The Bed

It took four and a half of us (the half being my friends lovely daughter who was brilliant!) around three and a half hours to put the bed together. "The bed" needs more adjectives really.  "The bed" is the pink and purple gorgeously, monstrously, enormous bed with a play tent and canopy that Katie is now sleeping in.

I would generally crown myself as The Flat Pack Queen. It is indeed one of my many *cough* talents but I don't think even the designer of the bed could have deciphered these destructions. Take my advice......buy a bed of this ilk from a company that will put the wretched thing together for you or invest in a lot of wine and plasters (you'll need both)! Our poor friends only popped in to look over/ help with the redesign of the upstairs of our chalet bungalow but they were soon roped in, and we are exceptionally grateful to them (you know who you are Cat Lady and The Joker!). The bed really did have blood (mine - Alan keys can be a right royal P.I.T.A. at times), sweat and tears embedded into its very core.  But we got there in the end.

So without much further ado....here it is..... Ta daaaaah!

Katie's reaction was interesting. She'd gone over to my sister's for the afternoon so we could get on with putting it together (I needed to beg for extra time). I picked her up with the lovely Cat Lady's daughter and I think she was a little taken aback and perturbed that she might have missed out on something exciting (she really didn't). After all our hard work we were all so excited to see what she thought of it all but she was initially quite reserved and a bit aloof about it all. I'm not used to Katie reacting like that and I wonder if she was processing lots of emotions and was feeling a bit overwhelmed.  She soon got over it once we were on our own and climbed up and down the steps and generally explored every inch of her new haven.

The first few nights weren't so good sleep wise if I'm honest. Katie didn't settle too well and she woke up one night having wet the bed. Silly Mummy didn't put a waterproof sheet on the lovely new mattress did she? Katie hasn't had an accident in over a year so I totally forgot. Lets just say it now has a waterproof sheet and a protector on it and a bit of a smell that I'm trying to get rid of!

All in all she's doing well though. We've sorted out a new bedtime kiss and cuddle and story routine and I've created some space at the head of the bed so I can shimmy behind and stroke her hair at bedtime (and when she's in the land of Nod). In some ways I wish our usual procrastination had worked a little quicker and we'd bought the bed ages ago as I hope this change isn't too close to the other big change coming soon. Katie is good at articulating herself though and I think she kinda loves her new bed. She loves being picked up and dumped over the rail, onto the bed. Daddy is very good at this.  She has an army of soft toys to keep her company and room to have them by her sides now so she tucks them into bed with her every night.

She looks so small in it now though compared to her toddler bed. It reminds me that she's not as grown up as she would like to be. She is still my baby too. She seems to be embracing the changes that are coming but with some signs of regression and baby talk emerging. It was to be expected. She's having some monumental meltdowns involving all the antisocial skills she has in her armoury and we're having to plan which strategies to use to manage the meltdowns (we're combining some of the 1,2,3 Magic behaviour techniques with the Bryan Post theories). Katie doesn't have attachment difficulties that we are aware of but the techniques are still really good. 

Katie has told me she's worried I won't have as much time for her when Pip arrives. She's right. I won't but I'm going to be learning some serious juggling skills. Katie has had me to herself for three years so it will be tough on her. I'm going to have to really think about my daily routine so that Katie gets her 'Mummy' time. I've got plans in my head and it's handy that Pip is used to being in a busy foster home and isn't used to having totally undivided attention. Katie has started a dance class on a Saturday morning which Daddy and I have decided I will take her to so he can have time at home with Pip.  I said to Katie this morning that we will add in a visit to our local cafe afterwards on Saturday mornings for some "girl time" - no boys allowed!.  I'm also reassuring Katie that she will always be my special girl and huggles are always ready and waiting for her.  I told her that I think she'll be so busy getting in her brother's face playing with her brother that she'll forget to give me huggles. There will be difficulties ahead. It's inevitable, but I think Katie will love having her brother at home with her. I expect the cats will be glad of the reprieve as well.

At least the bed is up.....one less thing to sort out! The list is long however so I'd better get my A into G!

On the bright side I can also hide in the play tent underneath when it all gets too much!