Time for a Toddler Bed?

We're confused. We don't know what to do. She, and I mean Bea, will not sleep in her crib any longer than a few hours a night. One of two things happen when we go to put her down at night:

1) She will scream "no" and kick her legs until you chill with her on the couch until she falls asleep. Then, move her to the crib only to have her awaken in a few hours.
2) She will happily play in there and sing until she falls asleep, only to awaken in a few hours.

I prefer having number 2 happen, just not the awakening part. Last night we thought we would try something new because we really want her to stay in her crib, but we don't want the screaming to wake up O's peaceful night of slumber. O fell asleep before her, so we put her in our bed. When Bea's turn came around, it went off without a hitch. She played, talked to her stuffies and sang to them, and then restled around until she fell asleep. We then moved O into her crib. At approximately 12:30 Bea was up, crying. Josh grabbed O out of the room and put her in our bed, then shut the girl's door. He let her cry for about 5 minutes, couldn't take it (and neither could I - screams in the middle of the night like that when you are half awake scorch your ears to death), so he got her out of the crib and moved her to the couch, with ba-ba. She fell asleep. Stayed out there all night. Then, as Josh was getting ready for work, she just got up, and it was very, very early. She usually stays asleep until I am at least done with my shower.

So, what is it??? Doesn't want to be in her crib? Wants to be out on the couch so she doesn't miss anything? It is not like we have to be there with her on the couch, so it can't be that she wants to be with us. Move her to the couch and she is out like a light.

We are discussing whether to convert her crib to the toddler bed now so that she won't feel like such a caged bird. I feel that she is too young, but she really isn't. I have heard of some toddlers sleeping in their cribs until they are 2 or 3 without any issues, so why can't my baby Bea do it? Maybe she is just growing up fast and knows that it is keeping her confined. I have to wonder if she would be okay with a toddler bed, as long as she knows she can get out of it...like she does on the couch. I guess maybe I just wish I knew what she wanted and why she get's upset in the crib.

Could it just be that "Ms. Tough Guy" is trying to say "Gimme big girl bed and gimme now!!!"?: