Walking in a Winter Babyland

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

• Isaiah 9:6

This advent season we seek a "Merry Little Christmas" and pray for a "Silent Night" as we open our arms, hearts and home to the newest Couture member Kora Elizabeth. One week since her birth, our now family of six wanders lost in newborn babyland.  We mostly stay at home, with the exception of necessary outings such as our oldest school and picking up essential groceries.  As my husband and I juggle duties, I mostly with the newborn, him with the now seemingly even more giant and loud older ones, we manage a general flow schedule of feeding/ sleeping for our little daughter:

nursing/ napping schedule:

5:30am- nurse (about 20 minutes)

sleep  in crib  (on stomach)

9:00 am- nurse (about 20 minutes)

hangout, sunshine time- short naps

12:30pm- nurse (about 20 minutes)

sleep in crib (on stomach)

4:00pm- nurse (about 20 minutes)

hangout-short naps, bath 6:45ish

7:30pm- nurse (about 20 minutes)

mostly awake, fussy time

11:00pm-nurse (about 40 minutes)

put to long sleep in crib  (on stomach)

Moments of Growth:  Yelling at our older three in frustrated impatience as our two year old's whiny tone and tantrums increased, our four year old son's acting out by hitting and taking away toys from his siblings and our six year old oldest struggles to listen and obey as he tries to assert  his own authority and independence. Our older ones  must adjust to a new normal as their parents focus on keeping a newborn survivin.  Focused on the baby's eating and my healing, I give less attention to the other three while my husband's patience wanes with every disobedient act, as he navigates the waves of chaos and calm on the home front.

Moments of Grace: Such tender sweet simplicity seconds when fhe older siblings hold and coo over the cuteness over their baby, when the kids play legos without bickering, when making Christmas cookies or discovering ice in our backyard.  Also, the sleepy snuggles, the stretching out on my back while sleeping, and a steamy hot shower feels so blissful!

Plus the absolute flood of food, gifts and well wishes poured all over our family especially during such a drought of time, from our parrish community brings so me to joy-filled tears!

So like Mary in the Bethlehem stable, I ponder these walking in a winter babyland days, with graces overflowing as we grow together in the hope of Christmastide washing over us fully.