Baby girl hit the three month mark last week, and oh are we grateful. She has been such a calm, adaptable baby, but her arrival (and let's be honest, many of the months leading up to it) made for quite a hurricane in our little family, and every day that passes with a slight slowing of the waters is one that I'm thankful for. Three months in, we're all sleeping again and beginning to get used to our new routines. The boys have settled into school and I to carpool and homework and the rhythms of caring for an infant again. I find, actually, that at this point the most pressing burdens aren't the physical ones, but the emotional--the constant wondering about how this juggling routine is really going for each of my children, and whether I'm missing things that they need. In other words, guilt is always lingering on the edges of my mind, threatening to invade as I take my eyes off of faith.
It's not an easy time for us, but it is full of profound blessings. Our days are peppered with evidences of God's love and faithfulness, one of the most significant being this precious little one. You wouldn't know it from the photos (she's still not sure what to make of my camera), but she's beginning to do lots of smiling and even laughing! She moves her mouth and makes all sorts of chirping and squealing noises, as if she's trying to imitate the cadence of conversation. The boys never did this and Jim and I find it fascinating--I wonder if we're going to have a talker?
Baby girl loves to grasp and hold toys, but at present her very favorite object is her hand. Which is nice, because we've had to take away her swaddle and munching on her fingers seems to soothe her to sleep in its absence. Isn't it funny--we've just worked so hard to get Little Brother to stop sucking his thumb, but we're cheering baby girl on as she develops the same bad habit. I wonder what kids would do if they really understood what a crazy, confused bunch we parents are?
I hope you're all well! I continue to miss our conversations and will keep posting when I have a moment here and there. Happy Monday!
Yes, isn't it funny that parents confuse kids in this way by allowing them to do something and then retract? I'm sure they ultimately do not confuse them but what is the harm in a young kid sucking their thumb? I'm wondering if focusing on finding other forms of comfort or digging deeper to find solutions to insecurities, if this is in fact the reason why he sucks his thumb. Let kids be kids. I think parents are more worried what others around them think when a child is sucking their thumb at age four or nursing at age three or other things which are of comfort to them.
ReplyDelete-Latoya-
Thanks, Latoya--I agree with you that we parents often allow ourselves to get too nervous, over-adviced, and certainly too worried about the opinions of others. Our little guy was actually beginning to develop some rather sizable issues with his bite and his teeth, so we've been acting on the advice of our dentist. Fortunately, he seems to have dropped it rather easily!
ReplyDeleteHope you are well and. Enjoying that sweet blessing ...miss you.
ReplyDeleteKimmie
Mama to 8
one homemade and 7 adopted
Hope you are well and. Enjoying that sweet blessing ...miss you.
ReplyDeleteKimmie
Mama to 8
one homemade and 7 adopted