32/365 Bedtime....HELP!!!!!!!

Rob and I are so close to putting Brendan's crib back in his room and letting him sleep there! Not really, but it is very tempting!!! This whole big boy bed thing is horrible!!!!! Actually, the first few weeks were good but these last couple of weeks have been far from good...or even okay. He used to go to bed around 9pm and wake up anywhere from 9-10 am then have a 2 hr. nap. Now, he gets up around 8 takes 2 hr. nap, we put him in bed around 9 and he doesn't go to sleep until around 12am or later!!!!!!!! Usually, he is singing or talking and then gets out of bed over and over and over again. At first I would nicely put him back in bed, but now Momma is tired and much more firm after the first time...super nanny approach lol. Well, tonight he got out of bed 2x and then stayed in his bed and we thought he was asleep but fat chance! He started screaming!!!!! Not fussing or whining, he was screaming so hard he almost made himself sick. His sheets were wet from his crocodile tears. I checked on him numerous times and even laid with him to calm him down but when I left he freaked out!!! Finally, after 2.5 hours he fell asleep. This is soooo tiring!!! I guess im finally getting my share of bad sleeping habits. Even as a nursing baby, Brendan would sleep 5 hours in a row,which is amazing. When we transitioned him from the bassinette to his crib, he did great; no problems at all. He has always been a great sleeper, except when he was teething or sick. Transitioning from crib to big boy bed...AWFUL!!!!!! Like I said, when he first started in his bed he did fine so when he started this madness I just assumed it was due to him not needing naps anymore. We cut out naps for a few days to see if he would go to sleep earlier but that didnt help. He was still awake until midnight! Thankfully, he hasnt outgrown naps, atleast yet. He is going to sleep so late at night, the only time rob and i have together (if he is home) is during brendans nap. I know this is just a phase and "this too shall pass." Im ready for my good little sleeper to return!