Co-Sleeping

When I was pregnant, I knew I didn't want to co-sleep for several reasons. Mostly I know I'm a wild sleeper and I didn't want to roll over and smush my newborn.

So, she's slept in our room but in her own bed.

As she's gotten older, we have co-slept on occasion. Most recently, my poor little girl is teething and she was feeling really icky. I give her baby tylenol and Hyland's teething tabs, but it wasn't doing as much as it usually did.

The only way she would sleep would be right next to me, so I kicked my husband to the couch so Emily could sleep in the bed with me.

It was a very tiring weekend, because I never sleep as well when she is sleeping with me. And it's amazing how much of a bed hog my tiny little person can be *L*

Teething is a Pain

My little girl has been cutting her molars - one came through a little while ago, and the last few days has been horrible.

She's been ok during the day, but at night she was just not doing well. She wasn't sleeping well and she wanted to be right next to me. So it made for a couple of really, really long nights.

Thankfully last night was a lot better, so I'm hoping she's on the mend.

Getting Started

I ordered some fabric, and I can't wait for it to arrive so I can start sewing on my Cupcake dress!

I also was looking at hoop skirts on eBay - hopefully I'll get my Paypal money from SwagBucks soon so I can order it!

Scheduling Issues

Things become more complicated when you have a child.

I love gaming - table top gaming in particular, but there are no games locally that met at a time where I could go because of my DH working 2nd shift and because we don't have anyone to watch Emily.

So, I preregistered for ConCarolinas in Charlotte so I could preregistered for some of the table top games. I was planning on only going on Saturday.

But, my husband has been working a lot of Saturdays and his work doesn't let me know if he'll be working until a day or two before the Saturday he would be working. Now I'm trying to figure out if I want to try and reg for Saturday games and Sunday games, or just plan on going on Sunday.

On the plus side, there is a Firefly game on Sunday, and there is also a Hero Systems game as well!

Finding Time for Everything

I don't think I've ever been so busy in my life. And I'm technically unemployed!

My main / most important job is being Emily's mommy - and since she's a toddler, that's a 24/7 job most days.

Since I was laid off in December 2008, and was unable to find any work, my husband and I decided that we were both going to go to school (he also works a full-time job!). So, I've been going to school too.

Also since I'm unemployed, I've scoured the internet for ways to earn a little extra money. My main money-maker is ChaCha - which is a company where people can text in their questions and then get a text with the answer back. I get paid to answer the questions.

I am also on the Browncoat Ball committee - that hasn't taken much time up so far, but it's going to be eating up more of my time soon.

Then I'm trying to lose weight, learn to cook better, take Emily on playdates and work on my Kaylee cupcake dress.

It's no wonder I'm exhausted all the time!

Browncoat Ball Meeting

On Saturday, Emily and I went to Charlotte for a Browncoat Ball meeting. The meeting was in the hotel where the Ball is going to be held, and it was really helpful to see the space where the part of the Ball I'm heading up will take place.

Ironically there was a Breastfeeding conference going on this weekend. I thought that was amusing since I fit right in as Miss Emily is still a big nurse-ling.

She did pretty good during the meeting and I was glad to get to go to one of the meetings in person - all the others I've attended via Skype (technology is wonderful!).

It also got me itching to re-watch 'Firefly' and to start working on my Kaylee Cupcake dress - I'm hoping to get some fabric this week and start sewing. I'd ideally like it done by Can't Stop the Serenity in June, but I think that's going to be a stretch.

When Mommy is Sick

I have daily chronic headaches, which means I've had the same headache for nearly 7 years. So I'm in constant pain.

Usually the pain level is low enough that I can ignore it and lead a normal life of being a wife, mommy and Browncoat. But some days, the pain level goes up and up and up.

Today is one of those days - we are getting a lot of rain, and weather changes always screw with my head. It started yesterday, and the pain level just keeps going up.

But since I'm a mommy, I still have to care for my toddler, keep up with the house and work my work-at-home job. It's exhausting, especially since my child decided that screeching earlier today would be fun.

So, it's off to bed for me, and I'm hoping I can sleep off this stupid migraine since I have a Browncoat Ball meeting on Saturday and won't be able to sleep in.

Teething Sucks :(

My daughter is teething, and she has been teething pretty much constantly since she was 4 months old. She tends to cut more than one tooth at a time, so she has a lot of teeth.

Currently she is cutting molars, which is horrific. She isn't sleeping well because of it, so I'm not getting hardly any sleep. It makes it hard to do a lot when I'm constantly exhausted.

I have been trying to work out, do a work at home job, go to school, take care of Emily and attempt to keep up with the house.

Being a stay at home mom is the hardest job I've every done!

Kaylee's Cupcake Dress

I've been dreaming about making / wearing Kaylee's cupcake dress ever since I first saw 'Shindig'. Unfortunately, I'm not a very good sewer, so I'd never been able to make it from the start.

I came up with a workable idea a few years ago. I could buy a dress that has a similar shape and just add the ruffles and details. Finally, I have the base dress and will start buying fabric in the next couple of weeks.

I'd like it done for Dragon*Con, but I will have it done for the Browncoat Ball!

I'll post pictures as I get started.

My Secret Shame

My secret parenting shame is:








My almost 17 month old daughter doesn't sleep through the night.

I know, it's not horrible, but it bothers me all the same. She used to only wake up a couple of times a night to nurse, but she's been cutting molars and she has gotten worse with the sleep.

She still nurses a lot, including at night, and I really don't want to do sleep training yet - at least until the molars are all the way in.

It's kind of sad - one of the reasons I'm looking forward to the Browncoat Ball is that I'll be able to sleep! The Browncoat Ball isn't really child-friendly, so she'll be with her daddy. 

Follow Friday

 I'm going to attempt to post more often. And I'm going to start doing things like 'Follow Friday' as well!