Baby Blessings Once Again

A little one is being knit in the womb and we are hopeful to have another Spring Blessing.

I’ll be so happy to birth then!

I won’t have to go through the heat pregnant as I have done so many times.

And I will have lots of fresh air to revitalize myself in.

The weather will be great to spend lots of time with the little ones in the backyard. I should be able to get walking in regularly. We do get a mid – summer biting bug infestation that we usually have to bar ourselves inside from but I can plan some homeschool seat work for then.

At any rate I am looking forward to the future.

Due date is May 27th ten days after Luke’s birthday. So extra exciting that baby could be born so near his special day.

We are having a great time learning.

Faith Hope

Faith Hope was born a little blessing to become a heavenly blessing.

Read her storystory  written by her mommy.

Update

Hi readers,

It is nice to see there are some<grin>

I fairly well thought I might let go of the blog this last month.

Yet I am still receiving comments and my life seems dull without my normal times of posting about what I am learning and reflecting on.

I have been reflecting on how many do not understand what UC birthing is about. And how many would say it is a lack of care for the child. I have had some negative reactions and I am ‘feeling’ that no matter what choices I make for my family there will always be people that will not understand or appreciate what we are doing.

Just like anything else in life I can not live on my feelings. Presently I feel tired and depressed. I KNOW that will not last forever and I will get my energies and enthusiasm back but there is a sadness from not being understood and having so many ideals that I am reaching for. The bumps we just passed over the last few weeks have left some bruises. Healing comes.

AND yes, spring is just around the corner.

Please forgive the temporary barrenness here on the blog of the last month. I will revive and post again soon.

In my personal life I have been calling out to the Lord to make me a better wife and mother! And I expect to show fruit from this deep desire and the studies I have been doing.

Birthing a Quiverfull is more than birthing the unborn but raising him in the admonition of the Lord and showing the fruit of the Spirit in my daily walk and ministry to my family.

The mistakes I have made in the past must be confessed to have new insight on the future and to raise these children for the Lord.

I am rereading To Train Up a Child and Raising Your Child for Christ.

And Love and Respect, Creative Counterpart, Disciplines of Marriage, and Created to be His Helpmeet.

Please pray for me.

Wearing My Baby

I have had more success wearing my baby this time around.

I’ve tried to always keep my babies close with the first two I sat a lot with them or even snuggled in bed with them but as our family grew life did not afford that for baby and me. After we experienced having to have Michalina our 3rd baby in a swing a lot -as we were moving and getting settled in to our home the year she was born I was really challenged with being the attachment parent I wanted to be! It was hard for both of us! I used the Snuggly that I had since becoming a mom but after she got past 12 lbs. it hurt my shoulders and I had to limit it’s use.

When Sophia was born -my smallest baby of 6.5lbs. I tried a KangaCarrier Shirt in her earliest weeks – I found it hard to wrap the under cloth without help though. I used a ring sling and a Snuggly but never found anything that was comfortable for both of us for consistent wearing. Then I did a lot of reading on the net and found many different options. I like the Rebozo and the Maya Wrap though I am enjoying this bundle of love made of fleece for this newborn stage. I was blessed by a very thoughtful Aunt with one as Jonathan’s birthday present! It is the most comfortable thing I have used for my shoulders and back and he is completely lulled to sleep in the warmth it provides. It also works as well for being able to have him in position for suckling leaving my hands free to do other small tasks.

Wear Your Baby.com is the best place for ideas for making your own baby carrier. Why not start experimenting now with what you have around the house. I plan on trying to use a sheet. I also found some material on clearance at Wal Mart for only .50 a yard that I think would be great for this summer.

I also came across a mom’s homemade instructions for making an ERGO type carrier out of a few things you already probably own. ERGOS seem to have a wonderful design but 100.00 is a bit pricey for some of us. And you can’t nurse with an Ergo which is a must for my newborn.

More research on the net will give you an exhaustive flow of articles about the benefits of wearing your baby, even your toddler.

I think the benefits to the whole family outweigh the time invested in finding the best carrier for you and the struggles of the learning curve.

Have fun and take it slow as both you and your baby learn this great way to nurture your relationship!

Birth Stories

Here is a fellow blogger’s FREE ebook give-away. For a compilation of birth stories visit Journey Into Motherhood. Enjoy!

Photos of Life

In a world that celebrates DEATH, violence and immoral sexuality, looks for peace in politics and war efforts -a world that increasingly seeks to embrace the ’survival of the fittest’ attitude we also have the shinning light of LIFE and birth.

We have the beauty of creation all around us. With each season we have lovely things to dwell upon and enlighten us toward LIFE. The gifts of living plants and creatures upon this earth constantly bring forth new life and replenish our souls as we witness those everyday miracles.

Human LIFE wrought in the womb of woman in all of LIFE’S splendid intricacies shines Love,Hope, and Grace upon mankind. The source of all LIFE being in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. With the conception of faith we see the New Birth in the hearts of every man we see LIFE ETERNAL ever before us.

We can continue on through all circumstances with HIS light showing forth the way

Our First Month With Five

Our first month has flown by as life just doesn’t slow down as much as one would like to soak up those special first days and weeks.

I do however cherish the time I have had to just BE with Jonathan.

He loves to nurse and isn’t as much a ’sleepy’ baby as he started out being. He will gaze at us as we hold him and he will grasp my clothing or hand while nursing -his favorite activity.

It has been trying to get into a routine and I have been sometimes wanting to escape emotionally from the pressure of being a mom of five. Each one has individual needs. Needs that I don’t always feel up to fulfilling.

I am needing to remind myself to pray often and be more willing to wait on the answers for the next step.

Where do the hours go each day and am I doing the best for them that I can?

Is Jonathan getting all that he needs? He is gaining weight slowly still just under his birth weight. I am praying about what I can do to help him plump up and cry less. I do keep him near me as much as possible with a Rebozzo wrap. I plan on using more time to experiment with baby wearing and nursing as I work or teach the children their lessons. I keep feeling like I want to say we’ll just wait for x,y,z until he is bigger but you know the others can’t wait they need to be kept busy with age appropriate things or they truly regress. I put off blogging for the last month and I found today giving my time to catching up with journaling that I have a MUCH better perspective on our home and priorities. I mustn’t let go of the things that enrich my marriage and parenting. So I pray for whatever the new balance should be and wait for the next step. I will finish the birth story this weekend and that will bring back the sweet remembrance of bringing yet another beautiful being into this world.

Our Baby BOY is Born!

Wanted to announce that we birthed our baby boy yesterday morning.

We are giving ourselves a little time to get to know the baby before naming.

Born October 26, 2008

11:00 A.M.

Into Daddy’s lap

Weighing 7.13 lbs
Head 13 in.
Chest 13 1/2 in.
Length 18 in.

Thank You so much for all the prayers and encouragements along this journey!

Labor was pretty short about 5 hours.
It was a more painful birth than I would have liked :^)
I am doing well with the after pains -uterus is getting back to pre preg. shape quickly
and YES the placenta delivered very quickly!
I did loose more blood than I’d hoped to.
Mike is taking at least tomorrow off.
He worked incredibly hard yesterday too!

I have the birth story half finished;^)

Gianna Jessen

There are several you tube clips with Gianna speaking.

She is so full of joy and is allowing the Lord to use her testimony.

Check these out!

Journey to Quiverfull Convictions

I was so blessed to have a friend share with me that the Revive Our Hearts ministry has had a wonderful series on developing a surrendered heart in the area of our fertility! Please listen in on the discussion. It was a refreshing time for me and I trust it will be for you too.