Friday, April 29, 2011

Brand New Life

It's the same old thing, but it's brand new. It's happened over and over, but this is the first time it's ever happened. Children have been born every day since the beginning of time, but this is the first one born to me in my time.

It's not a routine thing that I just did by giving birth. It's not normal to suddenly be sharing our home with a baby. There is nothing ordinary about this complete change of schedule. My way of thinking about space, God, myself, and love is forever changed.

It's my brand new life and I love it.



Thank you, God, for the freshness you give to me in the ageless event.

"He put a new song in my mouth." ~ Psalm 40:3

(Taken from: Meditations for New Moms, by Sandra Drescher-Lehman. Given to me by MY Mom. =)


xoxox

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

She's growing up so fast!

Guess who's one month old today?!?! =)




Thursday, April 7, 2011

Decisions, decisions...

Do I shower, eat, nap or cuddle my baby while she sleeps? What about a walk outside, or maybe read the emails that are piling up? (let alone replying to them...) Or should I do a little catching up on Facebook? How about a video chat with family back in the states? And I still have tons of pictures that need to be posted of this precious new addition to our family... Thank God Mom is here to do the cooking and cleaning and help with the baby. I am so blessed (spoiled) to have such support and my Mommy here to care for me while I learn to be a Mommy and care for my little girl...Seems like most days I opt for some combination of the first four options in between feedings and leave everything else for another time. But another time never seems to come...maybe next year. Haha! =)

Still recovering from childbirth/surgery. It's taking longer than I thought it would, and supposedly I'm only half-way there. Patience is apparently a virtue but personally, I think it's overrated. Again, so glad to have Mom here. I'm seriously not looking forward to having to do everything on my own, but I know by the time Mom and Dad and Mama Lisa leave I should be pretty close to completely healed (I HOPE!!) so maybe it won't be as bad as I'm picturing it to be...

The lesson I am (still) in the middle of learning is to take this one step at a time. While pregnant, I was learning to take it one week at a time - staying in awe of what was happening to me and my baby instead of just yearning for her arrival and therefore missing out on the beauty of the moment I was in. Before going into labor, I was learning to take it one day at a time, as I waited for my (late!) baby girl to come out and play. During labor, I was learning to take it one contraction at a time - to focus on what was happening in the moment, be it hard work or relaxation - and not dwelling on the pain of the past or dreading the pain of the future. During these first few weeks of motherhood I am learning to take it one feeding, one nap, one day at a time - soreness, exhaustion and emotional unstability seem to have combined into the perfect storm. Once again, thank God for Mom, who is taking the midnight feedings from me so I can now get a good 6 hours of sleep per night!! It's AMAZING what a little extra sleep can do for one's physical and emotional wellbeing...who knew?? ;)

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. And thank you, thank you, Lord, for this beautiful, precious baby girl you have blessed me with. She is such a treasured gift and I cherish her immensely... xoxox