Today Ian and I had a conversation that I am almost positive we had before Eli was born.
It has to do with the baby’s sleeping arrangements.
Before Eli was born, I had THE most difficult time justifying why we needed a cradle (borrowed) for him. Ian was empathic that we could just use a drawer from the dresser, or even a tub. He’s really a practical guy, and most of the time I appreciate this about him, but not today.
Today, we had that conversation all over again….pretty much 5 years later to the day.
It went a little something like this:
Ian-“Why can’t the baby sleep in bed with you?”
Me-“Because I don’t sleep with a baby in bed with me. I have nightmares that I’m going to squish it, or that it will get caught in the mosquito net” (Yes, we have the added bonus of having to consider real functional netting at night for me and the baby so we don’t get The Malaria).
Ian-somewhat jokingly, but not quite enough, “And why would you want to deprive the baby of that nurturing?”
Anne- “Because I don’t sleep with a baby on me all night and I don’t think you all want me that *itchy from not sleeping”
Ian-“It’s just 2 months.”
Anne-“3”
Ian-“Where are you going to put the cradle?”
Anne-“There (pointing at the end of our bedroom where my desk currently is, but won’t be) or maybe in the guest room.
We journey to the guest room.
Ian- “And where will it go in here?”
Mind you, I am a spatial planner and I have been planning this arrangement of new baby furniture since the 2nd ultrasound confirming this baby’s viability (so for 5 months now).
Anyhow….the conversation continued…with a lot of back and forth and Ian ending with: “So why can’t we just prop up this bed and then the baby lies on one side and you use the other side as a changing area?”
To which I replied, “Hey, if I have to have a baby in Africa, don’t go ruining the small amount of pleasure I might get from having a cradle made, and buying a used changing table.”
Ian-“Don’t I get a say?”
Me-“Not really, cause I’m the one getting up to feed it and change it in the middle of the night.”
Ian-“But I can’t breast feed it.”
Me-“That’s my point.”
So, I think this conversation will die like the one did before Eli was born….and when Ian comes back from his 4 year amnesia of what it is like to go without sustained night sleep for months on end because of a fussing baby.
In that spirit, I’m going to take this picture to the local carpenter in the market to see if he can make this, or something close in approximation:
I’ll keep you updated on the “arrangement”.