Motherhood

Having a newborn in the house has slowed me down.

In a good way.

I was constantly going and doing before.

Always something to be picked up.

Always laundry to be done.

Always moving and on the go.

And now I find myself sitting.

A lot.

Sweet Eloise has been nursing about every two hours throughout the day.

That's a whole lot of sitting.

And also a whole lot of time to think.

Over the past year I have become so busy at doing "life" 

that I wasn't taking the time to slow down and enjoy my children.

These days at home with them are short.

And I want to savor these moments.

I want to take the time to look into their eyes when they're speaking to me.

To really listen to what it is they're talking about.

To be interested in their interests.

My babies are valuable and precious to me and what they have to say and talk about should be as well.

I want to know more about how Emma thinks it's cool that her hair turns brown when it's wet and blonde when it's dry.

I want to hear Colt tell me about hot lava and how it comes out of a volcano.

I want to look into Cade's eyes when he's trying to jabber out a story.

I want them to know that they are valued.

That their interests and words are important.

That their stories are awesome and that their jokes are the funniest jokes I've ever heard.

I want them to know that I am and always will be their number one fan.

I want them to know that even their littlest thought is so incredibly important to me.

It's so easy for me to lose sight of all of this.

Especially when it's been a long night up with Eloise and I'm feeling sleep deprived.

My natural inclination is to be impatient.

It's going to be a constant battle for me.

I can feel it.

Constantly reminding myself to slow down.

To take the time to get down on their level.

Life is busy. 

But it doesn't need to be.

This morning I had just finished feeding Eloise on my bed.

I put her down for a nap on the bed next to me and started to get up to start a new load of laundry.

Cade came over and patted the bed and began to climb up.

It was 10 in the morning... but I pulled the covers up over both of us and we snuggled.

He's my cuddler.

His love tank is a big one and needs to be filled up constantly.

Another reason why I need to just stop and take the time.

They're only little once.

I doubt when he's a teenager he'll want to curl up in bed with his mama for a snuggle:)

So I'm going to take full advantage of it now.

Motherhood has changed me.

With each baby it changes me a little more.

My heart becomes a little softer.

I become more sentimental.

And I find myself wanting to bottle up each moment.

Each little memory.

I know I say it all the time.

But the Lord has been so good.

We are so blessed.

Why He entrusted us with four precious eternal souls I will never know.

He is good.

And I am thankful.

Thankful for new mercies and new chances each morning.
Because heaven knows I need them.

May I constantly be reminded to slow down...

to savor...

to be patient...

and to truly listen to these sweet little souls.