A Mommy’s Memories

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

Not that I even almost compare to Mary, but I did always wonder why this verse was even in the Bible.  Now that I’ve been there, I can see it’s significance – at least to Mary.  She had to have so much faith and acceptance of God’s will prior to Jesus’ birth, but afterwards she could clearly see the beauty of it all and God’s promises coming to fruition.  At least that is how I imagine it.  I realize my circumstances are completely different than Mary’s, but regardless I can see where God is forming my life into something beautiful and full of promise.  Though they are not as deep as the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, here are several of my favorite memories to ponder since Elijah was born (in no particular order):

1.  Looking at Elijah for the first time thinking he looked whole, healthy, had beautiful coloring and didn’t have black hair!

2.  Winning Josiah over to join me in the hospital bed with a snack when he was overwhelmed by his surroundings.  He really loves food!

3.  Seeing Josiah hold out his arms with his elbows touching together at his chest and his hands spread wide open followed by patting of his lap in desire to hold Elijah.

4.  Elijah’s wet head after Josiah sucks, I mean kisses, it.

5.  The quick bond I formed with Elijah.  I was a little worried because I had so much more time to anticipate Josiah’s arrival.

6.  Seeing that Josiah did just fine without us and hanging out with family, but still experiencing his worry that I left him when I went outside to get something once home.

7.  My delight when Elijah’s umbilicus fell off quicker than expected – not sure why this made me so happy.

8.  Realizing that while Josiah knew how to play by himself, I never really taught him to do it quietly in the location of my choice.  Then talking to him about doing just that while I put Elijah down for a nap and seeing him peek through the door repetitively as I put my fingers to my lips and praying that he was behaving as I hear his little feet pattering on the floor in between visits to the door.

9.  Laughing at how chaotic our home must seem now when Jacob answered a phone call from his mom while I was giving a screaming Elijah a sponge bath, had dinner going, the radio blaring, and Josiah was playing with his noisiest toy of all.

10.  Seeing Josiah’s face completely light up when I unexpectedly give him an M&M for being good or following directions so well.

11.  The surprise and satisfaction of feeling rested after the first few nights at home as I dare to hope that I may have an easy baby .

12.  The way Josiah finally fit in my lap again and cuddled with so much love when I read him stories and put him down for a nap that first day back home.

13.  Feeling so blessed that this time around has treated me so well physically.

14.  Finding that Josiah follows directions without supervision so much better than I realized and that I can ask him to clean up the entire living room that he’s destroyed and never get up from nursing to help him.  And he does a good job!

15.  Loving cuddling with a tiny ball of warm love.

I’m so thankful for all of these memories and many more.  This doesn’t really fit well in this post, but it is on my mind anyway…

I turned thirty yesterday and while I feel much too young to be the BIG 3-0 I’m looking forward to what my 30’s bring.  My 20’s were packed full of life forming events and circumstances including a decade of marriage, college, vet school, first grown up job, first job loss in a poor economy, first baby, second grown up job bringing my first total professional makeover, second baby (just barely happened in my 20’s), and many other things.  How could I not be thankful?  If nothing else, I’ve learned to enjoy the good and in the bad to trust God because everything passes with time and everything works out in the end to be better than anticipated.