21 October, 2013

Birth Story (This is Long)

This is long over due, but better late than never!  Everyone told me I would forget a lot of the details and pain of my labor and I thought they were all madmen! Everyone that asking me how labor I would respond,

"The worst ever. The worst thing I have even done. I will NEVER EVER do it again."  

I should have have taken a video of myself so I would NEVER EVER FORGET.  Because, here I am thinking, "I could do it again.  It wasn't that bad."  Time heals all pain, eh?

Almost 11 months later, here is what I remember.


This is Evangeline's story.  This is how she entered the world.  This is her beginning, covered in prayer from the start.
November 29th, 2013 I woke up at 4am to head to discipleship.  I headed into the bathroom to start getting ready.  When I was emptying my very full bladder I noticed a large blob of something in the toilet, something of light pink color!  I took a better look at the blob in the toilet and come to the conclusion that labor was starting!  Poor Kev, decided he would take a quick pee before he headed back to bed. He walked into the bathroom and I started rambling away about everything, recalling every single detail I had ever read or heard about the beginning signs of labor.   Kev is not a morning person, AT ALL, and all this crazy talk at 4am was not what he was expecting.  He just put his index finger up (indicating "Give me one second), started blankly at me with squinty eyes and bed head and then walked away.  I, of course, was shocked that he wasn’t ready to talk about my body fluids at 4am.  After a few FOREVER seconds He returned with the book “The Birthing Partner” and had turned to the page describing “Water Breaking”.  With our vast medical knowledge we were trying to diagnose if I was indeed in labor!!  After some reading and hmmm-ing and haaaa-ing we decided, we didn't know.  So, with places to go I showered and headed off to Discipleship.

This next part I will never forget.  I drove to discipleship and eagerly told Jan (my mentor) that I thought this baby would be here soon! Jan had all the girls gather around me and place their hands on my big belly. One by one these women prayed over this sweet little girl that would soon be coming to join the world.  They prayed for her salvation, purity, husband and fruitful life ahead.  They prayed for me as a mama and the strength that would be needed to get me through labor and becoming a mom.  I could feel the Lord’s blessings pouring out on me and my little one. I loved that this little woman coming into the world was already covered in prayer.

After discipleship I headed home.  I still didn't have any contraction but decided I should work from home just in case. I called me parents and let them know that I thought my water may have broke and thought maybe they should start heading over this way.  But, since my contractions hadn't started there wasn't any urgency.  I decided to call Dr. Grant (whose the BEST doctor ever to exist) and let her know what was going on.  She suggested I head into the hospital to get things checked out. I called Kev and told him I would need to pick him up from work; we were headed to the hospital.

We walked into the hospital, laughing, joking and holding hands.  Dr. Grant had called ahead and the nurses were waiting for us.  They brought us into a labor and delivery room and had me change into a robe.  They hooked me up to a fetal monitoring system and checked to see if my water had broken, it hadn't.  The news that my water hadn't broke bummed me out, I was so ready to meet this sweet little girl.  They asked that I stay a bit longer so they could monitor the baby’s heart rate.  All the nurses had left and it was just Kev and I in the room talking and joking to the sounds of our little one’s heart rate.  As we were talking we noticed the heart rate seemed to slow down quite a bit.  Just then two nurses rushed into the room.  They asked me if I was feeling OK and quickly put an oxygen mask on me.  I looked into Kev’s eyes for support and courage; I could tell something was wrong.  I started praying and pleading with the Lord.  I could tell Kev was also. The nurses were buzzing around asking me to relax and breath deep.  After several minutes we heard the heartbeat return to its quick pace.  Apparently, I was having a very long contraction (I think it lasted over two minutes) and it was a little tough on the baby.  But, since our baby was one part me and one part Kev she was one tough little cookie and bounced back after so much squeezing. With this little scare the nurses ask that I stay for three hours to be monitored.  We agreed happily.  A little while later we had a visit from Dr. Grant. She sat with us, checked my progress (I was at 3cm) and kept us company as we made sure little Evangeline's heart stayed strong.  After monitoring baby and me for a while Dr. Grant gave us the option to stay and labor at the hospital or to go home(as she thought we would soon be meeting baby).  I was only just starting to have very light contractions and I didn't want to be stuck in the hospital for days. We packed up and headed home.
Obviously not a woman in labor.
A few hours after we got home from the hospital the contractions started to get stronger! I was SO excited and they were coming and coming and coming!! I started to time them and keep a little contraction log like all the books said I should.  They were about 8 minutes apart!  It was pouring rain outside but I REALLY wanted to go on a walk.  So Kev and I put on our rain jackets and made a few loops.  Knowing the contractions were not close or strong enough to head back to the hospital we knew we were in the waiting game.  Dan and Sarah had invited us over for dinner and we gladly accepted wanting to kill some time! After our wet neighborhood walk we loaded in the car to make the trek down to Gladstone...in rush hour.

The drive to Gladstone was a little uncomfortable.  My contractions were varying from 13 minutes to 6 minutes apart.  I knew this baby would be coming soon. Kev still seemed a little skeptical that this was actually happening. We enjoyed a delicious dinner of eggplant Parmesan and headed home.  To my disappointment my contractions had slowed quite a bit.  But, I was thankful that I might get a full night's rest.  My parents had arrived from Bend and joined us for dinner and the waiting game. I kissed my parents goodnight and told them I would wake them if anything started happening. 

At 2am I woke up with contractions and strong ones.  I got up and started to pace the house.  A contraction would hit and I would have to brace myself.  Trying to remind myself to breath and relax (like either of those things were going to happen). I grabbed the exercise ball and bounced every time I felt a contraction and then would lay my head on the bed until the next contraction hit. I didn't want to wake Kev, I needed him well rested so he could help me through the hardest part of my labor. My contractions were about 7 minutes apart.  The contractions were becoming really painful and a couple times I had to run to the bathroom to puke. I started pregnancy hugging the toilet and I thought I might as well end it this way.  Kev woke up around 5:30am to lovely sound of me puking my guts out.  He sat up with me and helped me move through more strong contractions. At 6am my mom came upstairs as she heard Kev and I talking.  Being the wise woman that she is, a mother of three and a nurse, she convinced Kev to call Dr. Grant even though my contractions were not very close together.  Dr. Grant told Kev we needed to head to the hospital.  Kev still not entirely convinced I was in labor decided he would shower and then we would go.  I paced back and fourth through the house having no idea how I was going to make it to the hospital especially in Friday morning traffic.  As soon as Kev was out of the shower he grabbed our hospital bags and we hit the traffic packed road.
Me before we left for the hospital.  This looks more like a woman in labor.
I prayed though the entire 40 minutes that it took us to get to Portland Providence from our house in Vancouver and "Thank You, Lord!" my contractions slowed down to 13 minutes apart during that drive.  Kev dropped my mom and I off at an entrance that he thought was closest to the maternity ward. He was mistaken.  It was really really really far away, or at least it felt really really far away.  He could have dropped me off two feet in front of my hospital room and I would still have thought it was too far away.  When we stepped foot into the hospital it was like my body knew I was there and my contractions were back and back with a vengeance.  I had to stop every few minutes and put my head against the wall and try to breath and try to relax until the contraction passed.  A hospital worker asked if I wanted a wheel chair.  Walking sounded much better so the hospital worker was very kind and navigated my mom and I thought the “backway” of the hospital to get me to the maternity ward.  An eternity later we arrived to the maternity floor.  Hallelujah!  

Less than 24 hours from the last time we visited the maternity ward I arrived very differently than before.  This time I walked in wearing Kev's sweats, panting, and no smile on my face.  When I saw the nurse I burst into tears when she said, “Welcome back!”.  As I was bawling, I said, “it feels so good to me here.”  I was in so much pain and it felt good to be at the hospital.  It felt like we were one step closer to having the pain over and meeting miss Evangeline.

They checked me into the labor room and I was trying to change into the robe but as far as I got was pants off. I still had on my shirt and my socks. What a sight to see.  The nurse checked my progress and I was already at a 7! I found that it helped when someone squeezed my pelvic bones together during a contraction.  Whoever was closest to me when a contraction started got that job.  The nurses quickly filled the tub for me, and I asked Kev to join me.

We entered into the tub room and the tub was only big enough for one.  Poor, Kev sat on the outside of the tube wearing his board shorts.  He was so supportive.  Held my hand and pushed on my back during every contraction.  The tub felt amazing, but my contractions were becoming more and more painful and frequent. Up until this point I was able to stay pretty calm and quite during a contraction but now I couldn't hardly get through a contraction with our letting out a whimper or groan or scream or amazon woman sounds.  Dr. Grant popped her head in the tub room.  She has such a gentle and peaceful way about her. I had been in the tub for about 30 minutes and felt like I had to poop.  I was panicked thinking about pooping at a time like this!!  The nurses helped me out of the tub so they could check my progress and assured me that I didn't need to poop but would be pushing soon. 

I was now naked, wet, cold and hurting.  I crawled onto the hospital bed and curled into the fetal position and that is were I stayed for the next two hours. A contraction would come and everyone took a role.  Kev sat right at my head and whispered into me ear, “almost over” “You’re doing great” “one contraction closer to the end”  “You’ll have a break soon”.  It was so comforting to open my eyes and see my Kev-0.  My mom would push on my back and cheer me on through every contraction. Dr. grant would sit at the foot of my bed softly swaying and humming.  My God sent nurse, Amie, would gently stroke the different parts of my body that were tense to remind me to relax. I slept between every contraction. I know, crazy but I did.

After about two hours I could feel my whole body bear down when the contractions came.  It was time to push. Dr. Grant had asked me hours ago if I wanted her to break my water.  I told her NO because she said that when the waters breaks the contractions would be quicker and more intense.  I didn't think I could survive anything more than what I was already experiencing.  But, when I started to push, Dr. Grant told me she had to break my water now and that it would be a lot easier to push.  I was looking forward to this stage.  I had heard from so many women that this part felt “good”....yeah, I COMPLETLEY disagreed.  Pushing hurt soooo bad. I seriously thought the baby was trying to come out of my butt. Seriously, at one point I started alerting everyone that the baby had jumped holes and was coming out of my butt!! My angle Nurse Amie put warm washcloths on my hole. Complete angel, right?!  After about 30 minutes of pushing with all my might I felt the baby come out. Now that felt good!

And just like that, it was over.  A beautiful little slimy baby was placed on my stomach.  She has a full head of dark hair and had a little read “strawberry” on her knee.  I looked at her and said, “Hi, Baby.  I am your mommy.” Totally worth it.

17 October, 2013

It is Actually Happening!

So remember waaaaaay back when, when we announced we were building our first house?!  Well, we still are.... doesn't it seem like it had been FOREVER?!  Well, we just got the news that we should be able to move into our new house the first week of November!! That is like 2 weeks away!! WE head over to the new house every couples of days the view the progress.  I, of course, don't feel like they are moving fast enough and when it it looks like nothing has been done in a couple days I always call Kev whining like that will make the house be build faster.

But, we are getting down to our final days and I started packing and cleaning getting ready for our big move! Well at least I am trying.

Last week I decided to get all Pinterest on myself and clean my oven with baking soda. It wasn't until I was head first in that oven trying to wipe out the baked on baking soda paste that I remembered some ovens have a "Self Clean" setting... sigh...ours has one.  I am still trying to get all that baking soda out of there!!

The other night Kev was gone and I was determined to pack up everything in the kitchen besides the essentials.  Instead I watched an episode of Hart of Dixie and text my friend Erin about how much I hate packing.  But I did get one cupboard packed.


But, I won't let these failed attempts discourage me.  Our house is almost done and it will be clean, odor free and ours!  



15 October, 2013

New Years Goal

I've always hated running.  Always.  It is like the WORST ever! But, this last Sunday I ran my fourth half marathon and actually it was my second half this year!  When I was pregnant my girl friend, Erin, who was also pregnant at the time, and I decided signing up for a half marathon would be a good idea to help us get back in shape post baby, NOT!  We were so sweet and so naive.  I mean, who knew there wouldn't be time for all the training shenanigans when you have a newborn? OK, every mom out there, but we learned the hard way and we trained (kind of) and did it with our other mom friend, Meghan.
Left to right: Meghan, Erin, Me.  We all had babies under the age of 1.
Then, I somehow roped myself into another Half Marathon a few months later with my cousin Katie and Kev's cousin Brita (cousins!!!). I hate to admit it, but it was super fun, well being with Katie and Brita, not actually running or the actual training.

(left to right: Brita, Katie, Me)
Katie aka, coach, was my lifeline during the run.  That chica has so much energy and became my little train that could.  Nothing but encouragement out of that girl 13.1 miles long.



Do you see what I mean?  Katie, energizer bunny! This is a mile 13.1!!
And then there was me... you will see in the pictures what I was doing.  My face can not lie. Katie is looking to make sure I am still with her...
Kev knows me so well, I drugged up before this race, and well every other race.  I get myself all hopped up on sugar and caffeine.  Crash and Burn.
Brita was an allstar.  Barely getting a chance to train because of her awesome architect job but she ran like it was ain't no thang.  

Every time I am training for a half I think, "I am NEVER doing another race again.  Never."  Then I FINISH the race and think, "Wow, this was the most fun thing ever."


I got a text from Katie the day after the race saying, "I will keep my eye out for another run"... um, I don't think so... oh alright, maybe just one more!

03 September, 2013

Rocky Relationship

So, I am trying to blog again.  I think all bloggers have an "on again" "off again" relationship with their blogs. Life gets busy, you get full of your self, life gets boring, whatever it is when you are in a blogging relationship is a rocky one! Am I right, fellow bloggers?

Besides just being UBER busy with being a wife, working, building our house, social life(or lack there of) and trying to figure out this mommy stuff, I just don't have much to blog about any more.  I post the cutest pictures anyone ever did see on the Short List Blog (which was supposed to be a joint blog with Kev and I, it is just turned into my lower maintenance relationship).  But, other than throwing up pictures here and there, some days I don't even step out of the house, or shower for that matter.  I don't craft and suck at all DIY projects I take on.

So, where any I going with this?  I guess, I am trying to blog again.  And this is my attempt at giving the relationship a go again.

This is what we did Labor Day weekend.  Exciting right?  Actually it was nice, doing nothing.  And look how cute my family is!


PS- going camping this weekend!  Totally something to blog about. Things are looking up!

02 September, 2013

My Kid



You know what's annoying?  How opinionated experienced parents are! (Pippa, I am sorry if I am being opinionated with you!)  Their "words of wisdom" often frustrate me. These parents say things that start like, "just you wait"  "you say you won't, but you will" "Every kid is different" blah blah blah blah blah. But you know what annoys me even more? When I realize they are RIGHT! When I was pregnant wise parents always told me the "love for your child is like no other.  And, you really can't understand it until you have your own."  Well, darn it, now that I have one, they are so right!

I was thinking about my my new role as mama to my little chubbas, Evangeline, the other day and realized I really DO have a different love for her than I do anyone else!  

I love her so much that I've never asked her to move out.  Any other roommate that would wake me up several times a night screaming, require me to bounce on a ball for endless hours, not pay rent, and eat the food I buy, would never have made it a month.  This kid has been with us 9 months now.

I love her so much that I don't even care that she has thrown up in my bed.  I actually love her so much I've let it dry and even slept on it. (Its only spit up, people.  Don't be too grossed out)

I love her so much that when her poop gets on my hand, arm, or anywhere on me, I am careful not to scream (to loudly), "on my gosh, SO nasty!!" in fear of scaring her.

I love her so much that I basically only talk in song to keep that cheesy grin on her face at all times.

I love her so much that my "fun money" most months are spent on baby clothes, toys, trinkets and gadgets.

I love her so much because she makes me feel like I could win American Idle, Top Chef, and American's Next Top Model.

I love her because of her ears that stick out, chubby cheeks, big eyes, and toothy grin.

I love her because she has helped me understand our Lord's love for us, his children. Despite all the heartache and hassle we are to him he loves us unconditionally.

What an incredible thing it is to me a mama.  So glad all of those other parents are right. 

Psalm 123: 3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. 

28 August, 2013

Lord Build Our House

Psalm 127:1 A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 

When we moved into our Vancouver rental last summer, I was able to talk myself off the ledge because Kev would remind me our move to the burbs was temporary and there would be a chance of reuniting in Portland when we bought a house.

Several months later Kev gave me the word and I started my search for my Portland homecoming.  After endless hours of Trulia and Redfin searches.  Lunch date house tours and thousands of emails back and forth between our realtor we decided to build a house in VANCOUVER!! Wait, what? Hold on just one second, how did that happen?  I am still asking myself that same question. The answer: The Scheeles.  Dang it.  

Our beloveds, the Scheeles, announced to us they would be buying a house in Vancouver and Vancouver only for various reasons. Kev and I soon realized we would NEVER get to see our besties if we were living in Portland and they were living in the Couv.  Between work, the boys in school, babies and early bedtimes, our Scheeles might as well have stayed in Boston.  So, with my city girl soul screaming "NOOOOOOOOO!!!" we signed our lives away to the burbs.... in Vancouver, no less!

We won't just be living in the same town as our Scheeles, we decided that even living down the street would be too far.  So, we are building houses right smack dab next to one another.  We are even omitting the fence between our two homes.  We will most likely be knocking down our walls and attaching our two homes. Kidding on that part...maybe.

Our two families are anxious for our homes to be complete, colors and tiles chosen so we can start sharing cups of sugar through our windows.


We have walls, we have a roof.  We are getting close to our homecoming.

Signing my life away. What kind of mother am I raising her child in the Couv?!

27 July, 2013

Verity's Shower

Woah! It has been a while! A lot has happened since my last REAL post.  I post over on The Short List but those take me like two seconds and they are all about the sweety sweetums, Evangeline.

In My Hindsight has been neglected for some time. I just haven't had the time to write something really good!  The little kid that I made, takes up a lot of my time.  Anyways, this isn't what I got on here to write.  I got on here to post about the baby shower I threw this morning for my bestie, Pippa and her little bun, Verity.  Who, by the way, will be Evangeline's all time bestie when she gets here in September!!

View from the street.  We had lots of rubber-neckers.

Name Tags
 

Drink Station
These bottles were so cool.  They are washed Starbucks Frappuccino bottles



Seriously annoys me that the table runner is blown up and the end of the table! But, I bet you would not have noticed if I didn't say anything! Oh, and that I left my bakers twine on the table.  All. party. long...

Kiwi bird rhyme I came up with for my Kiwi friend.  Watch this cute little video the Kiwi TV station would play to tell the kiddos it was time for bed.

Tea cup party favors.  Goodwill hunting at its best.
Verity




These were like the best ever! So good!  Her is the recipe


nmmm, nommm.  So good!
Isn't Pip the cutest!  This is a typical Pip face. She is easily excitable and oh so fun!
Pip and Bec showed up in this color so what do you think I did?  Ran inside and changed.  That's right, I mean, I didn't want to be left out!
Pippa and Nicole.  Best belly shot.   I should have taken more of that big ol' belly!
Love you, Pip.  Hope you felt as loved as you make everyone else feel.

14 January, 2013

Out of my mind

When I became a mom I had no idea that motherhood=worry. It actually started with pregnancy and then increased 10 fold for birth and then when I thought nothing is going to be as bad a birth I have a baby that I am in charge of. All of a sudden my whole goal in life it to keep another human alive!!!! I can't think of more stressful job! I am so thankful for The Lord.

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"-Philippians 4:7

And thank goodness for Google.

11 January, 2013

It is All I Talk About

Everyone keeps asking me, "how is it being home?"  Well, I thought I would share what the day and the life of Evangeline and Tiffany look like. 

It starts about 3-4am, snack time and again 5-6am-ish.  Oh and we LOVE to sleep in so we get up around 9-10am (although this morning I got up before Evangeline and worked out, it was a great decision). Then our day begins.  We stare at each other for a while and I do everything under the sun to earn a smile.  My next goal is a giggle, I am working on finding those ticklish spots.  We walk about the house and I explain everything to her. What the sun looks like, why I drink water, who certain people are.  We will do some diaper changes where I obsess over the slightest diaper rash or if I have only seen one poop for the day.  And, someone help me if her poop is green, what could that possibly mean, green poop?!! Then I google whatever is "out of the norm" for the day.  I look at the clock and count how many hours until Kev gets home.  We walk about the house some more, bounce on the ball, try out the moby and try the sneak a shower or bathroom break with out her noticing I put her down. The visit from USPS is always exciting and we LOVE to Facetime or Skype with anyone else who is home during the day (Megs, don't forget to write "Read Tiff's blog" to your paper agenda for today!) And we always attempt to have a hot dinner on the table when we hear the front door open, which is the highlight of both of our days!

I now know why mom's only talk about their kids! Well, it is because it is all we do.  All we think about and the only pictures we take are a million shots of the same adorable smile or pose(sorry social media friends!) Us mom's are learning a new career and just when we think we've nailed it down, think again.  But, you know what?  I really like being home and I LOVE being a mom.
My Mom
Kev's Mom
Glad I have amazing moms to learn from!

10 January, 2013

A Good Godly Man

Yesterday when Kev got home he asked if he could read something to me.  This is what he read:

In June of 1971, just days before his 26-year-old son, Michael, got married, future-U.S. President Ronald Reagan sent him the following letter of advice. It really is quite stunning.

(
Source: Reagan: A Life In Letters; Image: Ronald Reagan, via.)
Michael Reagan
Manhattan Beach, California
June 1971

Dear Mike:


Enclosed is the item I mentioned (with which goes a torn up IOU). I could stop here but I won't.


You've heard all the jokes that have been rousted around by all the "unhappy marrieds" and cynics. Now, in case no one has suggested it, there is another viewpoint. You have entered into the most meaningful relationship there is in all human life. It can be whatever you decide to make it.


Some men feel their masculinity can only be proven if they play out in their own life all the locker-room stories, smugly confident that what a wife doesn't know won't hurt her. The truth is, somehow, way down inside, without her ever finding lipstick on the collar or catching a man in the flimsy excuse of where he was till three A.M., a wife does know, and with that knowing, some of the magic of this relationship disappears. There are more men griping about marriage who kicked the whole thing away themselves than there can ever be wives deserving of blame. There is an old law of physics that you can only get out of a thing as much as you put in it. The man who puts into the marriage only half of what he owns will get that out. Sure, there will be moments when you will see someone or think back to an earlier time and you will be challenged to see if you can still make the grade, but let me tell you how really great is the challenge of proving your masculinity and charm with one woman for the rest of your life. Any man can find a twerp here and there who will go along with cheating, and it doesn't take all that much manhood. It does take quite a man to remain attractive and to be loved by a woman who has heard him snore, seen him unshaven, tended him while he was sick and washed his dirty underwear. Do that and keep her still feeling a warm glow and you will know some very beautiful music. If you truly love a girl, you shouldn't ever want her to feel, when she sees you greet a secretary or a girl you both know, that humiliation of wondering if she was someone who caused you to be late coming home, nor should you want any other woman to be able to meet your wife and know she was smiling behind her eyes as she looked at her, the woman you love, remembering this was the woman you rejected even momentarily for her favors.


Mike, you know better than many what an unhappy home is and what it can do to others. Now you have a chance to make it come out the way it should. There is no greater happiness for a man than approaching a door at the end of a day knowing someone on the other side of that door is waiting for the sound of his footsteps.


Love,


Dad


P.S. You'll never get in trouble if you say "I love you" at least once a day.

I was stunned at this letter and actually started to cry.  The reason being is because my husband, read this letter and not only liked this letter but he wanted to share its contents with me. This showed me two things.
1.  He agreed with what Ronald Reagan was saying.
2. My husband is a good man.

There ARE good decent men out there that LOVE their wives.  There are good men out there that are not only satisfied with their wives they only want and desire their wives.  I have one of those men.  Thank you, Lord for my good, Godly, man.

Love you, Kev-0.

09 January, 2013

Sleeping

When Kevin and I found out I was pregnant we started praying for specific traits in our babe.  One of those traits was to receive a babe that liked to sleep.  Well our prayer has been heard and answered! Our baby does like to sleep!  But, we didn't pray specifically on how and when we wanted her to sleep! Hahahaha but praise the Lord she sleeps at all!

I am sitting her typing one handed while I cuddle little Evangeline as she sleeps. This kid could sleep for days my arms and only minutes in her co-sleeper.  We are rejoicing in her little solo sleep victories. For example yesterday Evangeline slept 20 minutes in her swing! A PR for sure.  Oh and last night she slept 5 hours!! 11pm-4am, I know she is amazing.  She must have sensed I needed the extra sleep last night.  We have tried everything under the wazoo to try and get this little cuddle bug to sleep in her co-sleeper(that is connected to my side of bed, literally NEXT TO ME) but she prefers to sleep on us or nestle up to by body.  She gets her extra large cuddle cup from me. Instead of thinking about all the stuff I can't do while she wants to be in my arms.  I need to think about how she wants to be in my arms, one day this won't be the case. 

Wish us luck as we are trying to show little Evangeline how awesome sleeping in her very own co-sleeper can be!

Don't be fooled..she woke up about a second later.
Sometimes I can get a shower in after we get back from an errand and she's sleeping.
Believe it or not she actually sleeps the best inside her boppy! (Thanks for the suggestion Pip)
A queen bed isn't big enough for three
Curled up and snuggled next to mama seems to work.