Sleep story

Over at one of my new favorite blogs, girlsgonechild dot net, Rebecca posted a sotry about co-sleeping with her adorable daughter. It brought back so many cherished memories of those kind of nights and mornings with Ava. She asked for the readers' sleep story to be entered into a giveaway. Not that I need the bouncer that she is giving away, but I love contests and I love my sleep story so I posted and I thought I would share with you what I wrote.


My sleep story is more of a no-sleep story.

Ava has been sleeping with me since the night she was born. She is now 2.

When her father left us in the hospital the day after she born the only thing that kept me going was Ava. I never wanted to let her go because she was literally my life. The nurses all yelled at me for letting her sleep in my arms. For some reason it was against hospital policy for babies and mothers to sleep together. WTF? I didn’t listen, she slept with me ever night for the week we were there.

Then when we got home I couldn’t even think of not being close to her. It made nursing much easier and we both slept better cuddled up with each other. Sleeping completely alone at that point would have broken me. Her room was so far away, and what if I didn’t hear her? That was not a chance I was going to take.

I started dating Justin when Ava was 3 months old. We didn’t start having over-nighters for the first couple of months but when we were ready for that I really wanted to have the privacy that we needed to take our relationship to the next level…plainly said we really wanted to jump in the sac. So I started training Ava…but somehow she always knows. The minute I walk past my bedroom door towards her she awakes. What? I thought you were sound asleep but you were secretly counting the number of steps I took so you would know which room we were entering? Kids are too damn smart for their parents’ own good, even at that age. But somehow I managed to get her into her own bed for a couple of hours each night, just long enough for me and Justin to spend some time together…alone. But Ava always wound up right smack dab in the middle of us. Neither of us seemed to care though. I loved sharing a bed with the two loves of my life, and Justin was totally embracing being a family.

Ava did sleep in her own bed for a little while after her 1st birthday. It took a lot of work but we got her there. Now she is back in bed with me and I am lacking in the sleep department more than ever. Cuddling doesn’t happen anymore. Ava loves to sleep with my pillow, loves to sleep on my side of the bed, doesn’t want to be touched or bothered, and rolls around like crazy. It isn’t anything for me to get kicked in the face (several times) in the night because she is tossing and turning, I still love feeling close to her but I’m not partial to black eyes. So we’re back at square one and trying to find a way to get her back into her own bed,…for good this time.

By the way…your post is beautiful and captures so well the exact way I felt when Ava was sleeping with me at that age. Waking up to that sweet smell and baby kisses is one of the best feelings ever. Thank you for taking me back to that place.



Anyone wanna share their story? In the mean time how about this adorable sleep picture?

It's true what they say

Practice really does make perfect.

Okay, well not really perfect. At least not for me. I've been working on a camera strap slipcover. The first one I mad was too small, the second too big, and the third too small. I put a new stitch in the one that's too big to make it fit but wanted to try again to satisfy myself. I don't like failing at crafty things.

So I made a fourth one tonight, and it only tookm about fifteen minutes so I guess I'm learning. And it turned out and I am so excited. I will be making lots more in all sorts of different patterns.

Next project....adding on a lens pocket and a memory card pocket.

The littlest mommy

When I was young I loved playing “house.” It’s so funny the way kids play things acting like they are adults. It happens so often and in so many different manners. I played with barbies, baby dolls, and little people. All of them had little families and every day lives that as a child I thought were typical of grown ups. While riding bicycles we would have different parts of town that we would drive to and from. McDonalds, the school, the pool…and every once in awhile we’d even get pulled over by the police. The more I think back on it, and they are actually very vivid memories, the more I realize that all of the things I played were based on an adult life that I was aware of. I don’t remember what age I started playing these games but my memories go as far back as I can remember.

Ava just turned two and is already playing these games. A few days ago the babysitter told me about the kids playing. Her 3 year old daughter and a little boy around the same age were pretending to be Ava’s mommy and daddy. They took her to McDonald’s and got her French fries and nuggets. Ava played right along. At home she plays with her baby dolls and stuffed animals. Yesterday she was rocking her stuffed Ming Ming patting her on the back and saying “shhh.” Then she laid one of her babies in the bed and got the bottle and said “here baby, gulky.” It is the sweetest and cutest thing ever.

She is only two, yet she understands some of the basic aspects of life. Babies have mommies and daddies, like to be rocked to sleep, and love their gulky. She pushes around her stroller with purse in hand, sunglasses covering her eyes, shouting “bye mommy” and it melts my heart. I wish I could hold onto these days forever.

Who else has little ones pretending to be grown ups?

a trio

I have a ton of really great friends that I rely on for support, laughter, fun times, adventures, and great conversation. I really don’t know where I would be without my friends. I know a lot of people say that and that their friends are the best around, but I truly feel like that. They have picked me up when I’ve fallen, laughed at my bad jokes, fallen in love with my daughter, and been my family when I felt like I had no where else to turn. To say I love them is an understatement.

One of my nearest and dearest friends lives in California. She has been on and off living there for about 3 years and finally settled in permanently sometime last year. Before that she spent mostly summers there and there wasn’t any way I could visit. She comes home but it is becoming less and less often as the time passes. Life without her is very strange. I miss being able to pick her up and drive around til the wee hours of the morning. The 3some that she and I and another dear friend makeup are missing its artsy fartsy, weird food-eating hippie, and I say that in the greatest ways.

So what are we going to do about it?

FLY TO SAN FRANCISCO!!! That’s right! Me and my girl are going to fly cross county with my 2 year old to see our other girl. The excitement that I have is indescribable. All I can think about is our tearful reunion, because it always is, trolley cars, bays, sidewalks full of strangers that I want to know, Victorian houses, claw foot tubs, and gab sessions with my two besties. It’s going to be an amazing vacation and I am just counting down the days and trying to raise the numbers in my bank account.

When we finally get to San Fran and see the other third of our trio it will have been 8 months since I last saw her pretty face, in person. That is INSANE! Honestly, having to go that long without seeing one of your best friends is heartbreaking.

But I won’t dwell on that.

I need some help though. Ava has never flown. I am desperate for tips and advice for flying with a 2 year old. What are the essentials and the best recommended products to have on board with me?

My daughter's obsession

Ava is mildly obsessed with milk. Okay so that should really say, Ava is wildly obsessed with milk. Her entire life revolves around it. And you know how kids have their own way of saying things? Well Ava’s word for milk is “gulk.” I have no idea where she came up with this but every other word is gulk or gulky. I’ve tried teaching her to say it the correct way by putting emphasis on the m because she can say any other word that starts with m. It goes something like this,

Me: Ava say mmmmmmmmmiilk
Ava: gggguuuuuuuuuuuulk

It’s so adorable and I really love how she says it in her little two year old voice. But Justin is convinced that if we don’t start teaching her to say it the correct way then she’ll go to kindergarten asking for her gulky. I’m not convinced however.

Since she is obsessed though, gulky is always on her mind and she is always asking for it. Even if she doesn’t want it for drinking, she has a need for it to be in her hand. “Where my gulk?” she says…..ALL. THE. TIME.

I’d love to hear some stories of something your kiddo says wrong in such an endearing way that you don’t really mind. Come on, I need a good laugh today.