#SilentSunday 83

Inspired by...

I'm Sleeping With Two Men

Well almost...

We are co-sleeping with Tiny Ched.

*sharp intake of breath from the anti co-sleeping brigade*

When Mini Cheddar was born in 2009 we were parents in need of sleep. She hated her Moses basket. It may have been because we didn't give her time. You know how it is with your first born? You practically run to them if they make the slightest little noise. You're on edge constantly, checking they are okay and questioning every action hoping you're caring for them correctly.

MC was also a comfort feeder. I've spoken about this on my blog before. When she was 3 weeks old the health visitor saw how broken and exhausted I was from breast feeding. She told me to get a dummy. When I explained MC was difficult to settle she said "why don't you co-sleep?"

I almost spat out my decaf coffee.

What?

A health visitor suggesting something as controversial as co-sleeping!

Never!

I swear...she did.

She went on to explain about how breast feeding women are totally aware of their babies whilst they sleep. How if Matt and I don't smoke or drink then there is no harm in it and it is actually beneficial to both mother and baby.

She told us that if we put MC between our pillows in a wide enough space it was perfectly safe. When does your head ever roll off your pillow and if it ever did it's just your head, not your whole body.

She even directed me to the UNICEF website that talks about it and explained that women all over the world co-sleep with no problems. It's a natural thing to do and breastfeeding mothers and babies get more sleep by co-sleeping.

Thankfully Matt and I are the proud owners of a super king size Tempur bed. Yes, I love our bed - it's totally amazing. This means there is plenty of room for 4 or 5 people (not that we've ever had that many in there you understand!) so co-sleeping with a tiny baby is a doddle.

We co-slept with MC for the first 6 months whilst I was breast feeding. We had no issues moving her to her cot in her room when the time was right. I expected a struggle but it was easy.

TC is a completely different baby to MC. He very rarely comfort sucks, he self soothes and he likes the Moses basket.

So why co-sleep?

Because we like to.

He will sometimes start out in the basket but end up in our bed. Having him close is wonderful. He also sleeps 5-6 hours between feeds at night and has done since he was about 3 weeks old. It may be because he's a typical lazy Lucas male or that we are more chilled out with him being our second child but I like to think that co-sleeping has an impact.

Yes we co-sleep. So what?

For those of you who do co-sleep, you may appreciate this hilarious co-sleeping chart. With thanks to Charlie and Andy at www.howtobeadad.com for allowing me to put this on my blog:

Brilliant!

Silent Sunday #33

It Was A Big Day On Saturday

It's been full on in the Lucas household lately but I'm loving it (guess that goes with my name!).  Probably not as hectic as some people, I know, but fairly hectic for us.  I still have more to come too as we are off to Italy in less than 2 weeks - unless the ash cloud has other plans that is!  Anyway, I have so much to do it's untrue.  I still haven't organised my entry for The Gallery this week and I'm starting to get palpitations that I may have to miss it for the first time. How sad is that?

Anyway, last Tuesday I found out I had made it through to the finals of the Mad Blog Awards which was very exciting. I actually got a tweet alert on my mobile phone whilst my Mum & Dad were sat in my lounge.  I nervously pretended I needed to check my bank account online (my parents aren't aware of my blog) and there it was staring back at me.  I got all giddy, may have actually wee'd a little and couldn't really speak.

Then, Wednesday it was our 4th wedding anniversary.  My parents had given us a voucher for a 2 night hotel break for Christmas so we decided to use it over our anniversary.  Did we choose a romantic retreat and pack Mini Cheddar off to my parents?  No, we went to Hampshire and took Mini Cheddar to Peppa Pig World.  Not romantic but lots of fun.

As Mini Cheddar slept in a bed when we were away and coped great with it, we decided when we returned that is was the time to convert her cot into a bed.

We did it on Saturday.

Gulp.

I thought I'd be okay with it.  I was actually really excited about it.

Mini Cheddar even got involved with 'helping' Daddy unscrew the cot. I say helping very loosely indeed and I gained a few more grey hairs trying to stop her running off with the screw drivers and allen keys to antagonise the poor dog.

Then, when it was complete and made up, I saw her climb up onto it and sit there playing happily.  I felt a pang of something I couldn't quite put my finger on.  I'm guessing it's exactly the same emotion I felt when I dropped her school application form off the other week.

My baby has finally turned into a proper little girl. I honestly can't quite explain what I'm feeling over it at the moment.

Incidentally, Saturday was also the first day she asked me put bunches and slides in her hair.


So yes, Saturday was a big day for a number of reasons...

We also accidently spent £491.00 with Next Online.

Balls.

There goes our holiday spending money... so come on ash cloud, do your worst!