GREAT resource for new mommies

So, after the advice of a nurse and several other "moms", Jeremy and I ordered "Happiest Baby on the Block". This is a DVD that gives parents tips on calming crying babies and helping new babies sleep longer through the night. I must say as we were watching we kept looking at each other saying "no way!- lets wake Joshua up and try this now!". We were very impressed.

Of course, we did not wake Joshua up. However, when he did wake up fussy, we used the techniques from the video and were amazed to know they worked!

I must recommend this video for ALL new moms- so if you are one, or know one, please get this video! It helped us tremendously with getting Joshua to sleep longer at night- even just putting him down in the beginning. I cannot stress enough how it helped us and Joshua . . . so please get it and watch it soon!

There is also "Happiest Toddler on the Block" that we plan to purchase when Joshua gets older!

For the Love of Sleep!

As you can imagine, sleep is something you don't get very much of as a new mom- or dad! I was running on adrenaline for the first few weeks home with Joshua. Every moment I was watching him, excited about him, thanking God for him. However, this is not good if you forget to REST- sleep while the baby sleeps- recover from delivery- relax your body and mind. All of these I forgot to do much of the first two weeks home.

So, after a good talk with Jeremy (several of them), some good talks with great friends, and lots of crying- I learned that sleep deprivation is my enemy. For the first time in a month, this week I slept at least 6 hours at night and Jeremy took care of Joshua.

The not so fun part of this for me is pumping breast milk for Jeremy to give Joshua at night. Forgive me for getting so personal, but it is almost humorous to find yourself in a position similar to a cow. I know I'll get used to it . . . but for now and for the love of sleep- I'll do it!

Labor and Delivery

On August 27th I experienced first hand the journey of labor and delivery. I gave birth to my first son, Joshua. Nothing could have prepared me for this amazing time. Yes, it was painful, and yes, I would do it again. With no epidural and no pain medicine, I called out "the Lord is my strength" during contractions and the Lord really was my strength to make it through. Seeing my son for the first time after carrying him for nine months made me speechless. Jeremy and I are both in awe of the life that was created in me.

One of my favorite passages in scripture is Psalm 139. It is a psalm of David and it speaks to Gods personal knowledge of us and how He created us. Verse 13 says "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." This took on a whole new meaning during my pregnancy and it encourages me to know that God created Joshua and what a gift he is to Jeremy and I. We are both excited about what God is going to be showing us and doing through our growing family!