week
This week has flown by so far, as did last week! We didn't have classes last week, but were still busy with papers all week! Also it was cold, so we were mostly at the apartment each day. Thankfully, this week has been a little warmer...I hope it will continue.
Sunday we had a near incident I will write about. Before Lydia Catherine was born, I was VERY concerned about people wanting to hold her without washing their hands and related cleanliness issues. Our Pediatrician suggested no one hold her without washing their hands for the first two-three months, at least because of the season and sickness of people during the winter months. Since Frankie is a pastor, we knew it would be impossible for me to avoid church for two months. We did well, though, and the baby didn't make an appearance for several weeks. The first week, one person did ask to hold her, and I managed not to offer hand sanitizer. In December, when we went home, I managed to let people hold her and thankfully family members that were sick didn't ask to hold her. Well, now she's five months, and I have relaxed almost entirely. It's spring and she's older and her immune system is developing...she's healthy, praise God. I thought all these anxieties were behind me. I was wrong. New issue. Food. Lydia has been exclusively breastfed and I gave her rice cereal at 4 1/2 months. She didn't tolerate it very well, so I waited a couple of weeks before trying again. She's now 5 months and just over a week and still only has about a tbsp of cereal each day. She has tasted bananas and sweet potatoes, but her feeding schedule is sporadic and we're still getting used to solids. OK, so older generations think your baby is hungry if she isn't eating at 3-4 months. One lady in the church told me her kids ate gravy at two months and are fine and healthy now. Another lady suggest Lydia wasn't getting all she needs from my breastmilk and that's why she cries. Yet a third said she should be eating what we eat from the table...just mashed up.
So Sunday we visit some people. And the subject of food comes up. So the lady asks me if Lydia can have pudding. I say, "Well, not yet...maybe soon though." Diabetes and obesity are rampant in Frankie's family, as is hypertension. In addition, I have very soft teeth that are prone to cavities (if I just look at sweets). With all these factors, Frankie and I have decided to be very intentional about what we feed Lydia. Pudding is out, especially at this age. So I think it's settled. I then tell the well-meaning lady that Lydia is just eating baby cereal and a couple of bites of baby food. Moments later, as I'm walking to the bathroom with the baby, the lady is cutting some cake in the kitchen. She stops us and talks to Lydia, then takes her finger and runs it along the side of the cake, scooping up icing. She offers it to Lydia! I freaked, and backed up. The lady only stepped forward! Before I could protest, she just wiped the icing (a huge gob!) across Lydia's lips! Lydia had a confused look, and didn't even open her mouth. I practically ran to the bathroom and washed her face. She never even tasted it, praise God.
Maybe it's because I'm a new mom and maybe I overreacted. I didn't say anything negative to the lady and I don't think she picked up on my reaction to the situation. I just worry how it will be handled again if we visit there.
Modesty
I'm currently writing a paper for my Gender, Marriage & Sexuality class about modesty. I checked several books out about the subject, to gather sources, without really intending to read every page of every book.
A Return to Modesty by Wendy Shalit, however, has put my writing on hold. I'm in the process of reading every page and I must say it is an awesome book!
Tuesday
Easter Sunday went well. Frankie & I had to get up around 4:15 am and we mostly dressed in the dark, whispering and tiptoeing around to try not to awaken Lydia Catherine. Around 5:30 am we left. I wrapped Lydia up in several blankets with her sleeping gown on, and she briefly woke up, then slept most of the way to Munfordville. At church, she slowly woke up and I changed her diaper, but I left her gown on her for the sunrise service. She was so sleepy and I just hated to bother her with changing her clothes and all that. I'm sure many people wondered why my baby had a gown on with her hair a mess.
Before the 11 am service, however, I changed her clothes and managed to comb her hair. She was very good Sunday, especially considering the change in her normal routine.
She is such a good baby! I love her so much! I do think she is a little spoiled. I'm trying to not hold her quite as much during the day...though it's very difficult. Her normal routine is: awake around 8am, lays in the bed and plays for about 20-30 minutes. I change her, carry her into the living room. We sit on the couch and I talk to her about ten minutes. We go to computer and email or blog, read, and talk (30 minutes-45 minutes). (During this time, she's in my lap). Then we make our way to the kitchen. She sits in the bouncy chair while I prepare for lunch and clean. Then it's back to couch and we listen to music and play and read. She sits in her bouncy chair in the bathroom while I shower. It's to the point now that I have to partially have the curtain open so she can see me, or she cries. I dress, then dress her. If I have to vaccuum or dust or do laundry, I hold her while I do these things. Occasionally I can put her on the floor and fold laundry right beside her. During lunch, she's in my lap or Frankie's lap. After lunch if she naps, I have to lay down with her on the bed. We've gotten into this routine over the last two weeks. She won't nap unless I lay with her. After she falls asleep, I sneak out of the room (same process at night). On an average 12 hour day, she's not in my/our arms about 3-6 hours (depending on if she naps or not). She's not in our site only when she naps. I think this pattern has made her way to accustomed to being near/with us constantly. I wonder if this is going to make it more difficult on her when she gets older. I do think her skills are developing rapidly and I know some of that can be attributed to constant interaction. I have recently begun to have concerns that she wasn't laying down enough awake to develop her muscles, but she can roll over, lift up on her arms and she's trying desperately to sit up. Once we sit her up, she can balance herself with her arms. I think she's on schedule as far as that goes.
I just ADORE her and PRAISE God for HER! She's such an awesome blessing!
I was just reading Mary's blog http://homesteepedhope.com/2007/04/09/a-little-girl-is-born/ where she talks about her parents and mentions the death of her brother at 6 years of age. I pray for Lydia every night and thank God for her each morning, but I pray that if, in His sovereignty, He takes her, we will still praise Him.
What he forgot to tell me about being a pastor's wife
This is a little facetious...a bit tongue-in-cheek. But as Frankie says, there's a bit of truth in every joke.
Before marriage, there were many discussions about me being a pastor's wife. Frankie was very concerned with whether or not I'd make a "good" pastor's wife. I was eager to marry him and so busy answering questions that I forgot to ask my own questions! It's much too late now. After 23 months of marriage, I now know many questions I would have asked and many things I'd have liked to have known. Many of these things would apply to anyone...not just pastors. I'd have like to have known:
- his family.
- sometimes you have to eat at places and with people that are not at your standard
of cleanliness.
- holiday's may have to be spent without extended family. (depending on school &
location).
- poverty may be our way of life. possibly for a season, possibly for a lifetime.
- there are expectations not only from church members, but from neighbors,
friends, & family.
- sometimes you must wait in the car for over an hour after church.
- the average person does not understand a pastor's life.
Monday
Lydia was so cute in her first dress/Easter dress. She's not worn a dress before, so everyone commented that she was so cute. Unfortunately, altho the dress is size 6 mos and she's almost 5 mos, the sleeves are a bit snug. She won't get much wear out of it. Hopefully I can find someone to resew it with added room or something. She only had the dress on about two hours and I didn't get a picture of it. :( I guess I'll have to dress her again just for a pic. Ugh.
Speaking of sewing, I'm going to start taking sewing classes on Monday evenings. It's free here at the Seminary! Woohoo. I'm excited about the thought of eventually making Lydia's clothes. How cool.
