So, if I'm contemplating blogging on this blog am I contemplating too much? Would I be better off starting afresh on a new blog and letting this one RIP? Not sure but I'll keep thinking about it. Will be back to let you know what I decide... :)
ETA: Okay I'm back. It didn't really take long to realise that it's better to let sleeping dogs lie so I've started a rough draft blog with no fancy template just an ugly green blogger format but it's started and we can evolve from there. If you care to take a gander the link is:
http://rachelscommentsonlife.blogspot.com/
This is Shelby in the early days when she was still grumpy at us all for dragging her out of her 24/7 sauna.
She's since forgiven us for this, on the condition that we provide her with food and accommodation free of charge.
We've also taken her out to social outings with us, which I think is rather generous.
However, all that said, I do think it was this maroon nappy that won Queensland the State of Origin (Shelby was wearing it during the Decider), so we're pretty happy about that.
You'll find that if you have a newborn baby, you'll spend the first few weeks predominantly involved in the following activity: trying to work out why your baby is crying.
Babies cry for a number of reasons.
The usual reason is hunger: they're letting you know that their stomach (that starts out the size of a marble and increases slowly over the next few weeks) is empty.
The next most usual reason is wind: this usually comes straight after a feed and requires a bit of back-slapping and other weird gymnastics to get them to burp.
The next most usual reason is their nappy: they don't usually enjoy having a soggy nappy on.
After that, the reasons get many and varied, and can be things like: they're in pain, they're tired and cranky, they're uncomfortable, they're too hot, etc.
Anyway, generally, if they're crying, if you go through the following three step process - 1) Feed 2) Burp 3) Change - you will be able to stop most babies crying.
You'd think three steps would be fairly straightforward.
Not at 2.00 in the morning when you're tired.
During 45 minutes of constant grizzling from Shelby, we alternated between feeding (by Rach) and burping (by both of us), until we suddenly thought of changing Shelby's nappy. Lo and behold, it was very soggy. we changed the nappy . . . and all of a sudden, we changed the baby.
Well, for the next three hours anyway.
I'd like to think we learned from this little lesson, but we probably didn't.
G'day all. It's now two weeks since Shelby entered the world, and life is still chaotic . . . If I was to describe life with a newborn, I would say that it is a rather dreamlike state. The past - that rather tame life of 'just us" before she was born seems a long time ago and kind of distant. The future - that time (hopefully) when she'll be walking, talking, becoming a teenager, possibly getting married - seems incredibly distant. So you're just left with the present. Which consists of minimal (and interrupted) sleep, changing nappies, and a vague sensation that the house looks like a mess.
There's emotions, frustration, tears - but for an hour or two every day, Shelby opens her eyes, and you see those very small but very dark blue eyes looking at you. And, oddly enough, when that happens, it all seems worth it.
But as Rach and I both agreed, it's actually rather lucky that babies are difficult to look after when they're little, otherwise, you'd never want them to grow up at all.
On a more objective note, Shelby is doing quite well and healthy. Not that that matters, because I'd look after her even if she was sick. But it's nicer that she's healthy.
The name Shelby . . . despite its origins in a Christian romance novel (which I only discovered after Shelby was born) . . . has turned out to be a bit of a winner and nobody has given us strange looks when we introduce her to people.
And, ladies and gentlemen, it is a girl.
Shelby Alyse Hodge
Weight: 7 lbs 8 oz
Born: 3.02 a.m., Tuesday 13th June
Need I say more?
I am currently reading For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. It is such a fascinating and thought-provoking book on how educating a child looks and should be. I really encourage anyone who has influence over a child at any stage to read it. It truly makes you rethink the way we view children.
I just have to share this beautiful quote I found this afternoon.
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"The Christian view of the child does not allow him to be conditioned as a dog may be conditioned to repond to a bell. We must have due respect for the sacredness of his separate personality. Therefore, we treat him with dignity, allowing for his weakness and need of support at any given stage."
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And one more quote:
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"We, each one, whatever our age, intelligence, or sex, have the responsibility of acting within the definite framework given in God's Word. Since Jesus Christ's early work, nobody is to act as a priest for anybody. And the Holy Spirit is the One who works deeply into our personal lives. We must never presume to usurp His work. It is dangerous to think that we are entitled to do so because we are parents, family, teachers, church workers, or adults. "
***
All too often we hear of child training methods that are touted as Christian which are based on "behaviouristic" methods and involve setting up a child to fail and then punishing them for failing. Too too sad. Children are mini-people that have less life experience than we as adults and should be treated with respect and love.
***
P.S. Tomorrow is D-day but I truly doubt Baby H will be making his/her debut appearance so don't hold your breath and DON'T say anything smart like, "You still here?" "How are you GOING?" "What? No baby yet?" or the ever clever and all knowing, "It'll be late." My hormones might get the better of me and I might say something snarky like, "Yes, don't you like having me here?" or "I'm actually in pain and think I'm about to deliver could you be midwife?" or "No we're waiting on the birth of a hamster didn't you know that?" "Late? Oh no does that mean it'll miss all it's birthday parties? Oh dear how terrible!"
I just realised that in the midst of all these blood tests and big questions, I hadn't really written about what my thoughts were about becoming a father.
It's strange . . . before Rach was pregnant, I was rather petrified by the whole idea.
Where's the money going to come from?
Will I make a good father?
Do we need to move out of the unit and into a house?
Where's the money going to come from?
Is Rach going to turn into a round balloon that wears sack dresses all day and never wears makeup?
Is she going to become so focused on the baby that I'll be just the guy who pays the bills and empties the recycling?
Where's the money going to come from?
Will I ever be able to go out somewhere ever again?
Will "spare time" be a ludicrous concept?
Because I like having "spare time" (e.g. watching a DVD every now and again, reading a chapter of a book, listening to some music, going for walks), does this mean that I'm way too selfish and I'm in for the shock of a lifetime?
Where's the money going to come from?
Anyway, oddly enough, once I laid eyes on the famous double stripes, none of that seemed to bother me any more. I thought it might hit me later on and it was delayed shock, but I've only got a few days to go and I'm not worried yet.
The reason? I can only put it down to the fact that God has never failed to look after me. Sure, I've had disappointments, and life hasn't always gone the way I wanted. And I'm sure Rachel would say the same thing. But, the important things we need in this world - clothing, housing, food, friends - have never been lacking. So, on those grounds, and also the promises that God makes to look after His children, it's been enough for me.
I'll worry another day, maybe. But not today.
Three days to go . . .
