If this kind of generous giving continues, Sophia's going to have it made!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Rock Wall
Pictures from our first family picnic with Sophia:
I don't think she appreciated it as much as Caleb did!
I don't think she appreciated it as much as Caleb did!Firsts
This week, our family experienced a lot of firsts:
Sophia:
-First time opening her eyes, using her lungs, etc.
-First word (Her first cry seriously sounded like, "Mmaaaa Mmaaa!!!"
-First doctor's appointment (They confirmed, "Yep, she's a healthy newborn. Whew, I wasn't sure what I had for a bit....")
-First church service (As usual, she wanted to help with the prayer time.)
-First time down a slide
Caleb:
-First time climbing the sloped rock wall at the park (I love how excited he gets when he reaches the top.)
-First time sharing toys with his baby sister (I love the tiny seeds of thoughtfulness and generosity growing in his heart.)
-First time waking up to someone else crying
Luke:
-First time carrying two kids at once (This was old hat for Deborah.)
Deborah:
-First time walking to the playground with 2 kids
-First time figuring out what order to put multiple kids in the car and take them out of the car (At this point, I think the most mobile kid goes in first and comes out last.)
Luke's been able to take time away from work this week, which has been wonderful. Next week I'm sure there will be many other firsts when he heads back to work and the kids outnumber me all. day. long.
Sophia:
-First time opening her eyes, using her lungs, etc.
-First word (Her first cry seriously sounded like, "Mmaaaa Mmaaa!!!"
-First doctor's appointment (They confirmed, "Yep, she's a healthy newborn. Whew, I wasn't sure what I had for a bit....")
-First church service (As usual, she wanted to help with the prayer time.)
-First time down a slide
Caleb:
-First time climbing the sloped rock wall at the park (I love how excited he gets when he reaches the top.)
-First time sharing toys with his baby sister (I love the tiny seeds of thoughtfulness and generosity growing in his heart.)
-First time waking up to someone else crying
Luke:
-First time carrying two kids at once (This was old hat for Deborah.)
Deborah:
-First time walking to the playground with 2 kids
-First time figuring out what order to put multiple kids in the car and take them out of the car (At this point, I think the most mobile kid goes in first and comes out last.)
Luke's been able to take time away from work this week, which has been wonderful. Next week I'm sure there will be many other firsts when he heads back to work and the kids outnumber me all. day. long.
Baby Product of the Week
The most helpful baby product during the first week of Sophia's life has been the SwaddleMe. While an simple, old-fashioned receiving blanket works (and this is what I use when I'm away from home), the SwaddleMe is easier to use and less prone to breakouts. Basically it's a straight-jacket for babies. At best, it makes Sophia feel secure when she sleeps (as far as I can guess what she's feeling at the moment) . At least, it keeps her from flailing her arms and hitting herself in the face. For us, it means she sleeps better, which helps us sleep better. A winner in my book! Originally our SwaddleMe was a gift from one of my awesome sisters-in-law before Caleb was born. It survived several months of constant use with Caleb and is well on its way to surviving several more months with Sophia.
If you are one of any number of my friends registering for baby items or buying baby gifts in the next few months, consider the SwaddleMe.
If you are one of any number of my friends registering for baby items or buying baby gifts in the next few months, consider the SwaddleMe.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
A Birth Story...
...in which all the gory details are omitted.
Something about the “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign has stuck with me from my elementary school days. Whether it’s street drugs or prescription drugs…just don’t make me take them. I’d like to get through life with as little intervention from doctors and medicine as possible. Don’t get me wrong--I’m very thankful for knowledgeable, skilled doctors and for life-saving drugs. I believe they are gifts from God. But in general, I’d prefer not to have a reason to use them.
When Caleb was born, my labor was induced due to being so far past my due date. So as my daughter’s due date approached and passed, I geared myself up to be pumped full of drugs in order to start the labor and delivery process, yet I was not excited about it. Intellectually, I could agree with the logical reasons and statistics for induction. I hadn’t had a bad experience with induction when Caleb was born. (He was definitely worth it!) But emotionally, I could not reconcile myself to the idea of inducing labor. Induction was something I’d do because I had to, not because I wanted to. Therefore, I reluctantly scheduled the induction with my doctor’s office for Wednesday morning.
About the same time, I asked a few good friends to pray. I asked them to pray that God would reign over my emotions and show his goodness and sovereignty through the labor process—however it happened. I also, rather flippantly, asked them to pray that I’d go into labor on my own Tuesday evening.
Around 2:30 am on Tuesday morning, I woke to a few real contractions. Could Tuesday be the day? As the day wore on, I took Caleb to the park, ate Indian food, and took a 2.5 mile walk with Caleb, all halfway hoping to induce labor without drugs. Nothing.
Tuesday evening my mom drove to town, as planned, so she’d be ready to take care of Caleb while we were in the hospital being induced on Wednesday. That evening, Tuesday evening, the evening my friends were praying about, real labor started and continued. Sophia Constance was born the next day…as “planned.”
Because I went into labor on my own Tuesday evening and Sophia was born on Wednesday:
-my mom was already in town, ready to take care of Caleb.
-I trusted the doctor on call.
-I didn't need to be pumped full of drugs all day!
-labor and delivery went very smoothly (and therefore, recovery is going well, too).
-Luke was able to delegate tasks at work before taking time off.
-We were able to see God at work.
God was so very good to us. I know God could have shown me his sovereignty, his power, and his love in any number of ways through Sophia’s birth. But in this instance, I will remember that God heard my prayers. I will remember that God graciously answered my prayers when I am so undeserving of his answer. And I will remember that God wisely and lovingly gives us exactly what we need (and even what we want sometimes).
How have you seen God answer your prayers lately?
Something about the “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign has stuck with me from my elementary school days. Whether it’s street drugs or prescription drugs…just don’t make me take them. I’d like to get through life with as little intervention from doctors and medicine as possible. Don’t get me wrong--I’m very thankful for knowledgeable, skilled doctors and for life-saving drugs. I believe they are gifts from God. But in general, I’d prefer not to have a reason to use them.
When Caleb was born, my labor was induced due to being so far past my due date. So as my daughter’s due date approached and passed, I geared myself up to be pumped full of drugs in order to start the labor and delivery process, yet I was not excited about it. Intellectually, I could agree with the logical reasons and statistics for induction. I hadn’t had a bad experience with induction when Caleb was born. (He was definitely worth it!) But emotionally, I could not reconcile myself to the idea of inducing labor. Induction was something I’d do because I had to, not because I wanted to. Therefore, I reluctantly scheduled the induction with my doctor’s office for Wednesday morning.
About the same time, I asked a few good friends to pray. I asked them to pray that God would reign over my emotions and show his goodness and sovereignty through the labor process—however it happened. I also, rather flippantly, asked them to pray that I’d go into labor on my own Tuesday evening.
Around 2:30 am on Tuesday morning, I woke to a few real contractions. Could Tuesday be the day? As the day wore on, I took Caleb to the park, ate Indian food, and took a 2.5 mile walk with Caleb, all halfway hoping to induce labor without drugs. Nothing.
Tuesday evening my mom drove to town, as planned, so she’d be ready to take care of Caleb while we were in the hospital being induced on Wednesday. That evening, Tuesday evening, the evening my friends were praying about, real labor started and continued. Sophia Constance was born the next day…as “planned.”
Because I went into labor on my own Tuesday evening and Sophia was born on Wednesday:
-my mom was already in town, ready to take care of Caleb.
-I trusted the doctor on call.
-I didn't need to be pumped full of drugs all day!
-labor and delivery went very smoothly (and therefore, recovery is going well, too).
-Luke was able to delegate tasks at work before taking time off.
-We were able to see God at work.
God was so very good to us. I know God could have shown me his sovereignty, his power, and his love in any number of ways through Sophia’s birth. But in this instance, I will remember that God heard my prayers. I will remember that God graciously answered my prayers when I am so undeserving of his answer. And I will remember that God wisely and lovingly gives us exactly what we need (and even what we want sometimes).
How have you seen God answer your prayers lately?
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Picture Update
Our family of four
enjoying a birthday party for Sophia at the hospital
including cupcakes, made by Caleb and his grandma. (The sprinkles were Caleb's specialty, I hear.)
One Sophia ready to leave the hospital.
One Caleb welcoming us home...or rather, wanting to play with more bubbles. I think he had so much fun with grandma that I don't think he missed us at all.
Grandma and Sophia
Daddy time!
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