Grace in Small Things: #9

November 22, 2012 by ·

Welcome to Grace in Small Things #9: The Nighttime Nursing edition. In the spirit of thankfulness, an extended version today.

If I have to be up to feed Ethan several times a night I may as well find things to be thankful about, right? Luckily it’s not terribly hard:

  1. Baby smiles.
  2. Peeking in at Connor and tucking him in again when he’s kicked the covers off.
  3. Watching the snow accumulate.
  4. Being able to turn the dryer on again when the duvet is in there and it needs more time. (Hey, I take whatever opportunity I can get.)
  5. Having visits from the dog who sometimes wakes up to say hello.
  6. Having the opportunity to keep reading a book I’m enjoying.
  7. Taking the opportunity to pee.
  8. Getting to see tweets from the Aussies and Brits, who I usually otherwise miss.
  9. Experiencing late-night enlightenment.
  10. Finding a new blog to read and clicking a link to find another one and another one and getting lost in Internet-land.
  11. Baby smiles. (Worth noting twice.)

through-the-blinds-night

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Grace in Small Things: #8

October 11, 2012 by ·

sleeping newborn

I need to write, but I’ve been choosing sleep.

I don’t know what to say anyway.

I need to write about Ethan’s birth, because I think it’s a story that needs to be shared. I need to write about this first week, because I need to make some sense of it. I need to remember all this by writing about it here, but that will have to wait.

For now, a gratitude list:

  1. Newborn smell.
  2. Little boys who have become big brothers and really, really like helping.
  3. Sisters who never fail to step up.
  4. Husbands who get it.
  5. Peri bottles. (What? Whoever invented these deserves an award.)

***

In other news, I’ve got a post up at Just.Be.Enough today. It’s about feeling like I’m not as much of a mom as those who take care of two kids on their own. I wrote it before Ethan was born and I’m not sure how I feel about this now, but it’s still something I’m pondering. Come read. 

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Grace in Small Things: #7

August 30, 2012 by ·

After yesterday’s whine I decided it was time for something more positive. Today, a bit of a gratitude list:

  1. Friends who give me maternity clothes. I didn’t have to buy summer stuff and wearing the clothes makes me think of them.
  2. The cool nights of late summer.
  3. Ultrasounds that tell you your baby is growing fine.
  4. Visits from friends.
  5. Having a clean car – inside and out.

My son asleep in my bedI don’t know why he does this on days I have to get up, but I did enjoy the cuddles.

 

Waging a battle against embitterment and taking part in Grace in Small Things.

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Grace in Small Things: #6

July 24, 2012 by ·

yellow wildflowers in tall grass

  1. Iron pills that beat back exhaustion and conquer nausea. 
  2. The gigantic hearts of small boys. 
  3. Family members who support each other. 
  4. Fans in the summer. 
  5. Feeling better and more optimistic than I have in ages. 
Waging a battle against embitterment and taking part in Grace in Small Things.
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Grace in Small Things: #5

July 5, 2012 by ·

 peacock full feathers

 

  1. Family members who help. The magnitude of this actually makes it a big thing, but having someone else empty the dishwasher, fold laundry and put the kid to bed is worth mentioning here.
  2. Sunshine and bird song in the morning.
  3. The excitement in the city leading up to a 10-day festival.
  4. A flexible work schedule.
  5. Extra pillows for pregnant tummies.

Waging a battle against embitterment and taking part in Grace in Small Things.

 

***

I’m also thankful for others who invite me to share my voice. This week I had two other posts up on sites I regularly contribute to:

On Just.Be.Enough: Being a Mom of Boys – an update on how I’m feeling after finding out this babe isn’t a girl after all.

On Postpartum Progress: On the physicality of motherhood (ugh, but after reading the comments I’m so glad it’s not just me).

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