A certain someone is very excited for another baby to join our family this spring …
“Mommy, let your baby out,” my three year old says, patting my belly and pulling up my shirt while we snuggle in the late afternoon warmth of the girls’ bedroom.
She giggles when the baby kicks her hand and pokes at my belly button.
“Mommy, when’s the baby coming? I hope it’s soon,” Lucia, my six year old says, pipes up, while she plays on the carpet, spreading out her peel and stick paper dolls.
Soon, I soon, but not too soon. {32 weeks now …}
It’s amazing how the world has turned something – having a baby – so wonderful, such a gift of the Lord, into something dreadful, something to be avoided. Children – of all ages! – are a blessing from Heaven – we need to start seeing that and realizing it. I read somewhere that the society welcomes debts and declines God’s blessings {children} when the Bible says to avoid debt and welcome God’s blessings into our lives. How backwards!
Although uncomfortable with some serious Braxton Hicks (they annoyingly pester each pregnancy), I’m enjoying this last little while before a new one joins our family … and yet in so many ways, it feels as if this baby is already here. He or she is very active – I can feel his or her little bum as it dances its way around the womb. Tiny heels press the sides of my stomach. I know when the baby is sleeping and when the baby wakes …
We are already a family of eight even though, despite the fact that the baby has not yet officially arrived.
A relative came by earlier this week and clicked her tongue, shook her head and wagged her finger … she told my oldest that mommy will no longer have time for her when the baby comes … shockingly, she then continued to tell my 10 year old that she’s a big girl now, she doesn’t need her mommy as much … but “not to worry, mommy will be busy and will have her hands full with the baby.”
Well, I don’t believe this relative intended her words to harm or hurt, but I could see the light in my daughter’s eyes dim and her face fell as she walked out of the kitchen sadly. She has always dreaded growing up and having that fact pointed out to her was not a balm to her little soul.
Later that day, I found her in her room, playing, and I gently told her that it would never matter how many babies I had – she was my first baby. And how delightful that was! She will always be important to me. There will always be time for her. And time for another baby. What our relative said was wrong – a new baby did not mean I didn’t need her around or would want to hold the baby more than spend time with her. We are a family. And together, we will grow and live life, blend our memories together, create moments and grow – together. Having another baby does not mean my oldest – or any of the children – will be pushed further down the line where my arms will not reach. It means my heart grows yet again and there is more love for each child that God has given me …
Quite honestly, I have found a new baby in the house brings a family together in amazing ways. The children are truly excited for a new little one and they pray daily for the baby! Tomorrow, they will help me prepare the baby nursery and in a little while, we will put our brains together and pick out the baby’s name … once our little bundle arrives, my bigger daughters will be able to snuggle and care for the baby in a new way while the middle and younger babies will have a new playmate eventually and will delight in watching this little one grow and change. They see what joy a baby can bring to a family …
I say, bring on the joy and blessings! Let my heart grow and feel new love for each of the children God has given us.
“Children are not a distraction from more important work.
They are the most important work.”
-Sally Clarkson
This post is linked up at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home:
by Gigi
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