Dear Jemima,
Happy one month in our home, little one! What a month it has been, and we are so thankful.
I love to see your cheeks getting rounder, your eyes alert and bright more often, your little arms and legs stretching, and the sweet expressions on your face. Every baby is a miracle, but I realize that very poignantly with you.
At one month...
- You are eating and sleeping very well ... most of the time. Life is still very unpredictable, and the rough nights are still a reality, but in general you settle in for bedtime between 8:30 and 9:30pm and have at least one 5-hour stretch of sleep in the night.
- Early on, you had a bit of a tongue tie, which made feeding you extremely painful, but since the ENT resolved that, nursing had been so much better. You developed a habit of really emptying your belly with a gully-washer of a spit once or twice a day, but keeping you more upright to eat seems to be helping that. You're getting a little bit speedier too, maybe taking a half hour more often than an hour now. But we really work on burping you afterward, lest you drench yourself with the aforementioned spits.
- You are atune to your surroundings, maybe more than your big brothers were at this stage. But you still snuggle in to snooze even when we are out and about, which is lovely.
- You love to be outside (even though we're in the middle of record-setting heat), do well in your carseat, love to go on walks, and prefer to be in the Baby K'tan when we're moving (unless you're asleep). You have peaceful, alert awake time often when you're just resting after a diaper change.
- Evenings are often troubled times, with frequent crying between 7pm and bedtime. (When I brought you along to our ladies' small group prayer, you added your own sad background noise most of the time!)
- You are the best little snuggler. I love to hold you while you sleep, and you will snooze for hours on my shoulder. But you are also doing great taking naps in the pack-and-play and settling into your crib for the night. You still sleep 20-22 hours a day, aside from eating.
- Your brothers have been sweet and gentle to you, frequently wanting to peek at you while you sleep or give you a kiss on your head before you go to bed. You are a very blessed little sister!
In women's Bible study this summer, we are just beginning a study on prayer, and it is a fitting focus for this season. Not only was the last year marked by weakness and neediness in many ways, I am still very aware of how much every day and all the areas of life call for God's help, wisdom, and provision. But our huge needs are perfectly matched to God's huge promises of care, response, and goodness.
Moment by moment, as our needs exceed my capacity, I want to lift them right up to God, who hears us, who invites us to bring Him our cares, and who refreshes our hearts with the vision of His own power, love, and mercy.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
My most frequent prayers for you right now are that you will eat well (and not spit it all up again), sleep well, and that God will shape your heart to be a gentle and quiet spirit, trusting in Jesus, fearing God, and doing what is right without being frightened by any other fear. May He cause you to be a strong, faith-filled, and humble woman of God.
What a kind Father we have. May you love, trust, and follow Him all your days!
Momma
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