Preparing for the Baby...

You would think that after having six kids, babies would become "old hat." But the paradox is that each sucessive baby becomes more precious. Is it because you recognize how short a time babyhood actually is? I feel as though I spent all my time with my first baby anxiously awaiting milestones: lifting the head, rolling over, crawling, walking... But now, I'm more delighted in the baby just being an infant, small, helpless, utterly adorable.

And with every new baby, I try to gather a few things that are special and new just for them. As I prepare for my December 27 due date, here are a few things I'm setting aside: a silk-and-wool infant cap from Nova Natural. It's dreamily soft and finely made. A thrift-store find of a never-used cotton velour sweater in soft green. Also from Nova Natural: a spiral crystal rainbow maker. Hang one of these in the bedroom window and your baby will have rainbows to play with! (I actually was so enchanted with this one that I gave it as a present to my godbaby, Chelsea Anne, this past weekend.) And lastly, I'm working on making a baby quilt out of small squares of Liberty of London fabric I found on ebay. Unusual for me, I'm sewing this by hand, since these days I find myself with more waiting-around time than sewing machine time. I think the peacefulness of the handwork is just what I need right now...

Comments

Julie said…
Oh, how wonderful to be preparing for a new little life during this special time of year! Praying for a safe delivery for you and baby...
11:10 AM
Kristyn Hall said…
I have experienced the same. With my first two babies (girls) I had a ready eye for all the "milestones." The next three (all boys) have been much more enjoyed---the milestones were almost disappointing because it meant they were growing up and leaving behind the sleepy baby days. I am again expecting (due in June) and I find I am learning to appreciate the entire process without the "I can't wait until..." syndrome. I wish I would have felt this way with the first babies, but then I guess this is something only taught by experience. God bless you during this last month.
Lots of prayers sent your way!
8:30 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What I do with Old Scapulars

Image
A problem peculiar to serious Catholics ... what do you DO with old scapulars? When the strings tear apart and the images of our Lady start hanging -- you can't just throw them out, you have to burn them or bury them. I suspect most moms of large families have a little pile in the corner of their top bureau drawer of these little patches of cloth embroidered with Christ and Our Lady. Well, here's what I started doing with them: sewing them on the backs of my boys' overalls. This allows me to combine my hatred of name brand dressing ("What? You mean I pay you to advertise YOUR product?") with a desire for covert evangelism. See, the scapulars LOOK like those ubiquitous OshKosh tags at first glance -- but then you look again... Also, I don't mind having the Blessed Mother and our Lord watching my boys' backs in an extra special way. :) For non-Catholics: a scapular is two scraps of wool cloth with an image of the Blessed Mother on it worn front and back ove...
Read more

Clothing Organization part 3: Detachment and Appreciation

Image
The first part of organization is ineviably, paring down. And that brings with it the sometimes heartbreaking exercise of detaching yourself from things you once loved. (Yes, loved in the lower, materialistic sense, but nevertheless, loved.) So, in my effort to cut down my wardrobe, I gathered all my clothes from off-season storage and the cranies of the laundry basket and heaped them on the bed. I did the same with all my accessories: purses, scarves, shoes, and jewelry. Then the winnowing began: ruthlessly purging the unfit: clothing that was stained or getting straggly, clothes that really didn't fit me except in my fantasies, clothes that I never got around to wearing, and so on. Then I further winnowed out the remaining spring and summer clothes (farewell blue and green, till summer when we meet again!) as well any clothes that won't fit my third-trimester-pregnant figure. Also excised were maternity clothes from the last baby that were just too worn or out of style. I con...
Read more

Baby!

Image
Paula Kathleen "Polly" born at home December 31, 2007 1:21 AM 8 lbs, 0 oz born hand first (!), reaching out to explore the world already, and with a full head of black hair, a first for us. As usual with newborn pictures, the photo does not do her cuteness justice. Mother and baby are doing well. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! An Explanation of the Names: Paula after St. Paula, friend of St. Jerome and collaborator with him on the Vulgate Translation. Also in honor of the upcoming Year of St. Paul (2008-2009) to be proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. "Polly" after Lady Polly Plummer of Narnia :) Kathleen after her paternal grandmother. Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes!
Read more