I've really enjoyed my week off so far. Wes was able to take off the whole week for Christmas this year, and it's been really nice having him at home. I like being at home together and doing things together. We both agree that this has been the best Christmas we've had since we've been married, and we imagine that next year will be even better with Isaac being in the picture.
Aunt Angi gave us a brand new crib a couple weeks ago. We were both very shocked by that. We thought Aunt Angi planned on giving us Lacy's old crib (which isn't really that old, since Lacy is only 13). Instead, though, she gave my mom the old crib and bought us a brand new one. It's a sleigh crib in a dark cherry color, and it's beautiful.
Today, we bought a dresser for the nursery. It's not a perfect match to the crib, but it's pretty close. It's good quality too, so we expect it to last until Isaac moves out of the house. And thankfully, we didn't have to spend much of our own money to buy it, due to a very generous gift from my grandfather.
I worked in the nursery a little bit tonight, putting things away in the dresser and setting up the mobile. I felt so happy when I was doing that. As I was putting clothes, bibs, and other things away, I imagined Isaac wearing those things, thinking about how cute he's going to be. I thought about how much I can't wait to hold him and rock him. I thought about him looking up at the mobile in wonder, listening to the music and watching Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eyeore circle around him. Wes walked in there at one point and said, "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" Happiness overwhelmed me as I said, "Yep!"
Three baby showers have been planned for January now. My family is throwing a shower on Saturday, January 12th. We'll invite all of our family and friends to that one. My church is having a shower for us on Sunday, January 13th. Everyone from our church and Old Fellowship (our home church) will be invited to that one. Then my coworkers are throwing a shower for me on Thursday, January 24th. So far, I've registered at Toys 'R' Us. Later this week, I plan to register at Wal-Mart. The only big ticket items that we need are a changing table, gliding rocking chair, and toy box. Everything else we need is still essential - diapers, bottles, crib sheets, clothes, etc. - but we're going to wait until after all the showers are over to buy anything else.
Last week, I mentioned that I was a little frustrated with people being so negative about child-rearing. Since that time, I have had people tell me more of the positives concerning motherhood. I've been very thankful for that. Yes, I know it will be a huge adjustment, and things will be difficult, but I really needed to hear someone tell me it's worth it. And I did. Wes and I went to Guido Gardens this weekend and ran into someone that we know, and the person told us just that. His exact words were, "Well your lives are fixin' to change, but it'll be for the best. It's worth it." We also had some friends join us for a communion service on Sunday night, and they brought their two children with them. They seemed so happy with their kids, and they were a joy to be around. I mentioned to another friend that I was behind on Christmas shopping but that I should probably get used to that now. She said that yes, things will be different with Isaac here next year, but I'll take him with me everywhere and that I'll learn to adapt to having less sleep and less personal time. That made me feel better. Before, when I heard all the negatives, I'd honestly think, What did we do? I never stopped being happy about being pregnant, but I'd become very apprehensive about our impending parenthood. So hearing the good side of things has been very reassuring.
One of the gifts I received this Christmas is a book called Parenting by the Book, by John Rosemond. There have been a couple nights that I've had trouble sleeping, so I've already read the first 62 pages. It's been very enlightening so far, and it's opened up some great discussions with me and Wes. It's also causing me to re-evaluate the way I think about things. One thing that the author says really stuck out to me yesterday:
"If a perfect God could not raise children who were perfectly obedient, what chance do you have? The Adam and Eve principle: No matter how good a parent you are, your child is still capable on any given day of doing something despicable, disgusting, or depraved" (36).
I think that's something I always knew, but put that way, it gave me a different perspective. In all the many years that Wes and I have been working with children, we've seen many things that would break anyone's heart. There have also been some things that have happened in my own life that I do not want repeated in my home. So that's been something on my mind quite a bit, that I want to do whatever I can to give Isaac a good start in life. I know there's no such thing as the perfect parent or the perfect child, but I don't want to do anything that will be a huge detriment to him. Hearing John Rosemond put things in those terms took a burden off my shoulders. We can lay the foundation, but ultimately, Isaac will have free will just like everyone else in the human race, and he'll be responsible for his own decisions.
For a while, my prayers were focused on having a healthy pregnancy, Isaac's physical and mental development, and a safe delivery. Lately, though, my prayers have shifted more towards his character and spiritual development. I still pray for those other things, of course, but above all, I want him to have a relationship with God. And that has motivated me to want to be a better person myself. The whole idea, "Do what I say, not what I do" doesn't work too well, in my opinion. Isaac will be more interested in what Wes and I are modeling for him on a daily basis. And if I've learned anything from working with children, it's that they imitate everything.
I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning. I'm not having any problems right now - just the usual swelling (but not too much swelling), back pain, and difficulty sleeping. I'm still exercising every week. Usually, I'll do yoga one day, work with weights another day, and walk over a mile once or twice a week. The main thing I want to talk to my doctor about tomorrow is my birthing plan. My next appointment will be January 8th, and then after that I'll have weekly appointments. So, less than two months to go now. Time is flying!
Aunt Angi gave us a brand new crib a couple weeks ago. We were both very shocked by that. We thought Aunt Angi planned on giving us Lacy's old crib (which isn't really that old, since Lacy is only 13). Instead, though, she gave my mom the old crib and bought us a brand new one. It's a sleigh crib in a dark cherry color, and it's beautiful.
Today, we bought a dresser for the nursery. It's not a perfect match to the crib, but it's pretty close. It's good quality too, so we expect it to last until Isaac moves out of the house. And thankfully, we didn't have to spend much of our own money to buy it, due to a very generous gift from my grandfather.
I worked in the nursery a little bit tonight, putting things away in the dresser and setting up the mobile. I felt so happy when I was doing that. As I was putting clothes, bibs, and other things away, I imagined Isaac wearing those things, thinking about how cute he's going to be. I thought about how much I can't wait to hold him and rock him. I thought about him looking up at the mobile in wonder, listening to the music and watching Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eyeore circle around him. Wes walked in there at one point and said, "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" Happiness overwhelmed me as I said, "Yep!"
Three baby showers have been planned for January now. My family is throwing a shower on Saturday, January 12th. We'll invite all of our family and friends to that one. My church is having a shower for us on Sunday, January 13th. Everyone from our church and Old Fellowship (our home church) will be invited to that one. Then my coworkers are throwing a shower for me on Thursday, January 24th. So far, I've registered at Toys 'R' Us. Later this week, I plan to register at Wal-Mart. The only big ticket items that we need are a changing table, gliding rocking chair, and toy box. Everything else we need is still essential - diapers, bottles, crib sheets, clothes, etc. - but we're going to wait until after all the showers are over to buy anything else.
Last week, I mentioned that I was a little frustrated with people being so negative about child-rearing. Since that time, I have had people tell me more of the positives concerning motherhood. I've been very thankful for that. Yes, I know it will be a huge adjustment, and things will be difficult, but I really needed to hear someone tell me it's worth it. And I did. Wes and I went to Guido Gardens this weekend and ran into someone that we know, and the person told us just that. His exact words were, "Well your lives are fixin' to change, but it'll be for the best. It's worth it." We also had some friends join us for a communion service on Sunday night, and they brought their two children with them. They seemed so happy with their kids, and they were a joy to be around. I mentioned to another friend that I was behind on Christmas shopping but that I should probably get used to that now. She said that yes, things will be different with Isaac here next year, but I'll take him with me everywhere and that I'll learn to adapt to having less sleep and less personal time. That made me feel better. Before, when I heard all the negatives, I'd honestly think, What did we do? I never stopped being happy about being pregnant, but I'd become very apprehensive about our impending parenthood. So hearing the good side of things has been very reassuring.
One of the gifts I received this Christmas is a book called Parenting by the Book, by John Rosemond. There have been a couple nights that I've had trouble sleeping, so I've already read the first 62 pages. It's been very enlightening so far, and it's opened up some great discussions with me and Wes. It's also causing me to re-evaluate the way I think about things. One thing that the author says really stuck out to me yesterday:
"If a perfect God could not raise children who were perfectly obedient, what chance do you have? The Adam and Eve principle: No matter how good a parent you are, your child is still capable on any given day of doing something despicable, disgusting, or depraved" (36).
I think that's something I always knew, but put that way, it gave me a different perspective. In all the many years that Wes and I have been working with children, we've seen many things that would break anyone's heart. There have also been some things that have happened in my own life that I do not want repeated in my home. So that's been something on my mind quite a bit, that I want to do whatever I can to give Isaac a good start in life. I know there's no such thing as the perfect parent or the perfect child, but I don't want to do anything that will be a huge detriment to him. Hearing John Rosemond put things in those terms took a burden off my shoulders. We can lay the foundation, but ultimately, Isaac will have free will just like everyone else in the human race, and he'll be responsible for his own decisions.
For a while, my prayers were focused on having a healthy pregnancy, Isaac's physical and mental development, and a safe delivery. Lately, though, my prayers have shifted more towards his character and spiritual development. I still pray for those other things, of course, but above all, I want him to have a relationship with God. And that has motivated me to want to be a better person myself. The whole idea, "Do what I say, not what I do" doesn't work too well, in my opinion. Isaac will be more interested in what Wes and I are modeling for him on a daily basis. And if I've learned anything from working with children, it's that they imitate everything.
I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning. I'm not having any problems right now - just the usual swelling (but not too much swelling), back pain, and difficulty sleeping. I'm still exercising every week. Usually, I'll do yoga one day, work with weights another day, and walk over a mile once or twice a week. The main thing I want to talk to my doctor about tomorrow is my birthing plan. My next appointment will be January 8th, and then after that I'll have weekly appointments. So, less than two months to go now. Time is flying!
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