Long Days, Short Years

My friend Pam, who is like a mother figure, told me something a couple weeks ago and I have thought of it many times (and even quoted her) since then.  We were talking about the exhaustion you feel when you are a mother of a newborn.  She said, "Oh, the days are long but the years are short." I know that is true.  And when you think of it that way, it changes your attitude about not getting over a few hours of sleep at one time in weeks and weeks, and being spit up on again and again, and changing yet another diaper of a fussy little baby.  Instead you cherish each smile, each cuddle, each moment you can just stare at your little one's face as she sleeps.

I think I am thinking of this more this morning because so many things are reminding me today how short the years can be.

My college roommate, and friend who is more like a sister, lost her dad six years ago today.  I have thought of and prayed for her a lot today.  His years were short, but full.  And I am sure he would be so proud of her and her little family.

This of course reminds me of the pain of losing my mom, and the fact that she isn't here to experience motherhood with me.  But I feel like I understand a little more her love she had for me...and how she served me so selflessly when I made her days long.  I wish her years had been longer too.

I was rocking Ellie and singing to her earlier today.  The words of the song said, "I'm trading my sorrow for the joy of the Lord." And my mind went to my friend who is demonstrating that so clearly now.  She is 31, been married one and a half years, her son turned 6 months on the 1st, and she is now in hospice care from her battle with brain cancer.  But something her mom wrote has stuck with me.  She wrote about how my friend watched her son get his first bath in a big person bath this week. And what did she do?  As she watched him she decided to get in, clothes and all, to join him.  This just struck me so much.  She is soaking up every moment and living it to its fullest.  She knows the days are long, and the years are short.  It makes me think that even a long day can be short.

I want to live life like my friend.

All of this is a reminder today to appreciate the long days.  They are times spent with those I love. Cause the years can go by in such a short time.

Ellie's First Bible Study

Today was a monumental day.  Well, not really...but it felt like it! haha! I got to go to my first Mommy Bible Study.  Even though I was late (and I am a very punctual person normally) the ladies were so sweet to wait for me and Ellie.  And it was so worth the drive out there to just spend time with peers who have gone through all the life changes I am going through now.

I told Ellie before we got there, as we were driving through the country side, that we were going to go and introduce her to new friends.  The kids there will be many of the kids that she will grow up with at church, and they were so sweet to her.  Olivia came up and didn't make a sound but just touched Ellie's hand.  And Aiden was so sweet, even though he is all boy, he sat next to her in her car seat and just smiled at her and said she was cute.

Afterwards, a handful of us went to the tulip festival, which just happened to literally be next door to the home we had our study at.  When I was a kid and we lived outside of Seattle, we would go to a tulip festival near our home.  And it was fun to do the same with Ellie today.  Maybe it will turn into a tradition.  It was a nice afternoon and I appreciated the warmth of the sun beating down on us...I am so glad I went.  I had wondered if it would be too much for Ellie in one day to do both, but she did great! No tears at all.

I am trying to learn a balance with how to keep going in life and getting things done and go places....yet, not set Ellie up to fail by pushing her too hard that she has a melt down.  I have yet to take her somewhere where she breaks down.  I know it is bound to happen sometime....but I am trying to prevent as much as possible, yet still keep living.  Oh...the lessons that come with parenthood. :)

Even though Ellie slept for half the time we were gone, I don't think it was very deep sleep and she is out!  She is sleeping so hard right now as she naps.  So I just made a pot of decaf coffee and think I will enjoy some "me" time before I try to take a mini nap myself before Caleb gets home.  I slowly think life is becoming more "normal" again.  Except normal is now more full with little Elliot here with us.  

On a side note, driving through the countryside today made me want to move out there even more.  It was so peaceful and relaxing.  Caleb and I have been praying about moving that direction, since that is where he works.  So we will see what God does.  In the meantime we pray.  Who knows what is in our future!  Regardless, it is fun to dream with God.  If not, I will still have my bi-weekly drives out there for Mommy's group. :)

Ellie's First Month

This last month we went from being a family of just the two of us (which we loved), to now being a family of three (which is even fuller)!  It has brought with it so many memories and emotions that I can hardly express it over a simple blog post.  Not only that, but I don't seem to have too much time to blog anymore...that and sleep deprivation....but I want to post some pictures of our sweet little Elliot Jane's first month with us.

Our hearts are full of love.  This little girl has changed our lives already.  From the moment she arrived on March 5 at 3:16pm, we will never be the same.  Here are some memories that we have documented.

 Some of the photos that were taken from the hospital...

Once we got home, we couldn't take our eyes off of her.  We had so much fun having lots of "firsts" with her...first bath, first walk, etc....

Daddy really loved holding Ellie J....he would hold her every chance he got!

We also had Nana B come visit (Caleb's mom).  She went with us on Ellie's first real outing, to get her newborn photos taken and also Powell's Bookstore (how appropriate with Caleb's mom!).  Nana B spoiled her with books, books, and more books! Hopefully we have a reader on our hands!  Nana B got st see her change so much in the little week she was here...I can only imagine how much she will have changed by the time she sees her again this summer!

Some random photos that I like of Ellie as she has grown this month.....

Some things I want to remember :

Ellie smiled her first smile only hours after she was born, and she smiled at her Daddy.

Ellie rolled over for the first time (from back to front) at just 2&1/2 weeks, again in front of Daddy.  Mommy didn't quite believe it until I saw it a couple of days later.  She rolls over from her left and right side both.

Ellie has only let Mommy get 2 hours of sleep one or two nights this month.  Then again, in the last few days we may have got our "rhythm" down and she has slept more like 4 or 5 hours.  Mommy has really worked hard to get Ellie on a little bit of a feeding schedule, which has helped her sleep longer at night I think.

Ellie's first "toy" has been her WubbaNub (a pacifier with a stuffed giraffe on the end).  We sometimes find her already holding onto it with her little arm, even when she isn't using the pacifier.  Although she can't fully grasp toys with her hands yet (like she can Mommy's hair! haha), she will hold him with her arm.  We call him Mr. Suckers...Daddy named him for Ellie.

Mommy loves it when Ellie coos when she is going to sleep.  Sometimes Mommy stands by her crib in the middle of the night when she does this and just watches her sleep for a minute, before kissing Ellie's head and going back to bed.

Daddy loves rocking Ellie and holding her as she sleeps.  He can do this for literally hours and still doesn't want to put her down.

Daddy and Mommy's favorite thing to do with Ellie is to go on walks as a family.  Daddy usually convinces Mommy to let him be the one to wear her in the baby carrier.  And Ellie falls asleep so fast when we walk her in it....it is a great way to calm her if she is being a fussy baby.

The photo above was taken today, on her 1 month birthday!  She has already grown so much!  She is officially out of all her newborn clothes and into 0-3 month.  I wonder how quickly she will grow out of those!

As I said at the beginning, our hearts are full....overflowing with love for this little gift we have been given on loan from God.  Our family feels more complete since she arrived....