Still having bed issues

Gaby has barely slept in HER bed all year. It all began when she threw up in her sleep, while in her bed (back in January), and since then, she has refused to sleep in her own bed, much preferring my bed. I tried to be 'firm' to get her sleeping back in her own bed, but no matter how 'firm' I am, she is a lot stronger & I end up giving up. I don't think people realise how hard I DO try to get her to stay in her own bed, but there comes a point (usually around midnight), when it doesn't seem like it to have a screaming toddler & a crying Mummy. That is when she gets in my bed.

I know she needs to go back in her bed, I just don't know how to get her there. Even the mention of sleeping in her bed sends her into tears, and she gets all panicky about it - I don't so much mind her sleeping in my bed, because it's *just me* in my bed, but what happens when I have a partner who stays over regularly?? Can't very well have three of us in the bed! Related to that, I want to get Gaby into her own bed SOON, so that when it does happen to be, that I'm in a relationship, that Gaby doesn't feel like she's being 'kicked out' of my bed, in place of said partner.

I have asked her numerous times why she doesn't want to sleep in her bed, and the answer is always the same, quite simply "I don't like my bed", or "my bed isn't big enough" or - the heartbreaker "I miss Mummy". It's like I'm being pulled two different ways the 'firm' Mummy side, competing against the nurturing Mummy side, I guess it says something that it's always the nurturing side that wins over? The only thing way I can think of, to get her into her own bed - is to BUY HER A NEW BED... but I hardly have the money to do that. I'm keeping an eye on TradeMe, a second hand one would be okay, but then there is still the matter of transporting it between point A & point B.. it would mean trailer hire, and finding someone with a tow bar.....

Hmmmm I keep hoping that one day she'll just snap out of it & decide her bed is awesome, but so far... nothing...

Close to three...

In 4 days time, Gaby will be 2 years & 9 months old - it blows me away, because it still seems as though she's the little bubby I brought home from the hospital all those months ago... But she is almost THREE... It seems so old to me, so grown up - so un-baby-like, and well, I guess it is! I'm going to either get her a bike or a LeapFrog Tag Reading System for her b/day - whatever I get her for her b/day, I'll get the other thing for her Christmas present. I'm starting to think about her birthday party - where & when to have it, whether she's old enough for a 'themed' party. I wanted to make her a Thomas the Tank Engine cake for her b/day - but she seems to have started getting over her little Thomas fad, so I'm pretty much back at square one. She does like Nemo & Happy Feet a lot, so perhaps I could do a Nemo/Marlin/Dori cake, or a Penguin cake. I'm not creative, but I LOVE making & decorating cakes!

I've been reminiscing a lot about what it was like when Gaby was a little bub, and about my pregnancy with her. The up & down of emotions, the joy at feeling movements, the anxiety before ultrasounds & m/w appointments... all these memories kind of scroll through my mind, like a slideshow - sometimes there is even music playing in the background.... Ahhhh dear.. I'm getting so soppy in my old age!

keep on keepin' on!

For once nothing major seems to be happening in the life of Gabrielle Oakden!!! She seems to be well over her illness of a couple of weeks ago - and thank goodness for that, it was not fun seeing her so miserable! We've been working on using our manners the past two or three weeks - and I think it is all finally starting to make sense to Gaby - yayyyy. She regularly asks in the car "May I please listen to Halo", or "may I please have a sandwich" it is so cute to hear her speaking so maturely!

She has been very spoilt lately by her Aunty Terri - but I guess that is what Aunties are for! She got an adorable little denim jacket and a very cool flap book, as well as 5 pairs of cute undies - AND her own (used) iPod, with her favourite songs already loaded! There is apparently a book on the way in the near future - and goodness only knows what else... Now if only we could go and visit Aunty Terri to thank her properly!!! She may be seeing her at the end of this month - fingers & toes crossed, because we haven't seen Terri since... well, I can't even remember, so must have been quite awhile ago!