It’s all about a good nights sleepJanuary 7th, 2008 @ 7:01 am
People are usually shocked when I tell that that The King and I slept in a twin sized bed for the first two years of our marriage. Really, we did. And not even a real twin sized bed. We had a futon mattress. We also lived in a studio apartment, so we didn’t have any other options.
We moved to the first new house (you know, the one we built before the one we’re building now) and happily got rid of our twin size bed. We upgraded to a full size bed. But alas, we still rocked the futon mattress.
(Hey, futon mattresses are cheap and we were are poor.)
We’ve since sold the first house, as well as most of our furniture. Somehow in all of this we’re still rocking the same full size futon mattress that we bought over six years ago. And let me tell you, it’s not rocking us. Every morning The King and I wake up to find we’ve got another kink in our neck, or our back is all wacky, or we can’t feel our toes.
It was hard to admit it, but we finally did; we needed a change.
We started small. We bought new pillows. The new pillows rocked. We were both happy.
Suddenly the new pillows stopped rocking so hard. We were both back to hurting and sleeping terribly. I even succumbed to digging my old pillow out and using it again.
The King and I weren’t sure if our bodies were in pain because of the stress in our lives. I mean, maybe we were tensing up at night, thus resulting in a crappy nights sleep. Or maybe The King’s body was hurting because he’s building a house with his own hands. (I hear manual labor is hard. I hope I never find out if that’s true.)
Or maybe, just maybe it was the crappy futon mattress that we loved so many years ago.
Last week we came to a conclusion, we had to get rid of the futon. We had to suck it up and get a mattress made for the grown-ups we had become. We owed it to ourselves.
(Thankfully Macy’s was having an awesome One Day Sale! They practically paid us to take the mattress off their hands. Seriously.)
The night of January 19th will be spent sleeping on our new queen size real-life-mattress. And believe you me, I’ve got it marked on the calendar.
It’s going to be a joyous day.
So tell me, do you think a queen size will be big enough? Or should we have splurged for a California king? Dude, beds things are huge.
The new house · Random · The first house · Apartment living

Operation Pink Herring
said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I’m about ready to spring for a new mattress, too. We have a crappy Ikea mattress that I bought used, and we’ve been using it for over 4 years. It’s falling apart, but I just don’t want to spend the money for a good mattress. Then again, my back and neck hurt all the time, so I really think it would be a good investment.
I really wish we had a king. The queen is just barely big enough for us. Unfortunately, our bedroom isn’t big enough to accomodate a king mattress. Stupid rowhouses!
Carrisa
said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:35 pm
once you go king sized, you never go back. I’m just happy you upgraded to queen.
David McNelis
said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Chris and I were so excited to get to ‘queen-sized’ status! But now, well, now we want more room. So when we reach a particular milestone this year we are totally gonna go for a king…not a california king, cause that wouldn’t fit in our bedroom, but a king nonetheless.
Actually, how can The King sleep in anything but a king? I rest my case, in a bed as it were….
Audrey
said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:37 pm
You will LOVE your “real” mattress! If you and the King have been comfortable in your full-size, a queen will probably be fine. Tim and I used to sleep on a full-size, but Tim is the flailingest sleeper I’ve ever met, and I got tired of being kicked and hit all night long. I can’t tell you how much better I sleep since we got a king-size mattress 2 years ago. Now all I need is a house with a master bedroom that has space for more than just our bed. (Seriously. Our dresser is inside our closet. Our room is ALL bed.)
Emily
said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:39 pm
I think it depends on the size of your new bedroom. It’s gotta be plenty big or a king size just looks silly.
Rhi
said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Sometimes I find a queen a little too small for just me and my overweight cat. But, in my defense, I am 5′11″.
Also, I hope to never find out about manual labor. As I once told my grandpa, I am too pretty for that. Totally kidding of course. Okay, only partially kidding.
Art Nerd
said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Kev and I are trying to hold out on buying a new mattress for when we move out of our apartment and into a house. We’re hoping it’ll hold a king. We are not very large people, but both sleep curled up in the fetal position. His long frog-like legs take up quite a bit of room. Add at least one cat and, for now, my belly and Boppy cuddle pillow? Madness!
You’ve inspired a memory in me. I’ll leave you a trackback!
Liz
said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:46 pm
We have the California King and some nights? Even that’s not big enough! Our moving company, however, would disagree.
I will admit to having spent a ridiculous amount of money on our bed. Since it’s our refuge, we both believe that it’s money well-spent.
SJ
said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I’m sure the Queen size will be just fine for you guys since you’ve slept on the futon for so long! We just upgraded to a King (from a Queen) and it’s heavenly! You’ll love it I’m sure!
Art Nerd
said,
January 7, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Ahem, or not. But read my entry anyway
Mary Jo
said,
January 7, 2008 at 8:07 pm
We have a Cali king and it is nice and big with plenty of room but it pretty much takes up our whole bedroom and sheets are expensive and hard to find.
Rachel
said,
January 7, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Why are you gonna waste that night sleeping on the new mattress???
Just sayin.
Marilyn
said,
January 7, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Right now am dying for a King sized bed. Actually ANY new bed would be better than what we have (it was a re-purposed mattress ELEVEN years ago and age has not been kind to it). I would be fine with another Queen sized bed, but Kile really wants the King and I have to admit, the extra room would be DANDY.
Nic
said,
January 7, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Yay for a new mattress!
I’m single and I sleep in a queen. I’m sure you will love it.
Not the Queen
said,
January 7, 2008 at 9:00 pm
If you like sleeping next to each other, the queen is fine. If, however, you don’t even want to know another person is in the bed with you, go for the california king. Since you’ve slept so cozily for so long, the queen should be fine.
janet
said,
January 7, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I can’t believe you’ve been sleeping like that for so many years! Then again, we started our relationship in some pretty rough sleeping situations. Hello inflatable air mattress? Oh yeah.
We sleep in a queen and I love it because you still kinda have to cuddle. In a king, I feel like husband is a mile away!
Keri
said,
January 7, 2008 at 9:10 pm
We have a queen & I wish we’d bought a king…
loralee
said,
January 7, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I toss and turn (Bad back) and my husband and I are both big (5″8 and 6″4) so we both want a king.
However, our bedroom is too small for a king size, so our plan was to wait until we were able to build a new house to buy a bed.
Due to government suck, that is going to be awhile and my back is killing me so I think that this year we are just going to invest in a really good queensize and deal with it.
Yes, a king would be nice, but a queen size isn’t really that bad.
Angela
said,
January 7, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I just can’t imagine having a king size bed… When we sleep in them in hotels I always feel like I’m on the other side of the world from the husband! And we aren’t even big on cuddling at night, but there’s just SO much space!
So, in short, I think you made the right choice with a queen, plus it doesn’t take up your entire bedroom
alison
said,
January 7, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I agree with Janet (that’s probably because she’s my real life BFF.) We have a king and although it’s nice I miss the old days of a little forced cuddling in a queen.
What is really amazing is that you made it through a pregnancy on that mattress! I was dieing when we had to sleep on a (brand new) queen with the two cats, my body pillow, hubby and my fat self while I was pregnant!
heels
said,
January 7, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I’m not sure that I would still be married if I didn’t have my CA King.
Christar
said,
January 8, 2008 at 12:03 am
Dude, I don’t know how you guys were able to make it 6 long years with only a twin. I have been sleeping on a Queen for years. My mom just bought me a new pillow top queen size mattress. I heart my queen. But I decided a long long time ago when I get married, I’m going for the California King! But sleeping on a twin for all these years, a Queen Should feel amazing.
Next you guys should get a queen electric blanket to go with you Queen sized bed. Shaun got me one for Christmas and it’s amazing. There’s a controller for each person on each side of the bed.
velocibadgergirl
said,
January 8, 2008 at 1:29 am
We slept in a twin bed for the first three years we lived together. Then, thankfully, we got our queen bed right after we got married.
I can’t imagine ever needing a King sized bed, and apparently finding sheets for California Kings is getting really hard in some areas. Enjoy your comfy new mattress!
Molly
said,
January 8, 2008 at 3:19 am
I’m going to stop complaining about my queen set now. (But give me that it is eight years old?) I can’t believe you’re still sleeping on it!! January 19th should be pure heaven for you guys, hahaha. We keep saying we’re going to upgrade to a king someday, but we’ll see. I just got the space to walk on both sides of my bed, and I’m not ready to give that up just yet.
Lindz
said,
January 8, 2008 at 5:14 am
I think you will find that your new mattress will change your life! Mine did and its only me sleeping in it for now. However, Josh and I were snuggling in his queen bed today and he had the nerve to say “we could totally have slept in my twin.” Uff, thats just not enough space if you ask me. Anyway, goodbye futon, I can’t believe you spent 6 years on it.
Carrie
said,
January 8, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Ha. My husband and I spent the first 6 months of our marriage on a twin bed. We finally got a queen-size bed and the first night we slept on it we didn’t know what to do because after 6 months of sleeping so close together, we seemed SO FAR AWAY from eachother.
Kim
said,
January 8, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I agree with Liz, my bed is my refuge. I just bought a new one after the ex took the old one. King size, feather bed topper, fluffy pillows, 400 thread count sheets, and a cashmina blanket. It’s a wonder I get up at all.
Anna
said,
January 8, 2008 at 4:54 pm
With a husband that is 6 and a half feet tall a king sized bed was almost a requirement.
We had shared a twin sized bed with a broken bed frame (one of the legs was held up by back issues of Maxim magazine) during our long distance dating visits and swore up and down that once we were married we would get a real bed.
As luck would have it, we could not agree on a mattress. I need major firmness, the husband prefers soft. We ended up with a Sleep Number bed and while we like it for the most part, it sometimes feels like sleeping on a fancy air mattress.
Kiraa
said,
January 8, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I’m in shock right now…honestly. I had a twin size bed and I’m not huge or anything but it was barely enough room for just ME.
I was given a queen size bed a year or so ago and I’m never going back. I want to upgrade to a deeeluxe pillowtop though.
Lisa B
said,
January 8, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Am doing a happy dance for you guys. Gee, wonder what you’ll post about on Jan 20? heehee
Danielle
said,
January 9, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I love my bed. Love it. Every night when I crawl under the covers, I am so happy. (FWIW, I sleep in a queen, but there’s obviously only one person in the bed, so it’s plenty for me and myself)
The ex-hub and I slept in a king, and I think having a king bed had something to do with why we’re exes now. I know that sounds crazy, but the king was just too big (and he was a BIG guy). I could reach across the bed with my arms and not even touch him. So yeah, you get where I’m going with this…??