The Joy of a Child

On Wednesday, April 24th, 2013, at 2:32 am, our son was born, weighing 8 lbs. 7.5 oz.

 

 

We are now officially a family of three.

The Anticipation of Motherhood

 

And so the waiting begins.  Although I'm not really waiting because that wouldn't help the time pass but it's still very present in the air. Four days until our due date.  Will I hold my child tonight? Will I hold my child in two weeks? How will my life change once I hold my child in my arms?

 

 

 

I believe I became a mother the first time we became pregnant but now I stand before the next door or a different door of initiation to motherhood, one that is more recognized. A door that holds a passageway to a new life.  A door that holds childbirth and a being of love I have never yet experienced. 

 

 

I await the things God will teach me through having a child.  Love? Humility? Selflessness? Patience? Will I also experience the opposite like never before, anger and impatience?

 I welcome the next chapter in my life with faith, love, and hope. And perhaps a dash of anxiousness mixed with anticipation.  I pray that I am able to plunge into the depths of childbirth and motherhood with great humility and strength from God.

The Joy of Painting

I am proud to say that I have finished all the paintings for the baby's room.  I ended up with a lot more than what I originally intended but I think I'll manage to fit them all up there somehow. 

 

One of the beautiful parts of this project what that is was ultimately made and put together by three mothers.  One grandmother helped bring and cut the fabric strips for some of the balloons and another grandmother helped pick out and cut all of the mats for the paintings. 

 

Of course the choosing of the animals was a group effort. Many participated in this aspect including my 5-year-old niece.  Perhaps she didn't know what she was helping with but she did run off a list of animals when asked.  My nephews were not as interested as there was a movie playing at the time of the question.

Another rewarding aspect to completing these paintings is that I met one of my goals for this first half of the year.  One down, four more to go. Keeping my fingers crossed as I only have four weeks left until due date.

Husband's love for me has inflated my ambition with painting.  Although his opinion might be slightly subjective, he believes that I could market myself on Etsy with some nursery paintings.  Perhaps that might be a good path to look at in the near future.

As I haven't painted since I've been married, it was kind of exciting to sign my paintings with my married name. 

The idea came from a combination of pictures on Pinterest and of course some personal creativity.

The music notes were to capture my husband's love for music. I'm considering getting a couple of hanging shelves on the walls and modge podging sheet music onto them to tie it all together. Any thoughts?

 

 

 I love hedgehogs so I just HAD to paint two. :) And what Russian could go without some mushrooms in the painting? Of course I know that those mushrooms are poisonous, so why would the Hedgehog be taking some home with him? But really... red mushrooms with white polka-dots? I just can't resist!

 

The Joy of a Bath

There isn't a whole lot that can beat a warm bath soak after a long day, especially when you're pregnant.  Having that moment of feeling the weight lift from your body in the water, your muscles relaxing in the warmth, and to top off, the soothing feeling of a lavendar scrub rubbed into your skin... BLISS... and of course, joy...

The Beauty of Joy

Last year I focused on finding the beauty in all that was around me.  And so the focus slightly shifts as this year is all about finding JOY...

 

 

 

The Importance of Marriage

"Today, possibly the greatest act of love for the unborn that you could make is striving your utmost to heal and promote and maintain and provide for and respect marriage.

Know that your own marriage is good for the whole community. Every person you know -- and many you will never see -- benefit from your fidelity, your struggle, your resolve to love and honor your spouse. Your sufferings are a fitting incense rising to God -- they are not in vain.

When you appreciate your husband as the protector and provider of this safe haven for you and your children, you help the unborn.

When he loves and protects you and your children, he offers society a church in miniature -- a sanctuary -- and babies everywhere are safer.

Every person can love and respect marriage, God's plan, by his acts. Be convinced that marriage will heal society, and then act accordingly. "

A Day of Penance and Prayer - Leila

Reading...

"All mortals tend to turn into the thing they are pretending to be."

-The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis

Who are you "pretending" to be?