newborn days

Yesterday, Jack and I brought a meal to one of the moms in MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), who just had her third baby. She has two toddler boys and now a sweet baby girl! They live near our old neighborhood and as we were driving around, I started to get real nostalgic, thinking back on the past year. Driving by all of the landmarks that we used to see everyday brought back so many memories of those first months with Jack. One of the things that I've found to be so incredible about motherhood (well, in my experience, anyway) is that I have spent more time with Jack, on a consistent, daily basis than I have with anyone else in my life. Maybe that's why I have so many memories, because...how can I not? I also just think of his newborn days and remember how tender and precious they really were. Even though we had lots of visitors, there were many times when it was just the two of us, and I would just hold him for hours, while he slept or nursed. Of course, we also have great family memories with Jeff, too. It was amazing to watch Jeff hold his son and to see how, lovingly, he adored him! Jeff and I have been talking about having another baby... we're thinking (God-willing) that it would be nice to have Jack and his sibling about 2 1/2 - 3 years apart. We'll see, though! Anyhow, when I think about it, as wonderful and as much of a blessing I know the baby would be, I can't help but wonder about how different his or her experience will be from Jack's. I don't worry about loving another baby as much as we love Jack. I know that we have enough love in our hearts!!! But I think about how we won't have as much one on one time and how we won't really have those lazy newborn days. However, I also think about how much fun it could be for Jack to be a big brother, how the new baby will have Jack to look up to, to chase after, to run around with, and how much love they will have for one another. Siblings really are the best! I know that I love my sister and can not imagine my life without her. Up until last night, I wasn't even too concerned about the newborn sleepless nights (we still have sleepless nights) or the crying. But, last night, we had a MOPS leadership meeting and one of the moms (the mom to whom we brought a dinner) brought her three-week-old. She's beautiful and has such an angelic face. At one point, though, I was holding her and she started crying... the newborn cry, where she was just having a hard time being consoled and comforted, no matter what I tried. I started to feel a little panicky, as I had truly forgotten about Jack's major crying days. Of course, we still have our days, but now he can better tell us or show us what he wants or needs. I know that a newborn's cry is his way of communicating with us and we, did indeed, learn what Jack's cries meant (most of the time). However, it has been a while since we've had those inconsolable cries and hours of attempting all the tricks we knew to calm and comfort Jack! There was a moment, after the meeting, last night, which helped me to feel less "rusty" and inadequate. After Mom put Baby in her infant seat, she was crying and just not happy to be buckled into her seat. Mom had to get some things together before they could leave and was not able to tend to the baby right away. I remembered what we used to do with Jack, who was also not a frequent fan of his (not in motion) infant seat. So, I picked up her infant seat and lightly swung it back and forth. Almost instantly, the baby was sleeping and content!



OK - a blast from the past picture, taken a year ago, and a recent one!