On talking about contentment: Can't we all be equally content? Paul says that "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim 6:6). When we surrender to God the cumbersome sack of discontent, we don't just given up something. We gain something. God replaces it with a lightweight, tailor-made, sorrow-resistant attache of gratitude. What will you gain with contentment? You may gain your marriage (which has been stressed with the arrival of our newborn baby girl!), precious hours with your children (yay!!!), your self-respect, joy...
On talking about worry: "Let us therefore boldy approach the throne of our gracious God, where we may receive mercy and in his grace find timely help (Heb 4:16)."...Since I know his provision is timely, I can enjoy the present. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes (Matt. 6:34. Msg). (I really need this to speak to my heart as I'm trying to balance enjoying this sweet, tender time with Avery and getting her on some kind of schedule...sigh).
On talking about hopelessness: Our Shepherd majors in restoring hope to the soul. Whether you are a lamb lost on a craggy ledge or a city slicker alone in a deep jungle, everything changes when your rescuer appears. Your loneliness diminishes, because you have fellowship. Your despair decreases because you have vision. Your confusion begins to lift because you have direction.
Avery is 5 weeks old today! She is soooo sweet and I love her more and more each day. Seriously. She is so precious and I really, really love being her mom. Her schedule is going pretty well. She has been sleeping great at night, although she is noisy! She grunts and squeaks for a while before she drifts off to deep sleep. A white noise maker and ear plugs have come in really handy for me. Her "long stretch" is between 1 am and 5:30 am. She's been doing really well with going back to sleep after eating too. That makes for a great night!
She has been smiling more and loves taking baths. Her umbilical cord stump is STILL ON, so we do wash cloth baths. She just coos and babbles and is really alert the whole time! I think the sound of the running water is what she may like the most...plus all the attention from me:)
She loves her little lambs swing and pink bouncy chair...and we've started tummy time too. I think she gets a little confused about what she's supposed to be doing on her stomach, but I think she'll get the hang of it soon.
The blinds on the windows and the ceiling fans are sure fire ways of getting her attention. She also likes doing the "fast walks" with Wade around the house (he literally just holds her in his arms and walks really quickly around the house - she loves it!). Car ride and stoller rides are quick sleep inducers too.
Alrighty....gotta go and get my day started! Hope to get in a nap today too.
Sara-Do not fret, I just got Trace on an actual routine morning to night when he was like 4 months old. He now does great but still wakes up around 4 or 5 in the morning to eat.
ReplyDeleteI was the type person that didn't really try to get them on a schedule and let him make his own and it has worked out great. So if it doesn't work, just know that there are other ways to get her on a good schedule.
He also just started napping in his crib or pack-n-play like a month ago. The lady that keeps him got him doing that and now he takes 2 1.5-2 hour naps a day. (morning and afternoon)
So once she gets a little older, it will be easier. Until then, just enjoy every minute you have with her. Please call if you ever need anything or just to vent, etc.