To keep warm

When I have a quiet moment, there are a whole list of blogs which I like to read. It's kind of like having a lot of little books on the go, with new chapters coming out every now and then.

This was on one of the blogs..

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, 
holy and dearly loved, 
clothe yourselves with compassion, 
kindness, 
humility, 
gentleness 
and patience. 
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. 
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 
And over all these virtues put on love
Which binds them all together in perfect unity.


Colossians 3:12-14

I didn't even realize it right away, but this was the text which Brian and I chose for our wedding. (Funny how you forget the little details so quickly!) It was also the text that my own parents chose for their wedding 27 years before my own. 

And they are good words for today, for these days, with our little girl and figuring out this whole motherhood thing. These words have new meaning when I think of them in light of the big changes in our life lately.

Compassion for mothers everywhere- for lack of sleep, crying all night with babies much fussier than my own (we are blessed, I mustn't take it for granted! Not that she is perfect or anything). Compassion for those who experience the darkness of postpartum depression, of unsupportive families, of sickness and preemies and endless hospital visits.

Kindness for my husband when I am so tired and cranky and just need some more sleep... to keep myself in check and be gracious to him. Kindess for strangers to whom a small baby is such a light in their monotonous days.

Humility to accept help and advice from others, to know that we don't have to be 'superparents', to accept that not everything is always going to get done as it was before. 

Gentleness to this wee one and to those around me. Patience for an endless stream of diapers and leaking milk and just wanting to be held with her little lamb's cry. Being quick to forgive and remembering what is really important.

And over it all, love- a blanket to keep us cozy, a cloak to keep out the bitter winter wind... it will hold us together.

Rainy days

Our weather here in St. John's lately has been something like this... huge snowstorm, freezing rain, sleet, ice pellets, torrential rainfall, dry-and-cold, smidgen of sun, and repeat cycle!!
Not the greatest... but yesterday I managed to walk in that little bit of sun to the post office and get some vitamin D for both Bronwen and I in the process. So I can't complain... it's just an exercise in "now kennet nogh"-- (I have no idea how to spell that, but in Dutch it means 'Do it while you can' and is a common phrase used by my family for all types of situations!)

I am enjoying these at-home days lately. I always enjoyed being at home and being domestic, now the challenge is to be at home and be domestic while balancing the needs of a (very cute) small child. It definitely keeps me busy. Cooking and baking is always a good activity, as I enjoy it and it is also necessary to keep us well-nourished and content!

I have booked a flight to Ontario for mid-April so Bronwen will be coming with me on her first ever airplane ride to visit Grandma and Grandpa B! She will be meeting her Grandpa for the very first time so that's pretty special. I look forward to introducing her to lots of other friends and family in ON, and also taking advantage of lots of babysitting help. :)

That's all for now... more to come...

Just a couple things...

I am just a little proud of myself at the moment... I think that's acceptable. ;) Our baby is sleeping on her sheepskin, and I got the chance to clean the whole kitchen while she lay on said sheepskin watching me (I guess it was boring?)

This morning I went to a 'mom and tot' group at a local church. It's a very small one, but it was nice to put Bronwen in the bouncer they had there, and sip coffee and chat. Good for the soul.

So much of this new motherhood thing is about getting out and talking to other mums and finding support and friendship and comraderie.. they understand what it is like I guess! 

St John's continues to be pelted with snow. It's really piling up, at this rate we won't see the grass until July because it's going to take that long for it all to melt. And when we do see the grass, it will be dead from all the salt. Oh well.

I feel like I have lost a little bit of my intelligence. Is this whole 'mommy brain' concept actually true? I was at the store the other day and I could not count my change. I had to try to recount it twice. I think I went from $1 to $3.. what happened to the 2? Oh dear. I'm sure those brain cells will grow back?! Haha. Maybe they get leached out in breastmilk.....

That's about all for now. Also, Brian makes delicious molasses cookies. Yum. It's very nice having a husband who can (excellently) cook. 

Also, sometimes when Bronwen is sleeping I just want to go and kiss the soft fuzzy hair that hangs down onto the back of her little neck. And smell her milky soft baby cheeks. Even if it might wake her up.