Eva has been with us for 2 whole months and I’m tired. I think I’m the most tired I’ve ever been in my whole life.
But look at that face… that makes it all worth it.
And I have a lot of help.
I love that Jonah has taken to just carrying Eva around and hanging out with her. It makes me thankful that I homeschool and that my big kids get to be HERE for this babyhood that goes by so fast. Sometimes the baby is the lesson- a lesson they can only get by being home.
Sometimes I am paralyzed by the thought of doing something. I fret about all the work it might take to get there or the mess it might make that I already don’t feel like cleaning up. It’s funny how such thoughts are such an energy drain. Granted, getting myself and six kids ready and out the door more often than not causes breaches in my patience. A batch of new play dough or a sewing project with a child inevitably creates piles of clutter and a crumbly mess on the floor.
But doing is always worth it no matter how hard it is to overcome the inertia of not.
Doing, acting creates more energy than all the fretting sucks up.
Just one hour can hold a whole day’s worth of connection, beauty, fun, wonder, and creative rejuvenation.
It’s one of those lessons I have to learn over and over and over.
(photos by both Brenna and I)
My freshest baby is already one month old. It’s been a whirlwind and feels like she’s always been a part of us at the same time. I love holding her with her soft little cheek against mine, feeling her baby breath, and thinking that this is my very most favorite thing I’ve done in my whole life. I LOVE having a newborn. I love the treasure of having a little person that is both a part of me and its own at the same time. I love soft skin and fuzzy shoulders and whispery sneezes. I was going over old posts about my other babies and love what I said when Ian was tiny:
I just look at him and say to myself, “Remember this–how he looks, how it feels to hold him. He won’t remember this time– it’s all mine. These short months of tininess are God’s gift to mothers. The sweetness, perftection, complete dependence are just for me– to treasure, to see everytime I look at him, for the rest of his life.”
I don’t know how to say it any differently. I love having a baby.
I thought I’d show you some handmade gifts from lovely friends on Eva’s 1 month birthday. I waited until a bit too late in the day to have good light, but here are some more pictures anyway.
My kindred spirit April made Eva a super cute quilt. (You can see better photos of the whole thing here.)
And the sweet gown and flower are from my talented friend Jodi.
Thank you friends for being excited about my little girl too.
And happy one month birthday tiny Eva. We’re sure glad you’re ours.
I love having a Moses basket for a newborn. It is so nice to have a cozy place to lay baby down right next to me wherever I am in the house– on the couch while I’m reading to other kids, on the floor next to my sewing table, in my room next to my bed. It’s her own little sanctuary that even the 2 year old understands is the baby’s bed.
So, when I was dreaming about Eva coming I decided I wanted to make a Moses basket and write up the pattern to add to my SweetPod collection.
Here it is! It’s been in constant use for the past 4 weeks (Really, it’s been 4 weeks?!) and I’ve decided it passed the functionality test.
It has a removable, washable quilted bumper pad,
and a mattress with a removable, washable cover. I’m just about done with the pattern writing. I have had such a hard time making myself sit down and write it, but I made a lot of headway today and will be ready to send it out to testers by next Friday for sure.
I have to say up front this is not a quick project or an inexpensive one, but as a mama of 6 I definitely think it is worth the work and money to have a super cute, comfy place to lay my perfect little bundle.
Anyone want to try it? **I’ve got all the testers I need, thanks!** I’ll need 2 testers. If you’d like to be one send an e-mail to jessica {at} seedpodcraft {dot} com and let me know how quickly you think you could get it done (give yourself at least a week) and what kind of sewing experience you have. Luckily, all the supplies should be available at your local JoAnn’s and quilt store. I’ll let you know whether or not I’ll need you as a tester by Wednesday and get the pattern e-mailed to you by Friday next week.