My New Job

Before I started my new job as a stay at home wife and mommy (a homemaker as they used to call it--and I still do), I worked as a counselor at a Pregnancy Resource Center in downtown Louisville. As you can imagine, it was a tough job, and one that I'm sure one day will merit its own post. Staying at home to work now is the most fulfilling thing I've ever done. And by far, the most difficult.

I had all kinds of ideas about what a stay-at-home mom does before I actually became one.

1. Pinterest Queen: I had this idea in my head that stay-at-home moms have huge chunks of time to sit at home and do all the crafts that we all see on Pinterest. I had visions of baking endlessly and creating wonderful, picturesque meals for my family. I was sitting at my desk at work, very pregnant, longing for the day I could glance over at my baby daughter playing on her playmat as I bake away. False. I will say, I do occasionally do a Pinterest inspired craft or recipe. But, do not be misled, it is not a common occurrence. First of all, I have to plan my days very carefully and often times, arts and crafts just do not fit in. Second of all, my daughter loves to snuggle (as do I!), and laying contentedly on the playmat only lasts about 25 minutes which is often times not long enough to complete any Pinterest activity.  Thirdly, perhaps when my children are in school during the day I'll craft more often, but for now, I'd rather enjoy my little girl's infancy by reading books together and taking her for walks int he park than relegating her to the exersaucer so I can make a wreath. (All this to say, I do occasionally do Pinterest activities like every normal woman.)

Picking pumpkins at Huber's

My fancy little scholar and I spent the afternoon reading.

2. Nightime: Before I had our little girl I remember hearing about people being up all night with screaming babies. So that's what I thought--new parents are exhausted and get no sleep because their babies are up all night crying. False (at least in my house). When I had my little girl, she lost a little weight in the hospital (as most babies do), and I had to feed her every two and a half hours. Around the clock. I was unaware that this is the real reason new parents get no sleep. Our daughter has a sweet disposition (PTL!) and isn't given to fits of crying. She didn't wake herself up because she was hungry--I had to set an alarm! New parents get no sleep because they are responsible adults who feed their children on time...and because those babies often are not excited about going back to sleep right away. (My daughter now sleeps about 12 hours at night, so this is not really an issue anymore.) The lack of sleep is a good thing at first--of course new parents should bond with their babies. Of course a baby that comes out of a womb of full-time darkness has no idea that night and day are for different things. Waking up to feed your baby at night may seem like a nuisance, but it is the most bonding and sweet time for a new mother with her baby. I treasured those days--though, truthfully, I do not miss them.

All snuggly for bedtime

3. Wedded Bliss: I heard that a lot of marriages suffer because of a new baby. I hear of couples that one or the other parents stays up with the baby all night or sleeps on the couch to avoid waking the other. I also have heard about couples that simply stop going on dates because it's too difficult. False in my house. Praise the Lord! My husband and I are still celebrating wedded bliss. Now, this is mostly because I have the most perfect husband alive. He continues to pursue me into deeper love and a happier marriage. My husband does not complain when I get up and return to bed multiple times in the night, even though he has to wake up to go to work for our family. We love to be together. Having our little girl only contributes to our wedded bliss. Now, there are times, of course, that we wish she wasn't crying so that we could have a genuine conversation. There are times that we wish we could still steal away for the weekend. All of the wishes for an easier and carefree existence fades away when I remember that he is making every single one of my dreams come true. Bottom line: nothing has made my realize the depths of love I have for my husband more than him giving me the gift of our little girl.

My handsome husband and me on our wedding day! 

I have many more musings on my journey into parenthood--many more misconceptions that I'm sure will make their way into a post here or there. The most important lesson that I've learned at my new job is what I learned as soon as I saw my daughter for the first time--when I saw her unformed body during her first ultrasound at 5 weeks and 3 days gestation--I learned that my love for her was very deep and powerful. My heart could hold more love than I could imagine.  When she was born and I first held her and felt her warm body against mine, and knew I was the person that she needed most in the world, my heart swelled and my life was given meaning. At nighttime, when all the world's asleep and I hear her faint cries, I run to pick her up and snuggle her tight. I know the time is short and quickly slipping away when holding her in my arms is all the comfort she needs in the world. And I treasure it. The depth of love I have for this tiny person, that has been in the world such a short time is immeasurable. I had no idea that this could happen to me--that I could love so much.

The first time I laid eyes on my little girl at 5 weeks and 3 days. 

For the first time in my life, I know that I'm doing exactly what I'm meant to do forever. I'm meant to glorify and enjoy God by being a stay at home wife and mother. I'm meant to glorify God by making a home for my family that is clean, nurturing, warm, inviting, loving, and above all that honors Christ. I'm humbled and honored beyond anything I can say that all my dreams are coming true.

My new job makes me happier than I've ever been and I could not be more grateful.

{MSP}