our contribution to the Advent "movement"...

So we found out last week that we are moving.

In 5 weeks.

With a newborn.

And yes, the very idea makes me tired. And a little sad.

Sad to leave behind the relationships that have begun blossoming right here. Sad to part from the ministries that have yet to grow into fullness.

Oh, and there's the minor point of packing and moving house just 6 months after settling into the place we're in now. (Yes, I moved into a new house at 6 months pregnant while the Hubby was gone on a mission trip - that was fun...) (And in all fairness I did have amazing help from friends and family.)

But a new church district and new opportunities for ministry beckon to us. And we've never denied a call from God.

So here's to packing boxes... yet again. I'll survive. And who knows what delightful adventures wait on the other end!

I just want to get through Thanksgiving first.

© Sarah K. Asaftei, 2009 unless otherwise sourced. Use allowed by express written permission only.

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.)

things I haven't done...

The things I haven't done:

unpacked my hospital bag,

any laundry except the baby's,

vacuumed the white fuzz from the nursery rug that seems to shed it's way through the entire house,

sorted my maternity clothes or started looking thru my older clothes to find things that both fit and allow for nursing.


But... I've conquered several steps toward nursing and scheduling, been peed on more than once, cried tears of both joy and exhaustion, taken (a couple) long afternoon naps, and generally put my old self to shame by letting all the extra things go undone.

Overall, I'm pretty proud of myself.

© Sarah K. Asaftei, 2009 unless otherwise sourced. Use allowed by express written permission only.

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.)

top 5 faves in the first 2 weeks::

1. Halo Swaddle Sleep Sacks::in the fuzzy fleece material. It keeps him warm, eliminates the need for a blanket, can't be kicked off, and doesn't ride up around his face and nose.
   
2. Aden & Anais Organic Muslin Wraps::made by an Australian company. These wraps are the perfect size - they are big enough to swaddle easily and also double as nursing covers. The muslin is soft and breathable and won't block baby's nose. And it's absorbent enough to use as a bib or milk blotter when it all flows over.
   
3. Peepee Teepee::especially for boys. Little whizzers get extra protection with this nifty diaper bag must-have. Just pop it over the important area, and you can clean him up without getting christened.
   
4. Munchkin Bottle Warmer::for quicker midnight feedings. We've had to supplement breastfeeding with pumped milk, and it takes forever to get milk to the right temperature in a bowl of hot water. This bottle warmer is quick and efficient, and also sterilizes pacifiers, nipples, nipple shields - you name it.
   
5. Postpartum Compression Girdle::just for mommy. I got the idea from a friend who has 6 kids and is still the size of my little finger. She shared the postpartum girdle secret as standard protocol in her home country. And I have to say it's been a huge help already. This link isn't the exact one I have, but it's close enough.
   

© Sarah K. Asaftei, 2009 unless otherwise sourced. Use allowed by express written permission only.

the difference between mommies and daddies... (2)

So I've continued noticing vast differences in how The Hubby and I react to baby situations. Sometimes they're so funny that I just have to share - so I've created a whole new label thread for "the difference between mommies and daddies". (Catch the first one right here.)

This morning we were eating our brown rice and apple sauce in quiet family contentment. Little Man was watching from his Boppy-bouncy-thingy on our long kitchen counter, fed and dry, cooing happily away. Until....

Pllssssphhhhhh. Phhht. Pssttttphhhhht!

Loud juicy squirts blew through the companionable silence.

I'm sitting closest to him. Waves of baby poo-smell waft over my bowl of rice and applesauce. "Oh my goodness, I can smell you already!" I said. Very mommy-style. You stink to high heaven and I'm going to change you right NOW!

"Way to GO, Little Man!" Daddy says from the other side of the table with a big thumbs-up. Very male bonding style. That was a 9.5, next time make it a little louder and juicier and we'll give you a TEN!

And THAT is the difference between mommies and daddies.

© Sarah K. Asaftei, 2009 unless otherwise sourced. Use allowed by express written permission only.

the blank slate...

The other day The Hubby came into our room where I was nursing Little Man.

"I know we've talked about this before, but it really hit me this morning," he said.

"This baby is a blank slate right now. Every single thing we do - or don't do - is forming his character and shaping him into the man he will someday become. That means there is no insignificant choice, no pointless decision.

"Even though he is small and not fully aware of his surroundings yet, our habits are teaching and molding him."

Talk about profound.

Talk about frightening in the sheer weight of responsibility.

And no, I'm not wigging out. I'm not going all OCD or freaked-out legalistic. But we just can't look at this new baby and disregard the fact that his primary source of shaping will stem from the everyday decisions we make as his parents.

It's too great a reality to ignore.

© Sarah K. Asaftei, 2009 unless otherwise sourced. Use allowed by express written permission only.

on schedules and routines...

So far we know the Little Man likes a routine, since he responded well to me having one even before he was born. For the first couple weeks I've just monitored his natural rhythms.

Now I'm basing a parent-directed routine on those rhythms, and hoping I can stick to it. It's posted on the frig, loaded into my iPhone's daily calendar and everything. Of course that doesn't mean we won't ever deviate, but it gives us a general guideline.

Most of all, I want to make sure that he gets enough feedings a day, with enough time between eating for adequate waketime and naptime. And that he gets a chance to naturally regulate his metabolism by having a daily rhythm where things happen generally at the same time every day.

Yup, it's extra work right now, but I think it'll pay off. Will have to let you know in a few weeks on that!

© Sarah K. Asaftei, 2009 unless otherwise sourced. Use allowed by express written permission only.

(Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.)

the difference between mommies and daddies... (1)

This was the Mommy's profile photo on Facebook last week:
You know, all sweet and sappy and mother-son mushy.

This was the Hubby's profile photo at the same time:
All warrior-fighter son and father-pride.

And that pretty much says everything you need to know about the difference between mommies and daddies.

© Sarah K. Asaftei, 2009 unless otherwise sourced. Use allowed by express written permission only.