
The two bears at the California Living Museum (CALM). Our playgroup went there today, and it was fun. My kids were incredibly well behaved- so much so that I wondered what was wrong with them. I talked to Will (the wanderer) before we got out of the car and explained very calmly that if he did not stay with our group, then we would go back to the car and leave. There were 300 first graders roaming around, and the parking lot was pretty full when we got there. My talk must've worked, or more likely, he just didn't have the spunk in him today. Ed was given the choice by another mom (thanks Mitzi) of either riding in her stroller or holding my hand, and after he realized what was going on, he opted to hold my hand. He didn't even fight me much. We saw bears (above) and all other local animals- racoons, hawks, crows, ducks, turtles, a road runner, coyotes, lizards, snakes, and foxes. Aside from the bears, we have all those animals on/near our property, but it was still neat to see them. The park itself was really nice. Great trees, and everything was clean. I was impressed, and will take the kids again.

I don't do "co-sleeping". I have never slept with my babies in my bed because I am mental about it. #1- Deep seated fear of rolling over on them, even though I hardly move at night. #2- Their little noises wake me up unnecessarily. #3- I believe having your kids in your bed trains them to be dependent on you helping them to sleep, and because I am lazy, I want my kids to sleep on their own, by themselves, with as little help from me as possible. That's also why after a month or so of life , I try to put the babies in their beds while they are still awake so they don't rely on nursing/bottles to fall asleep. Again, laziness on my part. But I digress. This is Jessie in her bed. It is a shelf next to my bed. Yes, that is technology by her head- our internet modem thingie. Kacy and Will slept in a laundry basket by my bed for about two weeks until they were moved into their own beds (we had a house), and Ed and Jessie get the shelf (in the trailer). This shelf works perfectly because I don't have to go far to get her when she wakes up at night. There is a light right above it, if I need to change her diaper. She is almost too long for it. I
think my sleeping theories work pretty well (that, or I just got extremely lucky to have four kids who sleep- very possible). I keep the room dark at night and I don't talk to her. I save the stimulation for day time when she can be awake. I keep a routine at bedtime- bath, lotion, pj's, bed. She is almost two months old an consistently sleeps 8 hours at night. They don't match my 8 hours, but I don't care. All my kids have done this, with the exception of Will, who was three months old before he had an 8 hour stretch. He was also the one who had days and nights mixed up for a solid week or more- nearly killed me.
i hope that shelf isnt 5 feet off the ground
ReplyDeleteLucky Duck... K didn't sleep through the night until she was
ReplyDelete3 1/2! Way to go!
She looks very comfy on her shelf. Benjamin had his days/night mixed up for at least 2 weeks, I thought I was going to die, I was so tired. Your kids are great sleepers. Mine don't sleep through the night between 12-15 months.
ReplyDeleteI did the same thing with the first 3 kids, then Trev came along and we SPOILED him rotten, and I do mean ROTTEN!! I think it's a great thing to put them to bed awake so they learn to sooth themselves, your a good mommy Karrie!
ReplyDeleteI love it! My favorite line: "Yes, that is technology by her head..."
ReplyDeleteI'm totally with you on the sleeping thing. Our kids never spent a night in our bed, nor will they ever. I attribute their great sleeping habits to us putting them in their beds alone at an early age and letting them "cry it out."
We're mean mean parents.
I am totally with you on the sleeping thing ... I swear my kids come home from the hospital sleeping through the night. How do you know she is not going to roll of that shelf though?
ReplyDeleteI would love for my kids to sleep 8 hours that early. JR still isnt sleeping that long but is getting better. He's 9 months now. I think he just needs his own room. He'll have to wait until the move then maybe I can get some sleep as well.
ReplyDeleteI havent been to CALM for a LONG LONG time. Looks good.
The shelf is about six inches from the edge of my bed, and I stuff a king size pillow in the gap in case she decides to be a miracle baby and roll over early. And the height of the shelf is level with my mattress. Totally safe for a newborn, slightly hazardous with a three month old, and completely unsafe for a roll-over baby. She's moving to her crib really soon... maybe this weekend. Then I can put all my junk back on the shelf. Yahoo!
ReplyDeleteI learned this the hard way...they really do sleep better not-in-your-bed. We've done a bassinet, a drawer (not good when OCD kicks in and you want to shut it all the time) but dang if that shelf isn't pure genius.
ReplyDeleteI was looking at the picture again and she is so dang cute, and she looks very peacful.
ReplyDeleteWe let James sleep in our bed for little bit when he was first born... mostly because I had a c-section and getting him out of bed was nearly impossible... it was a GIANT mistake. We eventually let him cry it out and my life became so much easier! We had learned our lesson by the time Andrew was born.
ReplyDeleteAmen sister!!! I can't tell you how fantasticly my children sleep when they don't hear or smell me:) I'm all about putting them in their own bed (or closet space depending on where we are) and letting them sleep. I just think it's funny that yours get shelves. Now I don't feel so bad about the closet!
ReplyDeleteShe is precious! Enjoy that age, they grow up so fast. Robert is aready getting baptized tomorrow. Can you believe it?!! Where did the last eight years go?
ReplyDelete