I read some information online about moving children to toddler beds and less than 6 hours after putting it back, I was taking the crib out again! This time, I took it all the way down and out to the garage! We bought a safety knob for the door, one of those free spinning ones and (this is the parent killer) we put him to bed that night and let him cry it out!
I had to remove myself from the room, so I went to Soren's room and read stories to him and Emily. By the time I got back to check on Ethan, about 20 minutes later, he was sound asleep! On the floor behind the door! Kelly moved him to his bed and he fussed for 5 minutes before falling back asleep. He was up again in the night, but he couldn't get out of the closet so he fussed for less than 10 minutes before falling back asleep.
The next day (yesterday), he took his nap on the floor behind the door but- he took a nap!! And last night he only cried for 5 minutes before falling asleep in his bed! He wasn't up again until 6:30 this morning! And now he is napping in his bed and he went with NO crying!
I know we are still adjusting to being in this new bed (especially me who has had someone in a crib for all of the last 9 years!), but I feel like my wonderful baby boy who has always been such a good sleeper (I deserve him after four TERRIBLE ones!!), is back to sleeping like a baby, the beautiful, cherished baby that he is!

{It was actually quite amusing to watch Ethan climb out of the crib! EVERY time- he walked to the corner of the crib that is next to the door, grabbed on to the corner of the headboard with his cute chubby baby arms, swung one leg, then the other leg over the side and DROPPED!
At least it was cute when I was watching him, it was such a bad thing at bedtime!}