My Husband...My Hero

This picture is of Brendan and me in Hawaii last year. It’s good to look back on the things we have done and know that someday soon a sense of normal will return. It’s going to be a new normal, but it will be a routine. I look forward to that day! It’s been an interesting couple of days in the Jamieson household. Last Thursday Emma had a colicky- like episode that consisted of screaming for a 24-hour period with short catnaps in between when she has completely worn herself out. It broke my heart to try and do everything I could and she still would not be comforted. Turns out she had a dislike of something I had eaten the night before- a Mexican pulled beef with green chilis, onions, garlic, and the like. Apparently Emma does not like ethnic foods. That’s okay, I have resigned myself to eating backed potatoes and other bland food as long as I am nursing her. It is worth it not to go through another day like that. Unfortunately that whole day Brendan was preparing his talks for the retreat this weekend and then went to InterVarsity’s large group meeting that night. He came home to an exhausted and teary-eyed wife. That night he told me that he would do whatever it took for me to get a long stretch of sleep that night- I had been getting between one to one and a half hours at a time. So Brendan and Emma spent a lot of that night on the couch sleeping and hanging out while I got one gloriously long four hour stretch. It’s amazing what a difference it makes. What a gift, thank you my sweet husband. I can’t imagine how single parents do this.

Brendan has been gone on a retreat this weekend, leaving Emma and I to have some girl time. We have gone for a walk, visited with a friend, gone to Starbucks for a coffee break (actually we just drove through the drive-thru), watched about half a movie, and Emma has eaten a whole lot. God had been gracious as Emma has been relatively mellow. We’re figuring things out. Even with all the bumps and valleys over the past few days I wouldn’t trade being a mom to this little girl for anything in the world.

Strength for Today...

It's been an exhausting couple of days in the Jamieson household. We are trying to figure out life as a family of three, with one working dad, an average of five hours of broken up sleep nightly, and a tiny three-and-a-half week old who runs our lives. It's an interesting place to be when you are constantly wiped out, needing rest, needing time to connect with each other yet so captivated by our daughter. Every long night that we have is followed by waking up, gazing at Emma and all her cuteness, and forgiving her for every minute we lacked sleep. I have a new profound respect for my parents and all they did for me. Parenthood is a place of constant giving, dying to self, and infinite joy. I don't know how all that works except that is, in a small way, what Christ has gone through for us. Somehow we join in His suffering and joy as we raise this beautiful baby girl. I have been constantly meditating on and reminding myself of the words of Isaiah 40:28-30- "He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. The will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and now grow weary, they will walk and now grow faint." This is the promise we are holding on to, that God will give us strength for this day, He is faithful to do all He promised.

The picture up above is Emma with Grandpa Jamieson and Dad. We have been so blessed by the help of Brendan's parents, what would we have done without them? I am convinced more and more that children are supposed to be raised by a whole extended family- any family want to move out to Montana?

Slowly Resuming Life

Yay for Grandma and Grandpa! Grandparents to the rescue for us in the past week and a half. Katie's parents came out to help a week after Emma was born. They came to help exhausted parents who desperately needed naps, food, and the floor vacuumed. What a blessing to have Mom and Dad come over every morning while we would stumble out of the bedroom, hand off Emma, and go back to bed for a couple hours. That saved our life! Emma loved the being held all the time and bonding with her grandparents. Here's a few pics from the last week:

Emma's first meeting with Grandma:

Grandpa (a.k.a. "the Mattress- Emma would fall asleep on him anytime, anyplace)

Emma's been sleeping a little better through the night after a rough couple of nights of three hours for us, total. We bought a co-sleeper which attaches to the side of our bed and makes nighttime feedings 100% easier as well as giving us the bed back. Brendan's parents arrived yesterday and we are enjoying their company as well as more helping hands. Life is slowing starting to feel more managable, we went to church this morning for the first time since Emma was born. Emma did cry a bit and needed to eat right in the middle of the sermon, but we lived through it and no one gave us dirty looks. I think we will learn to actually do things in public again and maybe even enjoy them! It feels good to be getting back into the swing of life after three weeks away. Brendan starts work again full force tomorrow so that will be another adjustment. Thanks for all your prayers.

A typical portrait of Emma during the day (but not at night!)