6 weeks and some extra thoughts

Eden has reached the 6 weeks mark. It definitely seems like time is flying, though in the daily moments of short naps and constant feedings, time seems to slow. I am happy to report Eden has slept through the night TWICE this week, although not consecutively. I am not anticipating this to become a habit yet. Normally she wakes only once between 2-4am. But there is much still rejoicing in the Ware house over her night sleep. Napping however, she could learn a thing or two. She has very short, unpredictable, and infrequent naps during the day.

happy morning faces

Eden surprises us with her strength. She is quite good at the push up when we are holding her. Also, she is pretty good with her neck and can hold her head up for awhile. She seems more sturdy as she loses that floppy but adorable newborn baby physique.

Ingrid assisting with the challenge of tummy time

Eden has had many visitors in her short life. Griz and Grammie (my parents), Susu (Davis' mom), and Aunt Saysay (Sarah, my sister) have come to love on her. Next weekend we'll have Colorado friends in town for a wedding. It's been busy here!

lots of snuggle time

Becoming a mother has made me begin to examine my own heart more closely. I have desires for the type of lady I hope Eden becomes. But I realize much of who she is shaped by how she is raised and the example set by her parents and the people she spends the most time with. Lately it seems there is increasing violence, hate and brokenness in our world. I'm not debating if things are worse now than they have been in the past. What I am realizing is I carry so much sin unrepentant sin and idolatry in my own heart. I  do not love my neighbors as myself. I fall so short of this.

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

Mark 12:30-31

I desperately need to see that the problem is in my own heart not just the people who are out there doing what we consider "the bad things".  None of these problems will ever be addressed unless everyone individually recognizes the depth and pervasiveness of sin in their own hearts and asks for repentance and cleansing. I need to do this openly and regularly with a broken and contrite heart asking God to help me see people and the world the way He does. Full of love.  If I desire my children to love and obey the Lord, they need to see that sort of repentance from me. But I don't need to be motivated by the desire to have good children. It's easy to turn this into "just make a habit to act Godly and fake some apologies and wiggle my nose to magically have good kids". I want and need for myself to see the brokenness that is in my heart and cry out for help. I want for my daughter to see this in her own heart as well. I want our family to be built on the hope of Jesus Christ and nothing else. Oh God help us to repent and believe. It is only by your saving grace can we love and live as we ought, enjoying and basking in the freedom you purchases by blood for us.

Disclaimer, I typed most of this one handed (man, I am thankful for learning how to type properly back in the day) while holding a sleeping baby. Eden naps better on people. It's sweet but also really cuts into productive time :). Point is, if there are lots of typos I apologize!

sweet sleeping baby

One Month!

We have made it to the one month mark with little Eden. She is getting chunkier by the day, it seems. She sleeps really well at night but not as well during the day. But we aren't complaining because she usually sleeps from about 10pm to 3am before needing her first feeding and changing.

Just a few baby faces for you :)

We celebrated by going to the botanical gardens on Sunday afternoon. Well, we go there a lot but we always enjoy it. So many delicious flowers in bloom!

fragrance garden
(what we wish our yard looked like)

little family
(minus Ingrid, no doggies allowed- boo)

We are enjoying getting to know her and she us. There are definitely plenty of times where this parenting thing is frustrating. She must sense whenever I am about to eat because that is a guaranteed crying time. I know there will be more joys and challenges ahead. Already I can see how this totally cuts into ones "me time" and forces you to think about other people's needs before your own. 

Happy one month, Eden!