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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

these days

These days, I've packed away my knitting, save for one sweater I've started for Violet. I have the optimistic spirit to believe that stitch by stitch, I'll finish it in time for it to still fit her. 

These days, I am looking around at the chaos of a home that a mere three weeks ago was in careful, near-obsessive order in preparation for a birth. I'm calculating how to eke out minutes here and there to tidy the top of the piano, put away the Christmas decorations, and clean the bathtub.

These days, the everyday things keep happening: Violet is debating whether or not to cut her hair, Margot had a fever and a sore tummy, and Jude lost a tooth. In the busyness of our lives these days, I was pleased to know that the Tooth Fairy still had time to leave a tiny note under his pillow with the money she traded for his tiny baby tooth.

These days, I'm astounded at how Norah is growing out of her newborn sleepers, how her arms are beginning to show the lines where her baby-rolls will soon appear, how she can lift her head off the table when she's lying on her tummy, how I can summon patience and joy every moment that she keeps me awake at night.

These days, the world has shrunk down to the joyous sphere of my family. I steal a moment here and there to cuddle each child, to do something they like even if I'd rather take a nap or a bath, to sit through a movie I've seen a hundred times if they ask me to. With a fourth child comes the wisdom of knowing, truly, that the dirt in the entranceway will wait, that the laundry can be done tomorrow, that no one else cares about the dishes in the sink.

These days, there's a whole lot of this going on:

And even more of this:
These days, I am so very blessed and grateful for the snow that keeps us home, for the wet snowsuits hung by the woodstove, for the remains of Christmas treats that fill in the gaps between easy meals, for the energy and patience of my husband during the evening's fussy periods, for the patience and sweetness of my three older children who feel that they never have enough time with me because of this nursling that takes up so much of my time.

2013 looks fine to me...the last 3 weeks of 2012 brought so very many blessings that there is nothing more I could ask for but for it all to continue so beautifully.

Abundant joy and a plethora of blessings to YOU in 2013!

12 comments:

  1. Everything about this post is just magical! Thank you for sharing your words and these beautiful pictures with us! Happy New Year! May this be one of the best yet!

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  2. May the Peace that passes understanding stay with your family into the new year and on as the seasons pass. You are truly blessed by all that you see and do to perpetuate Love.

    Namaste

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  3. Love the breastfeeding photo! That's one happy baby! I hope you get some of the rest you need. What a perfect Christmas present she was.

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  5. I am sighing over that downy hair. She is exquisite. And I am so happy that you are having a relatively peaceful postpartum period.

    Happy New Year, beautiful family!

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  6. Happy New Year! Sounds like 2013 will be filled with many adventures and milestones for you and family! Love, love the breastfeeding picture.

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  7. Happy New Year! Beautiful post! I am so glad the nursing is going well. You both look radiant!

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  8. Beautiful little baby! You both look so joyful - I'm glad you are all enjoying every moment.

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  9. I miss her I miss her I miss her. And I miss you. Lovely photos of such special moments. Hang in there with the lack of sleep and just drink in this newborn magic. xoxox

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  10. Happy New Year to you! Such a beautiful baby. :)

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  11. Thank you for sharing this. For 2013, wishing you abundance (of love, patience, joy, humour, and peace)

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