Stuff Portrait Friday: Beds, Bureaus, and Bajamas (OK, OK, I was going for alliteration!)
This week's theme for Stuff Portrait Friday is the bedroom: The bed, the dresser, and favorite pajamas.
Our bed:
Our bed is unremarkable, especially in the summer when we use only sheets, except for it's size (king, baby!) and the fact we've got the baby's crib pushed up against my side. Both of these features are for one reason: cosleeping. Do not entreat me with articles from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I have done my own research, including in the field. It works for us, and it works GREAT. The only thing I have to say on the matter is this: I am no more likely to roll over on my baby than I am to roll out of bed. I know where the edge of the bed is, and I know where my baby is. And the sidecar arrangement of the crib gives everyone even more room when she is in it.
That said, let me talk a bit more about our bed. We love the king-sized mattress; when Audrey was born, we only had a queen. It was OK for cosleeping, but the king...just incredible. We don't, however, like the firmness of this one, or lack thereof. This mattress was given to us. We may decide to invest in a new king mattress in the future, but if Aislinn transitions out of our bed in the next year or so, we may just go back to our queen (partly because it has a nice headboard that matches the dressers). Which brings me to...
My dresser:
Yes, that's Audrey pointing to herself in the mirror!
When Leo and I were first married, I wanted to get a nice bedroom suite. It was something everyone in China did, and I felt bad that we didn't have something nice when we came back to the States. So I bought a four-piece set: my dresser, the mirror, Leo's dresser, and the headboard. They probably aren't worth what I paid for them, but they are still looking pretty nice almost 10 years later.
Contents: Top left drawer - sweatshirts. Middle left drawer - long-sleeve shirts. Bottom left drawer: T-shirts. Top right drawer - jeans and shorts. Middle right drawer - summer pajamas. Bottom right drawer - winter pajamas.
Which again transitions nicely into...
My favorite pajamas:
This is actually a bit of a stretch. I am both picky and not picky about my pajamas. The bottom line is they have to be comfortable, but that's the problem. In the summer, I used to be quite content to wear old shorts and t-shirts. In the past few years, I've decided to invest in a few actual pajamas that mimic shorts and t-shirts, but that's only because it's now in our budget. In the winter, I am far pickier. Our bedroom can get quite cold, and my legs, feet, and ankles all thank me for keeping them covered. Hence, my pajamas of choice in the winter are usually sweats or long-johns and socks (sexy, I know). If I could easily find pajamas with elastic at the ankles, I would buy them, but it seems that most people like their ankles free when they wear pajamas. Another issue is that I am not willing to pay more than $10 or so for non-sexy articles of clothing that will be seen only by my husband. Don't tell me to wear lingerie, because I have never, ever found anything that is both sexy AND comfortable enough to wear all night long (maybe that's the point, eh?). At any rate...of the pajamas I do own, I like these the best.
And here's a bonus: last Friday, I promised a photo of my wonderful Meatloaves Marinara. It occurred to me that people might think this is a meatloaf recipe. Au contraire, mon frere (et souer). This is the most marvelous spaghetti dish you could ever hope to sample. There are small meatloaves involved, but not like any meatloaf you've had before. Here is the promised photo:
Our bed:
Our bed is unremarkable, especially in the summer when we use only sheets, except for it's size (king, baby!) and the fact we've got the baby's crib pushed up against my side. Both of these features are for one reason: cosleeping. Do not entreat me with articles from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I have done my own research, including in the field. It works for us, and it works GREAT. The only thing I have to say on the matter is this: I am no more likely to roll over on my baby than I am to roll out of bed. I know where the edge of the bed is, and I know where my baby is. And the sidecar arrangement of the crib gives everyone even more room when she is in it.
That said, let me talk a bit more about our bed. We love the king-sized mattress; when Audrey was born, we only had a queen. It was OK for cosleeping, but the king...just incredible. We don't, however, like the firmness of this one, or lack thereof. This mattress was given to us. We may decide to invest in a new king mattress in the future, but if Aislinn transitions out of our bed in the next year or so, we may just go back to our queen (partly because it has a nice headboard that matches the dressers). Which brings me to...
My dresser:
Yes, that's Audrey pointing to herself in the mirror!
When Leo and I were first married, I wanted to get a nice bedroom suite. It was something everyone in China did, and I felt bad that we didn't have something nice when we came back to the States. So I bought a four-piece set: my dresser, the mirror, Leo's dresser, and the headboard. They probably aren't worth what I paid for them, but they are still looking pretty nice almost 10 years later.
Contents: Top left drawer - sweatshirts. Middle left drawer - long-sleeve shirts. Bottom left drawer: T-shirts. Top right drawer - jeans and shorts. Middle right drawer - summer pajamas. Bottom right drawer - winter pajamas.
Which again transitions nicely into...
My favorite pajamas:
This is actually a bit of a stretch. I am both picky and not picky about my pajamas. The bottom line is they have to be comfortable, but that's the problem. In the summer, I used to be quite content to wear old shorts and t-shirts. In the past few years, I've decided to invest in a few actual pajamas that mimic shorts and t-shirts, but that's only because it's now in our budget. In the winter, I am far pickier. Our bedroom can get quite cold, and my legs, feet, and ankles all thank me for keeping them covered. Hence, my pajamas of choice in the winter are usually sweats or long-johns and socks (sexy, I know). If I could easily find pajamas with elastic at the ankles, I would buy them, but it seems that most people like their ankles free when they wear pajamas. Another issue is that I am not willing to pay more than $10 or so for non-sexy articles of clothing that will be seen only by my husband. Don't tell me to wear lingerie, because I have never, ever found anything that is both sexy AND comfortable enough to wear all night long (maybe that's the point, eh?). At any rate...of the pajamas I do own, I like these the best.
And here's a bonus: last Friday, I promised a photo of my wonderful Meatloaves Marinara. It occurred to me that people might think this is a meatloaf recipe. Au contraire, mon frere (et souer). This is the most marvelous spaghetti dish you could ever hope to sample. There are small meatloaves involved, but not like any meatloaf you've had before. Here is the promised photo:
posted by Andrea | 12:44 PM
8 Comments:
Your bed looks comfy! Very comfy.
When I took the boys into bed with my, people would have a heart attack about rolling over on the baby. The thing is, you simply dont. You KNOW the baby is there, period. Mine slept with us until they stopped nursing...never did I roll over on either of them.
i have never read in the newspaper of a mother rolling over on her kid. NEVER. (I think such things would make the news.) Not for me, but everyone's different.
As for the dresser etc., I went with you to buy it (in a sing-song voice).
And as for lingerie to sleep in, you've gotta be kidding. NO ONE thinks it'll stay on any longer than... well, you know. I remember teh college freshman I knew (probably after your time) who "tried on" lingerie by dropping it on the floor and seeing how it looked down there.
Okay, I totally want your jammies. They look like the perfect jammies. I will now be on a quest for jammies that mimic these as closely as possible.
Bed looks really super comfy. Great spot for Sunday hanging out and chillin with the fam.
You should be commended for the lovely drawers. er...you know what I mean. They are so tidy and you fold so well...
I tried cosleeping but found I could not get rest and the wee one couldn't either b/c he knew we were there and wanted to stay awake and chat, I guess. I say whatever works and gets you through with relative ease is the right thing to do.
cheers chica!
Ohhhhhh i love all the stuff! I can't believe the clothes in the drawers are FOLDED! You should see mine!lol
lawbrat, I've actually been quite fortunate that almost nobody has questioned my fairly non-mainstream parenting choices (and it's more than just cosleeping). They may wonder in their heads or behind my back, but none of my friends or immediate family, much to my shock, has ever tried to debate me about it.
jur, yep, I was wondering if you'd remember that you were with me when I bought it! And *cracking up* (if somewhat dismayed at the fact it was a student!) over the method of "trying on" lingerie.
lauren, jammies are Walmart. They fit the $10 rule, give or take. And I think sleeping arrangements should be about everyone, parents and child, getting the best rest possible. I agree with your words, whatever works!
renee, I'm cracking up over you and everyone thinking my drawers are so tidy! Makes me feel good that at least I do that OK, since the rest of my house tends to look like a pit ;)
dawn, I've noticed how much more common cosleeping is among families where one or both parents are from another culture. I planned to do this even before I knew it was standard in China, but it sure helped that Leo considered it a given! He has told me stories about him and his two sisters all in bed barely bigger than a twin with their parents!
So with you on the elastic ankles thing....I can't understand how people abide the riding up of the the legs on pjs! Gotta have the socks in winter, too.
Put up the recipe for the meatloaf marinara, pretty please? Sounds yummy!
That sidecar crib arrangment is pure brilliance! And those pajamas are way cute...
it warms my heart to see everyone saying the coslept (or tried too).
we coslept and my lord you would we were painting him blue and selling him for crack with all the drama it caused!
my standerd, teeth baring response:
"people cosleep ALL OVER THE WORLD! just because its seemingly not comman around here doesn't mean that its not right.. now hand me that blue paint".
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