Not so Desperate Housewife.

Success! For the past two days I have put an awake baby in her crib for her afternoon nap, and she has fallen asleep on her own! I realize that she is only 4 weeks old, but I was worried that I would always have to hold her until she fell asleep. She slept for 4.5 hours last night also - from 4 - 8:30 am. Strangely, I feel more tired today than normal even though this was the longest stretch of continuous sleep I have gotten in the past month at least.

As I write this, I am realizing that having a baby means that most of my life is consumed by baby. Most days I find it difficult to do anything else other than taking care of my child and myself. What else fills my days? I have started reading again, mostly while I feed little Julia. I just finished "Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures" by Vincent Lam. I am working on putting our wedding photos into an album using Picaboo. We've been married for 3.5 years, so it's about time I made a wedding album! And, I have had to start cooking again. The frozen meals that I made before Julia was born have run out (sadly). I am making Southwestern Sweet Potato soup for dinner tonight. We'll see how it turns out! And of course, laundry...! I am starting to enjoy my life as a "housewife".

Pretty Pictures!!!

Pictures - beautiful moments captured - make me happy. I look at them over and over again. I love how looking at a picture can take me back to special times and places and I can remember the sounds, smells, emotions.

Julia will be four weeks old tomorrow. I was just looking at pictures from her first week of life - she was so sleepy and cuddly. She has changed so much in such a short time - it's amazing! She is becoming more co-ordinated, babbling more, moving more, sleeping less. She found her thumb and started sucking on it for the first time yesterday! I want to capture these moments! Here is my favourite photo from the session we had with Heather from Duncan Photography yesterday. Julia was not a very co-operative model, but the photos turned out great. Thanks Heather!

I love the time I spend with Julia, but I also appreciate quiet moments for myself - a nap in the afternoon, reading a few pages of a good book, a cup of tea! Before having a baby I always felt guilty taking time for myself. I always had to be busy, productive. In a way, Julia has forced me to slow down, relax, observe more - I am thankful.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

Psalm 23 : 2, 3a

2010 Word of the Year

Encouragement - this is the word written on the cardboard star that I pulled out of the collection plate at church yesterday. The idea is simple - ponder the word for one year and discover it's meaning in your life.

This is my first attempt at blogging. I have tried to keep a journal in the past and have failed - never lasting for more than a month. This time I have a focus and more time on my hands (sort of). And so, I will write about encouragement.

My life has changed completely in the past month. My daughter, Julia Eve, was born on December 10, 2009. She is perfect, beautiful, a blessing. And now I am a Mother. And I need some encouragement. People ask how it's going - always great. We are adjusting, the baby is healthy, growing. And yet, at home, I am often in tears. The baby is crying and I don't know why - I can't read her cues. The baby won't go to sleep and I need some time for myself - to eat, take a shower, sleep. I miss quiet evenings with my husband, my job, sleep. I am still recovering from the pain of childbirth.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills -

From where comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord

Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121 : 1,2