My son is 4 weeks old. I'm obviously enjoying every moment we share together, cuddling, nursing, crying and observing the big world together. I find that each day he seems slightly different than the day before. He seems to track with his eyes more and his awake hours in general are quite fun. Although running in a close second place are the silly little chuckles and big goofy grins he displays while contentedly snoozing. I find that I don't want to put him down and I feel compelled to begin teaching him in the most simplistic way,singing, talking and exploring the baby in the mirror together. I don't want to miss a beat. I know, I know.. it sounds like I have the first time mom anxiety of doing it wrong.. but really I just want to be a good mother. I totally get that it's a trial and error thing. I love my son and want to be the best mom I possibly can.
So, Steve and I have wracked our brains trying to think of songs to sing and sadly we're quite understudied in this department. I mean we remember titles or first lines but then look quizically at each other as we hum the next bar and fade out. "Hush little baby don't say a word mama's gonna.. hum hum hu-humm mmm mmm..." It's definitly a sad state. To remedy this, Steve sent me on a mission to find baby song lyrics online. There is a wonderful site called The Teachers Guide that I think will become a good friend of mine. There are many songs with lyrics to choose from. To my glee, I ran across one of my favorite grade school songs of all times.
"Sing it if you know it..."
Apples and Bananas
I like to eat, eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
I like to eat, eat, eat, eat apples and bananas
I like to ate, ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays
I like to ate, ate, ate, ate ay-ples and ba-nay-nays
I like to eat, eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees
I like to eat, eat, eat, eat ee-ples and bee-nee-nees
I like to ite, ite, ite, ite i-ples and by-ny-nys
I like to ite, ite, ite, ite i-ples and by-ny-nys
I like to ote, ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos
I like to ote, ote, ote, ote oh-ples and bo-no-nos
I like to oot, oot, oot, oot oo-ples and boo-noo-noos
I like to oot, oot, oot, oot oo-ples and boo-noo-noos
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Sleep... Eat... Poop...
It is such the life... Needs are all met, sleep all day long, hot meals prepared upon demand. Well, I guess even though these things are precipitated by crying and screaming it can't be too bad. Now that I'm analyizing it.. I really do value the ability to use the toilet. Sigh.
Oh well! On to more fun, exciting things. More pictures of course!
This is what I call the "getting dressed" series:
And the Final Result?
Cute, no?
Oh well! On to more fun, exciting things. More pictures of course!
This is what I call the "getting dressed" series:
And the Final Result?
Cute, no?
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
General Update on Life!
Life is generally good!
We've been blessed since L. arrived to have family visiting and helping around the house! First my mom was here, then my sister Michelle and her hubby Bobby were up from Charleston for a night. My dad and Tara arrived Wednesday night and also my sister Christy was up from Atlanta for a night. We're sad that they'll be leaving Monday morning.
L. is doing great. He met his Great Grandmother Beulah and Great Uncle Jim last Thursday. It was a treat to have them down for a little while.
He is stretching and trying to hold his head up. He's gaining weight like a champ- eating often and well. S. weighed him a few days ago and he was already up to 10 lbs. We all cheered when his cord fell off last week. And we gave him his first 'real' bath Saturday.
His sleeping pattern is starting to become evident: he sleeps 3 hour stretches at night and usually takes a long nap in the morning and a long nap in the afternoon. Unfortunately for him the Baby Acne has begun. And although he'll hate me for it later...
We've been blessed since L. arrived to have family visiting and helping around the house! First my mom was here, then my sister Michelle and her hubby Bobby were up from Charleston for a night. My dad and Tara arrived Wednesday night and also my sister Christy was up from Atlanta for a night. We're sad that they'll be leaving Monday morning.
L. is doing great. He met his Great Grandmother Beulah and Great Uncle Jim last Thursday. It was a treat to have them down for a little while.
He is stretching and trying to hold his head up. He's gaining weight like a champ- eating often and well. S. weighed him a few days ago and he was already up to 10 lbs. We all cheered when his cord fell off last week. And we gave him his first 'real' bath Saturday.
His sleeping pattern is starting to become evident: he sleeps 3 hour stretches at night and usually takes a long nap in the morning and a long nap in the afternoon. Unfortunately for him the Baby Acne has begun. And although he'll hate me for it later...
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Bris Milah: Day 8
October 26th, 2007 we celebrated our sons non-traditional Bris Milah. Translated: Covenant of Circumcision.
Some may wonder why we would celebrate this Jewish ceremony being devout Christian believers. I would love to share our convictions with you to the fullest extent but I think for Blogspot I'll give the nutshell version. We feel that although this (and other) Jewish traditions/commandments/laws are not commonly practiced in the Christian church, God is still honored by our keeping of them. There is no saving power other than Christs' Blood sacrifice that covers sin, and we don't believe that these actions merit a place in heaven on their own but instead show a humble and obedient heart to the Lord. This thought is often met with scorn from Christians, with the rebuttal that we are released from the law and there is no need or requirement to keep the Jewish Law. For our family though, we don't look at it this way. After Christ, who was Jewish, came saving all ethnic groups it became a universal God thing, not a Jewish thing.
So, for us, we celebrate our son, giving him back to the Lord with the shedding of blood via circumcision- honoring the commandment God gave His people. This shedding of blood entered Abraham into covenant with God looking forward to Messiah's shed blood as salvation for all.
On to the ceremony:
Dr. Kulbersh a local Ob/Gyn, by recommendation from Beth Shalom Synagogue, agreed to perform the circ. We met in his office. Jacob, Bethany and Lucy attended, as well as my mother and my hubby and of course the star of the show, Levi. Jacob read some scriptures. Steve served communion. Then L. was circumcised. S. gave the reason behind his name, (L. W.) and Dr. Kulbersh spoke a blessing over L.
It was a difficult thing to watch as a mother, but it was quick and L. did beautifully. God doesn't call us to a life of ease, but rather to pick up our cross and follow Him. There are sacrifices of the flesh that we all must make, for me it was my desire to protect my son, and for L. it was a literal sacrifice of a bit of flesh. Our prayer is that Levi grows into a strong man of God, and as his name reflects that 'God will be his portion'.
Some may wonder why we would celebrate this Jewish ceremony being devout Christian believers. I would love to share our convictions with you to the fullest extent but I think for Blogspot I'll give the nutshell version. We feel that although this (and other) Jewish traditions/commandments/laws are not commonly practiced in the Christian church, God is still honored by our keeping of them. There is no saving power other than Christs' Blood sacrifice that covers sin, and we don't believe that these actions merit a place in heaven on their own but instead show a humble and obedient heart to the Lord. This thought is often met with scorn from Christians, with the rebuttal that we are released from the law and there is no need or requirement to keep the Jewish Law. For our family though, we don't look at it this way. After Christ, who was Jewish, came saving all ethnic groups it became a universal God thing, not a Jewish thing.
So, for us, we celebrate our son, giving him back to the Lord with the shedding of blood via circumcision- honoring the commandment God gave His people. This shedding of blood entered Abraham into covenant with God looking forward to Messiah's shed blood as salvation for all.
On to the ceremony:
Dr. Kulbersh a local Ob/Gyn, by recommendation from Beth Shalom Synagogue, agreed to perform the circ. We met in his office. Jacob, Bethany and Lucy attended, as well as my mother and my hubby and of course the star of the show, Levi. Jacob read some scriptures. Steve served communion. Then L. was circumcised. S. gave the reason behind his name, (L. W.) and Dr. Kulbersh spoke a blessing over L.
It was a difficult thing to watch as a mother, but it was quick and L. did beautifully. God doesn't call us to a life of ease, but rather to pick up our cross and follow Him. There are sacrifices of the flesh that we all must make, for me it was my desire to protect my son, and for L. it was a literal sacrifice of a bit of flesh. Our prayer is that Levi grows into a strong man of God, and as his name reflects that 'God will be his portion'.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Five days old and loving life!
My son...... The most beautiful baby boy in the universe. We are simply loving our time with him day and night. We're over the humps most ladies face in breastfeeding and now we're just enjoying each moment as it comes. Currently L. is dosing on my chest as I recline on the sofa... suppressing sleep so as to update this blog.
There are no words to describe being a mother. And it is very true you don't understand a mother's love until you are one. It's the weight of the world in love. I would give anything for this little guy. And I appreciate my own mother and all that she has done for me through the years.
Last night as we watched him sleep I asked L. to say 5 days old forever.. to which my husband frowned and said he wanted him to grow up so he could do all the father-son things. Playing catch, learning about outdoors, camping, bugs. S. is such an awesome man. He's so present in our lives. He isn't off somewhere mentally- spaced out on what really matters. And until L. grows bigger Papa will have to be patient and love him like he is below.
L. is priority Number 1! And how could he not be with a face like an angel...
We are thrilled that he is here and he is entrusted to our care. May God find us to be faithful stewards of His precious little creation.
There are no words to describe being a mother. And it is very true you don't understand a mother's love until you are one. It's the weight of the world in love. I would give anything for this little guy. And I appreciate my own mother and all that she has done for me through the years.
Last night as we watched him sleep I asked L. to say 5 days old forever.. to which my husband frowned and said he wanted him to grow up so he could do all the father-son things. Playing catch, learning about outdoors, camping, bugs. S. is such an awesome man. He's so present in our lives. He isn't off somewhere mentally- spaced out on what really matters. And until L. grows bigger Papa will have to be patient and love him like he is below.
L. is priority Number 1! And how could he not be with a face like an angel...
We are thrilled that he is here and he is entrusted to our care. May God find us to be faithful stewards of His precious little creation.
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