Introduction Day 1

It's the middle of the night, I have a king size bed, and I am setting up a blog rather than sleeping.   For what it's worth, I realized that setting up a blog really is not that hard and tomorrow I will change my settings.

For now, I will enjoy the quiet.....

I will also enjoy the smell of bonfire smoke in my hair....a smell that reminds me that I, I mean we, had fun this evening.  A smell that means that mommy has a life....or maybe once she did, and this smell reminds her of it.

It's funny how I use the term "life" as if what I am doing does not constitute as a life.  It does in more ways that only other parents can understand.  Perhaps this blog will help that, after all, that is what I am doing...coming home...

Anyways,
Charlotte is laying with legs wide open in that froggy position that can only be comfortable for a babe....
I love sleeping with my little loves....or do I...maybe this is where it begins....

Let us start with I have not had a free night in 13 months....or 23 months if you include the time Charli was within me....

Actually, if you include that time, you might as well include the time before that when Izzy was with me, and the time before that when it was Chloe.

So....6.5 years of sleeping with others...maybe a stray night here and there of adult time, but for the most part I have pledged my life to thee.

I also love it.  I LOVE cosleeping, it's perfect in so many ways that only another mama can understand.  I may be lazy, I may be "crunchy", I may be attachment parenting, whatever the term or trend I do it.  I am guilty of almost smothering my child in my sleep for a few peaceful minutes and I LOVE it.  From day 1 in the hospital when I jump up to put my daughter in the bassinet as if she was sleeping there the entire time I am a cosleeper.   With chloe, it took me 3 precious months to realize how awesome cosleeping was.  Napping on the futon mattress was what converted me.  With Izzy and Charlotte, we ask no questions....

So a little about me besides the cosleeping aspect.  I am Erica Ann Conley Shannon.  No hyphen though maybe I should have to make life easier.  Actually, my one piece of advice to engaged couples is, choose a name.  I chose to keep my last name as I married after 30.  People knew me as Conley and it had been such a part of my life that I chose to keep it.  I also respect my husband and want my children to carry his name so I adopted his last name as well.  When we lived in Michigan I was known as Mrs. Conley.  Now I am known as Mrs, Shannon.  Chloe is actually a Conley Shannon as well while the other 2 girls are strictly "Shannon".  We found out that unless it is a life changing event, it is quite expensive to change ones' name.   Chloe and I will remain Conley Shannon's for quite some time;)

Anyways, Chloe is 6, Izzy (Isobel) is 3, and Charli (Charlotte) is 13 months...