This is the latest configuration of our bedroom. While we absolutely love co-sleeping and have no intention of quitting anytime soon, it sure does pose challenges when it comes to our sleeping arrangement (and traveling). But it's worth all the night-time cuddling, the huge smile when Ruby wakes up and says "hi mama" and "hi dada" and "chats dodo?" Ruby has been slowly sleeping much better at night too--with just the gentlest nudging from me. I think she was ready because suggestions that we not nurse but just snuggle and go back to sleep have been met with approval.

I thought I'd document the changes in our room since she was born, just to see the progression. It's kind of fun!

http://flotswebsite.blogspot.com/2006/11/we-had-few-wonderful-visits-today.html
After sleeping in our bed for about a week after she was born (protected by two rolled up towels on either side of her), she moved into this co-sleeper. We waited this long because I was too sore to scoot down to the bottom of the bed to get out--one inconvenience I have had to put up with given that has always slept on my side. Her mattress and mine didn't quite touch, so we stuffed a pillow in between to bridge the gap. Her co-sleeper was secured to our bed frame with bungee cords. I still had my night stand and lamp at this point.

http://flotswebsite.blogspot.com/2007/05/rubys-sleeping-habits-change-often.html
Until Ruby started napping in her co-sleeper on a regular schedule, she would sleep in the sling, or on a shoulder (rare, but so cute), or in this wonderful NZ-made baby hammock. Here you see it in the living room, but David also put a hook in the ceiling in our bedroom and she would doze in it in there too.

http://flotswebsite.blogspot.com/2007/05/ruby-spent-her-first-night-in-crib-that.html
By May 2007 Ruby was just way too big for the little co-sleeper. So we pulled out the crib that we got from David's sister Lissa (and which my dad assembled because Lissa couldn't find all the parts--like the screws), took off one side, used bungee cords again to secure to our bedframe, and voila, a bigger co-sleeper. This time the mattresses fit seamlessly. I was still able to keep my nightstand and light, but had to scoot a lot further down to the end of the bed to get out.

http://flotswebsite.blogspot.com/2007/08/our-new-bedroom-layout-looks-pretty.html
http://flotswebsite.blogspot.com/2007/10/this-is-how-ruby-often-chooses-to-sleep.html
Unfortunately we quickly--only three months later--realized that Ruby was getting too mobile for this set-up. We were worried she would roll off the edge of the bed during her naps--even with the many pillows we were at this point in the habit of putting around the edges. So we broke down the crib again, put our box spring and bed frame in the hallway, elevated Ruby's mattress on bricks so it would be level with ours, and pushed her mattress against the wall. Rolling off the bed with this configuration would have caused just a minor bump, so were were satisfied. Thankfully she never has, although we did spend time playing how to get off ("turn around first") and on the bed; a game she enjoyed, so a skill quickly learned. I did lose my nightstand and night light at this point alas. Now I keep a flashlight handy for when I need to locate her in the middle of the night, or to read with when I go to bed. It's kind of cozy. And maybe I'll finally invest in some spill proof sippy cup for adults one day, so I can water close by during the night. Because if I'm thirsty I have to get up, crawl to the foot end of our bed and find my glass on the floor.

And now the latest configuration. We're less worried about Ruby rolling off the bed and our landlord really insisted we get rid of all our stuff piling up in the hallway. David found a homemade wooden bed frame on the street, complete with drawers. Amazingly once we put Ruby's mattress on it, it was the same height as our mattress put back on the box spring. So we'll toss our bed frame (as we can't leave it in the hallway), and see how long this configuration lasts! Co-sleeping is an adventure!

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Ruby is 18-months old today by the way! I left her with Marie this morning along with four cupcakes, one for her, Marie, Sammy's (Sam, but known as Sammy's to Ruby) and Sam's caregiver, Blossom ("P/Blossy" to Ruby). Onwards and upwards to that two-year mark when we'll stop counting the months!