Shared sleep

One of the things I researched before Gideon arrived was cosleeping or bedsharing. Most people use the terms interchangeably but cosleeping is having your baby or child in the same room but in a different bed. We bedshare, which means exactly what it says. Gideon sleeps right next to me all night.

The benefits are many if it's done correctly.

• Encourages breastfeeding because nighttime breastfeeding is more convenient.
• The nursing mother gets more sleep since it's easy to sleep while breastfeeding.
• Helps baby fall asleep more easily and stay asleep.
• If you are separated from your baby during the day, it helps you regain closeness.

Dave and I aren't big people so our queen size has always provided ample room for us to stretch out. However, our tiny baby seems to take up way more space than he should. When he was a few months old, we moved our spare bed (twin size) in next to our bed. This way, if Gideon rolled, he'd roll onto that. I actually end up sleeping half on it and half on our bed when Gideon was in the middle (I switch sides several times during the night for breastfeeding.)

But, grandma is coming to visit so she needs the spare bed. We had a crib given to us (a recalled drop side crib) so we just took off the drop side and put it between our bed and the wall. It was a tiny bit higher than our bed so we had to get some 2x4's to raise our bed slightly.

I hope to soon be able to put him in the crib for the first part of the night and pull him next to me when he needs to nurse.

Personally, having Gideon sleep right next to me is one of my favorite things. He nurses easily during the night, he and I both get more sleep and just this morning I was thinking about how wonderful it is to wake up with him snuggled against me.

And, Gideon never has to cry when he wakes up. He stirs and I wake to latch him on. He nurses and we both doze for a few more minutes. When he wakes for the morning, he just opens his eyes and starts cooing or playing with my face. There's never any need for him to cry because Mommy is right there.

The Dr. Sears website has a page on ways to have baby in your bed safely. If these rules are followed, there is no reason baby shouldn't sleep with his or her parents.

I made some diapers!

I used old t-shirts and towels that I washed in RLR to remove soap residue so they are absorbent.

The orange diaper is very absorbent and will be better for nighttime. I put three layers of towels in the center (sandwiched between four layers of soft old t-shirts.)

The gray and blue diaper was made from an old polo of Dave's that was starting to fall apart. I made a separate insert for that so it's less bulky and perfect for daytime use.

The diapers are fastened with a Snappi. I debated putting velcro on them but I think I'll wait for that until I can order the kind specifically made for diapers.

Gideon spends most of the day without a cover- I've discovered that he doesn't pee while he's asleep which makes me feel better while he naps on me. Keeping him coverless means he never sits in a pee soaked diaper and he gets plenty of air so he never gets diaper rash.

I will be making more diapers out of old clothes- hopefully they will last him through potty training!

My version of fried rice

Okay, so this blog isn't all about baby... Thought I'd post a recipe that I came up with to use up all sorts of leftovers and things about to go bad in the fridge. Now, I've never loved fried rice- it's too dry I think. So, I blended risotto and fried rice recipes and came up with something yummy!



The recipe isn't exact because I tend to just throw things in the pot. Use up the leftovers you have- you don't have to add the same things that I did.

I started out crisping about three pieces of bacon in my wok. Remove the bacon to a paper towel when crisp and then add in half a chopped onion (the other half from an earlier meal), a few chopped up stalks of celery and diced carrot (both were in the bottom of the fridge and on the floppy side) and cook for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper and whatever else you want.

Add a couple cups of cooked rice (I mixed leftover brown and white rice that I had) and about half a cup of chicken broth or water. Stir and when the rice has absorbed the liquid, add more. Continue doing this until the consistency is what you like. Then, add in chopped meat (I used leftover chopped turkey) and any quick cooking vegetables like corn or peas. Add the bacon back in and scrambled egg if you want.

I topped mine with crunchy chow mein noodles. I much prefer this to dry fried rice and by adding all the veggies and meat, this is a meal in itself.

Enjoy!