The day started off at 6:50 am. There was no school, and I turned of the boy's alarm clock the night before so they could sleep in a bit. But the little buggers didn't sleep in at all...in fact they got up earlier than a regular school day! Why do they do that? Seriously, why do they drag their everything on school days when they need to get up and moving, but on weekends they are up at the crack of way-too-early! Sheesh. Yet, I have to admit, I remember getting up early on Saturday mornings, very early, and my parents asking the same thing of me. Oh well.
Today was our first day with baby Faith. Oh, what a sweet little dumpling she is!! She's tiny, and when you hold her she smooshes into you, just right, and her head smells like delicate flowers and her eyes are amazing. And for the most part she's very easy going and content...unless she's hungry or stinky. Then she really lets you know that she has a need and you have to tend to it, after you figure out what need of hers needs to be met!
When her daddy brought her this morning with all her various accessories, he was very organized in his way of showing me what everything was and how it worked. I got the biggest kick out of that! Such a good, protective daddy, making sure his baby princess will receive the utmost care. But still, having had two of my own and cared for how many others in various settings... *sigh*, I smiled, nodded, and let him show me because he had to make sure he remembered everything and he wanted to be sure there were no possible questions that arose when it was just baby and me. The pack-and-play was just like the last one I fought with (Faith's daddy had a better hang of the mechanics than her mommy and I), and the Snugli could have been the very one I used to put Andrew in. Her car seat was identical to the ones the boys had, but her bouncy seat was the fancy kind with vibrations and music. When they arrived this morning, Bailey went into his usual chorus, or rather cacophony, of barks to warn us of an interloper and when I opened the door to a strange man carrying very foreign, big things he was fit to be tied. I put him on the balcony, which is "doggy time out". The boys descended on Faith with coos and gentle strokes of her cheek. We got out the big vat of hand sanitizer and I set the rule that before the kids touched her, they needed to wash their hands with soap and water, or use the sanitizer. They were fanatical about that sanitizer. After a while the other girls arrived and were immediately in love with the baby too. But almost as soon as they walked in the door Andrew was there with the sanitizer for them! It was so cute! Usually, the big girls are great about where their coats and shoes go when they arrive (coats on hooks, shoes on rack), but with this tiny little person to become acquainted with, coats and shoes were strewn on the floor in the general sorta vicinity of their intended destination. Coat, shmoat! There's a BABY!
I knew that the big kids, Andrew and Kylee, would be phenomenal helpers, and that Matthew and Dilynn would be able to help as well. I was concerned that Charlie (almost 2 years) would not be happy to share my lap with the infant, but it turned out that she was amazing!! When I gave the baby her bottle Faith had a hard time at first because I'm not who she wanted me to be. I thought about doing what that old commercial did and printing out a life-size pic of her mommy's face and putting it over mine as a mask, but I think she would have known I wasn't the real deal when I spoke. Oh well.
At lunch time everyone was hungry. So Andrew and I took it in shifts to occupy Faith while I prepared her bottle and lunch for everyone else. Then Matthew peeled the cucumbers, Andrew sliced them, Kylee and Andrew plated lunch, Dilynn set the table, and Charlie helped me give the baby some of her bottle. We had popcorn chicken, seasoned French-fries, cucumbers and chocolate milk. While we were eating, Charlie offered one of here cucumber slices to the baby! After lunch the kids took their plates and cups to the sink and tucked in their chairs. These kids were so incredibly helpful and responsible! Have I been underestimating them all this time? Or did they just kick it up a notch for the peace and quiet of a contented baby? Either way, I am grateful for their teamwork today. Amazing kids!!
Faith cat napped here and there, and she took two good naps, one of which was while in the Snugli. It took me back to Andrew's infancy and allowed me to enjoy some of those same special, warm, snugly moments. Charlie, on the other hand, had a much rougher time with naps. Just when she was sound asleep, both times, she was awakened much too soon. Andrew and I got Charlie's nap spot all set, and she climbed up her step-stool onto the bed and into her spot (she was really tired!), and we covered her, gave her the bear she loves to sleep with, and turned on her special sleepy-time music. Then Andrew laid down with her, held her hand and smiled at her, as she fell asleep. Unfortunately the poor little sweetheart didn't get to enjoy her slumber, and I really am sorry for her. But, amazingly, incredibly, she wasn't fussy or demanding in spite of it.
At one point I got a call from a friend of mine letting me know that her mother was very ill. I don't want to say too much, I don't want to give away info that isn't mine to give, but suffice it to say this is a potentially bleak situation. My friend's mom isn't particularly old, but her life hasn't been very easy on her. Maybe no one's life is exactly easy...I don't know. But I'm sad for my friend. It hasn't really sunk in yet she said. I can understand that. I feel bad for my friend's mom, no one deserves what she's facing...ever. I told Andrew a little of what was going on because he saw my reaction when I got the news and he was very concerned. He asked what would happen to her. How do you answer that while still holding onto hope, not scaring the child, and honoring your religion? I told him that there's nothing we can do, that it's all God's plan. I explained that if God wants my friend's mom in heaven now then we need to honor His will. Yeah, it would be hard for us here because we would miss her, but if He needs her, then that's His plan and we'll support each other when we feel her absence the most. But I also told him that God works in amazing and mysterious ways and if it's His will to heal her, if it's not her time to go be with Jesus yet, then of course we would rejoice and praise God for the miracle, and we would treasure our time with her that much more. But I told him the most important thing to do is pray for God's will, and be here for our friends. He understood. If anything happens,... you know what? I'm not going to say it. I'm not going to put it out there. Just, if you could, please pray for that family...
That's the circle of life, isn't it? Holding a 3 month old baby in y0ur arms and hearing of a grandmother's illness while the house is abuzz with kids and energy. Our time here is brief. I know, lots of cliches here, but they're said so often because they're true. Love your family and friends, be kind to strangers, give from your heart without expectation, and be open to His will. That's how you lead a full, successful life. You can't take anything with you when you go, but hopefully you will meet those you loved in a place with golden streets when your time comes.
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