Musical Beds

Posted by Kristen on September 28, 2009 at 8:15 AM in Sleep

This weekend we traveled for work. We stayed 25 miles away from our destination in order to stay in a more affordable hotel with enough beds and space for everyone. You see, some people want to sleep together, some people need to sleep alone, some people need the light on, some people need complete darkness, some people barely sleep and some people sleep forever.

The time we were in a hotel and Nathan screamed from 12:30-2:30 in the morning is still fresh in our minds. We probably should just camp rather than ruin the sleep for everyone within two hotel rooms.

This time we played musical beds. Because of the long car ride, everyone ended up falling asleep in the car at 5:00 p.m. Can I tell you how much my heart stopped at that point. By the time we got to our destination, everyone was ready to go. Sure enough, it was 10:30 p.m. and everyone wanted to party like a rock star. We finally gave in and split the kids. The baby cried in his crib and the boys both chatted from their respective beds. I fell asleep in Nathan's bed in the middle of him describing something in great detail. I don't remember what it was.

Nathan kicked me in the head at 2 and I moved him to his own bed. Mason woke up when I moved Nathan and I brought him to bed with me. Ethan heard the ruckus and crawled into bed with Derek, who had moved out of Ethan's bed after he fell asleep. Derek put Ethan back into his bed. I put Mason back in his crib.

This went on for the next 5 hours. There really is nothing quite like your own bed, is there?

Sleepless

Posted by Kristen on August 17, 2009 at 6:55 AM in Sleep

The funniest thing is happening at my house. We still can't seem to make it one night without at least one or two kids waking up in the middle of the night. You are thinking, "you have a baby. Of course you shouldn't expect to sleep." You are also thinking, "didn't you already write about this just last week?" And you would be right on both counts. Let's just say that sleep or sleeplessness, to be exact, would be on my mind these days.

In the last week or so we have gotten into this crazy cycle of only 1 1/2 hours of peace and quiet at night before someone is crying to eat, crying because he is hot or crying because the hall light is supposed to be on but then some parent forgot the new light requirement and turned it off. You know those sticker charts for kids to do their chores? We parents need one for lights and drinks and temperature and specific blankets and baby dolls. Of course that sticker chart for parents would have to be a fluid document because the baby doll requirement changed for tonight from the leopard to the tiger. I made the mistake of washing the required blanket and not drying it in time so I had to make a last-minute substitution that will most likely violate the required night time body temperature. This is because the thought of kicking off the blankets will never cross this child's mind.

And that baby who got his first cereal? Yeah, it didn't make him sleep any better because his tummy was fuller (you deceiving Internet that made me promises). In fact, he woke up more because it gave him constipation. In case you are wondering, that means I have an extra problem to add to this vicious night cycle where I currently find myself. But when your baby looks like this, you somehow don't really mind.

If you are wondering why his mouth is purple, it is gentian violet. Gentian violet is natural solution to baby's thrush. It also stains his mouth this awesome purple for three days.

Supersisters Super Valentine's Giveaway

Posted by Kristen on January 30, 2009 at 8:31 AM in Contests, Kristen, New Baby, Sleep

I went to PBS for a meeting with Jean yesterday and she made the mistake of not being in her office when I showed up. (Click here and choose "watch in high quality" if you want the less-seedier and slightly louder version)

In honor of the box of goodies I discovered and expropriated, we are going to have a giveaway here at PBS Supersisters. Okay, we are going to have LOTS of giveaways. Starting on Monday, for two weeks we will be giving away all manner of PBS Kids awesomeness. We have videos and stuffed animals and stickers and activity books. We even have SUPER WHY stuff. I know. Your kids will love you. Forever.

What do you have to do to win? All you have to do is leave a comment (you can comment as many times as you like but your name will only be entered once for the daily drawing) on our posts from Monday, February 2 through Saturday, February 14. Each day we will do a random drawing (here are our giveaway "rules" if you want to check them out) and post the name of the winner on the following day's post. But wait!! There is a big prize on Valentine's Day. In addition to our daily prizes, we will take all the comments from all the days and throw them together. So if you comment every day on every post, you'll have 12 chances to win the big prize.

Graco has been gracious enough to give us a SweetPeace Newborn Soothing Center that we can give away to one of you!!!

If you haven't seen one of these yet, you won't believe your eyes. It is almost as good as Mama's arms. And Mama's arms are now open to fold the laundry or pull one of the older children off the top of the fridge. Even if you are beyond the newborn stage, I'm sure you know someone who would LOVE to have one of these.

So be sure to tune in every day starting next Monday, February 2, and leave a comment to win some fabulous prize. It will be loads of fun. And don't forget to grab your "I'm a Supersister" badge from over there on the left. It's just another way for us to spread the news and share the love.