Dreams

I have these dreams of motherhood.
No really.
Almost nightly, I've been having very vivid, very real dreams about raising our baby.  Cuddling, cloth-diapering, nursing, consoling.  These have been some of the neatest dreams I have ever had.  I think that's the case mostly because those are some of the dreams that I hope to make a reality in a little over five months' time.
I can't begin to describe my giddiness over the prospect of cloth diapering!  Of nursing this baby.  Of co-sleeping.  Of baby-wearing (not the latest fashion trend of wearing-your-child-as-an-accessory; the carrying of one's child out of comfort, convenience, and closeness). Of cuddling and soothing and rocking and loving.  I look at the rocking chair that's been in our room for months, and I imagine the moments that will be spent in it.  I pass by the nursery on my way to the kitchen or on my way to our bedroom, and I think to myself, "Soon.  Soon there will be a sweet little one in this room.  Crying, cooing, sleeping."  I can't wait!!

So, I'm sure you caught the co-sleeping line.

Yes, I'm very interested and have done much research on the benefits (and the risks) of co-sleeping.   This article, in particular, was very informative.
I know that it can be done safely, and although it's not for everyone, I would like to try it.  For me, the benefits outweigh the risks, as long as I follow the general rules (for starters, I don't plan on drinking alcoholic beverages, and then crawling into bed next to my newborn).  Sleeping near my newborn will give me peace of mind that I wouldn't have if he/she were sleeping in another room.  As the articles state, I will be aware of his/her breathing more so than I would be if I were listening to a monitor.  Also, nursing my newborn will be easier when he/she is within arm's reach for each feeding.
But, I know there are a few risks that do apply.  One of which is having the baby sleep with you on a less-than-firm mattress.  Ours is less-than-firm.  So, I started investigating "side cars" or "co-sleeping bassinets."  Here's a co-sleeper that I'm interested in since there's not a lot of extra floor space (at least on my side of the bed) in our bedroom.  I like that it's completely portable (from one room to the next, from our home to a hotel room, etc.), that it can be used as a changing table, and that it has storage.

I'm also sure that you caught the cloth diapering line.

I have wanted to cloth diaper for years.  Literally.  Before we got married, while we were still in the very early stages of dating, I told The (now) Husband that I really wanted to cloth diaper any children I might have.  I think he looked at me in bewilderment.  After much discussion, I think he's finally come around to the idea.  I don't know that he adores the idea like I do (and he's certainly not giddy about it), but he understands the benefits.  We really like the fact that it's healthier (for baby and for our bank account).  We like that it's very doable.  I realize that we won't always be able to cloth diaper our child/children.  Occasionally, we will have to supplement disposables.  But for the most part, cloth diapering is the way we intend to go.  A few websites I found informative were this one, this one, that one, and the "plus, they're just TOOOO cute" one over yonder.  Because cloth diapering can be expensive at the beginning (but so worth it money-wise over the long haul), the majority of the items we've registered for (so far) have to do with that.

So.  Cute.

So, those are a few of my dreams.
Have any of you cloth diapered or co-slept with your kiddos?
Success stories?  Funny anecdotes?  Failures that you'd like to get off your chest, so that, you know, I don't make the same mistakes?
I'd love to hear your thoughts...even if you want to try to convince me to go a different route. :)
So go ahead.
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