happy 1 month, little man!

Can't believe it's already been a month since William has been here! It's sometimes so surreal thinking that Bill and I are parents now. And it's hard to believe that we have a baby... a baby that is a part of both of us, yet created by God. What an awesome responsibility...

Here's an update on William... He is definitely a little old man in every sense of the word. =) He enjoys stretching and farting when he wakes up, wheezing, and is now beginning to bald. His face is also covered in baby zits, and he has a bad case of "cradle crap," as Bill likes to call it. We also fondly refer to him as our little piggy. He snorts and grunts and feeds voraciously at times. Sometimes it's as if we've starved him even though he nurses every 3 hours. Best of all, we love all his different facial expressions, most of which can be seen when he is waking up and nursing. They are priceless. =)

He is now 9 lbs. 10 oz. and 22 inches long. His pediatrician says that he is doing well, so it's reassuring to know that even though we have no idea what we're doing, we're at least doing something right. He has been on a 3-hour feeding routine, but the middle-of-the-night feedings are brutal. Thank the Lord He blessed us with such a good baby because he hardly cries and I sometimes only have to get up once during the night... SOMETIMES. =) We are hard-at-work in getting him to sleep through the night. That is a luxury we are looking forward to. =) But he can sleep for a 5-hour stretch at times.

But man... the first few weeks were rough, staying with William in the pediatric ward in the hospital, and then getting adjusted to the new sleep routine, recovering from surgery, acclimating to the demanding pains of breastfeeding, and desperately trying to figure this parenting thing out. I was extremely weepy the first few weeks, feeling so overwhelmed by everything that was happening. It's really trial by fire. But I guess that's how God works, huh? =) And I suppose that's the best way for us to learn, too. I am only just now beginning to get my energy back to do some things other than caring for William (like doing the laundry and washing the dishes), but it's hard to get out of the house since he feeds so often. I have definitely experienced God's grace daily though and am so thankful for that, especially during the late night feedings. God has been growing my heart for William and helping me to embrace my role as a mother, though it wasn't always like that in the beginning, nor is it easy. But through the ups and downs, God's grace has reminded me to try to cherish these times with him, as with every season, it won't last forever. And for this short time, this is how I can serve William... and I can either do it resentfully as I focus on self and my cravings for comfort and ease, or do it joyfully as I focus on the Cross and the blessing God has given me, knowing that He is sanctifying me for my good, through William. As He had laid down His life for me, so I need to lay down my life for others... and William is His primary means of accomplishing that in me at this time in my life. I am thankful for God's care and the great blessing we have in William.