My youngest is now 2 weeks old. She's a bundle of joy, and, so far, has been easier than the other two ever were (knock on wood). Since she was born on a Thursday, and I had some PTO, I was even able to spend her first several days of life outside the womb at home with her. We spent those days holding this sweet little girl and marveling that she could be set down while awake and not fuss about it. She loves her swing. She slept and ate and cooed, just like you'd want. We are so blessed.
The older two, as well as mama and I, are learning to make adjustments. We have a new member of the family and some routines have to change. I can't complain terribly, because now I've been the one reading the story and putting both Thad and Beth to bed. I enjoy the snuggles with my kids as we go through our nightly routine while mama bounces with the baby on the yoga ball. We read, we sing, we pray. Then Beth pretends that she and Thad are at a restaurant while they drink their milk before bed. We have fun.
The big kids are down, but starting a week ago Adeline has been having some gas issues. Not nearly to the degree Beth had them. Not the constant screaming, fussing and the wondering if we were doing something wrong. Beth was our first and we didn't know. But still some. I hesitate to write this for fear I'll come across as complaining. Which I guess I am. Maybe parents ought to talk about things more with each other. Maybe there ought to be better communication.
Anyways ...
Adeline is number 3 so we had some better ideas of what to expect. But, as they say, every kid is different. I'm different this time around too. I see my wife holding herself together after dealing with all 3 all day and decided this time through that I wasn't going to let her use the "you have work in the morning" to have her be the only one to stay up with the baby. Yes ... I realize how thoroughly spoiled I am. My wife is that amazing. This time though, I've spent some nights up with Adeline so Michelle can just get a few hours sleep. We haven't tried bottles yet on this one, but the other two never wanted anything to do with them so we're just letting Adeline stick with mama for now. That means that I can only keep her for so long as she's not acting hungry. But I'm trying. I hold this precious bundle in my arms, and we bounce on the ball. We make faces at each other. I try not to let my heart break when I know there's not much else I can do to relieve her pain. Because it's the hardest at night. It's the loneliness. It's the darkness that surrounds you, when all you can hear is your baby's cries. I don't know how my wife did it with the other two without complaint. As I sat up with Adeline, I wondered at the woman that God gave me as my wife. I could not ask for a better.
So Adeline and I do what we can in the late watches and I pray. He is faithful to respond and we make it through. My wife looks less haggard after getting sometimes as many as 4 hours of straight sleep. By grace, we survive. And sometimes that's how you make it through this season of life. Surviving. Knowing that it gets better. Knowing that when your almost 4 year old starts reciting her memory work for Sunday school, that all those nights were worth it. Seeing my son walking up to his little sister in his mama's arms and giving her the sweetest hug. It's worth it all.
Night time is rough right now, but praise God that it is just a season and it will pass. The dawn will come and there is hope. Thank You Lord.
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