How Ellie Sleeps

I wrote a guest post for A+Life a couple weeks ago and wanted to share it with all of my readers in case you didn't have a chance to check it out.

Hi there A+ readers!! My name is Ashley and I blog over at Life on the Parsons Farm!  I am so excited to be guest posting on Courtney's blog today!!

Courtney and I "met" when I wrote a guest post for Erinn's On Wednesday We Wear Pink series. And we have been emailing back and forth ever since.  Courtney is a true inspiration to me and I just adore her love for Jesus, how she is raising her daughter, and her willingness to share some of the hardest struggles she has gone through (and Chick-Fil-a)

A little bit about me:

1. I was born and raised in Washington State and haven't really moved that much (unless you count dorm rooms in college?)

2. I live on a mini-farm with my husband of 5 years

3. My husband, Thomas, and I met in college and were on the cheerleading team together in college (after MUCH convincing on my part!)

4. After years of infertility and much disappointment and losses of pregnancies we adopted the most beautiful little girl, Ellie, last May and she is the light of our lives.

5. I love blogging.  It has been a wonderful outlet for me to document our life and share my heart. I also love the encouraging community that goes along with blogging.

6. I am a High School health and science teacher.  I so enjoy my job and working with students to grow their minds and to help them learn how to take care of their bodies; physically, emotionally and spiritually.  I work at a Christian School and am allowed to share about Jesus and the love that God has for us!

7. I am a follower of Christ.  He is my Savior and without Him nothing would have meaning.

Onto my post!

Since we brought home our daughter, my life has revolved around her.  It was so important to me that I created a bond with Ellie from the beginning.  You know since I didn't carry her around in my belly for 9 months - I had a lot of "making up" to do!  I just wanted her to be near me at all times. 

That started in the hospital.  We were lucky enough to have our own room and to have Ellie "room in" with us.  I think I really only put her down to change her diapers or when the doctors/nurses needed to check her out (or if my Thomas wanted to hold her).  So those nights in the hospital Ellie slept in the bed with me, I couldn't imagine that sweet little girl sleeping in that cold bassinet in the hospital room.  We never really discussed what our "sleeping arrangement" would be for when we got home.  I just decided that she would be sleeping in our bed for a couple of weeks and then we would move her into the bassinet in our room.

As you may or may not know, things don't really go as you have "planned" when you are raising children.

So with that in mind Ellie slept in our bed until she was nearly 3 months old and then was in her bassinet in our room until 7 months.   While that might sound crazy to some it was what worked for us.  We moved her into her crib in her own room shortly after Christmas.  She did very well.  Mind you she was swaddled this whole time. 

Just a couple of weeks ago, right before she turned 10 months old she rolled over onto her stomach.  I had made the decision that when she does that she will no longer be swaddled. So that was it.  We knew the first few nights would be a transition for her (and us) so we moved her back into our bed so help calm her when she smacked herself in the face with her "new found arms".  After a few nights she seemed to be sleeping well so we moved her back into her crib in her room. 

 I have to confess, I don't like her in there - especially now that she can roll over.  Her preferred way of sleeping is flat on her face.  Freaks me out to NO END. I spend most of the night watching her in the monitor or peeping into her room.  In addition, I miss her.  I love her sleeping on my lap in the living room or cuddled up next to me in bed.  I would say it has been a more difficult transition for me than it has been for her. (the great thing is, Thomas likes her near him as well!!) 

What does this mean? Well, she ends up in our bed around 5am until I get up at 6:30.  Sometimes I bring her in and sometimes Thomas does.  We bring her in even if she isn't "awake" or fussing. Mainly because we want to be with her.

Is this the best thing for her? I don't know. But what I do know is that as a parent you get to "do what you want" with in reason.  We are doing what works for us right now.  I have no intention of her being in our bed when she is 5 (at least on a daily/regular basis) but on the rare occasion I would love for her to be in there.  

I also can't tell you if we will be the same for our next baby. Maybe, probably not.  But you never know!!

What was your sleep transition like with your little ones?

♥ Ashley 

Thank you so much Courtney for letting me guest post today!!