A Bundle of Myrrh

“No Nos” I’ve committed this week:

I know, I know “Back to Sleep”! Well, Clara has never slept well at all on her back. She’s too restless and startles herself awake. Even when swaddled the best I could get out of her was about 3-4 hours of sleep. From the time she was 6 weeks old she has been sleeping through the night, but only in the swing. I don’t think this is a good habit to be forming. I’m very worried that the transition she’ll have to make at some point to a bed won’t be easy if she continues to sleep in the swing. We have recently discovered that she does in fact seem to like sleeping on her tummy. I have put her down for several naps now in this position during the day. She does very well. She has great head and neck control at 12 weeks. So I’m not worried but I have yet to attempt this through the night. I’m still pretty nervous about doing that and haven’t figured out where I’d put her anyway. I’ll keep testing her out during nap times and see how it goes.

I know it’s not recommended that children under two years of age watch ‘television’ but lately I’ve been putting on one of the Baby Einstein videos for Lily while I’m cooking supper. Perhaps I’m being selfish or lazy but I’ve found this really helps when she’s had a whiny bad mood day and playing with pots and pans right under my feet just isn’t making her happy. She sits there happy as can be laughing and pointing and if studies are correct…getting dumber.

Why does it surprise me when something finally “dawns” on me? I’ve been a mama for 13 months now, seems like a long time, but boy am I still a “newbie”. Of course I’m still gonna have to figure things out! It’s just odd that something so simple that would have been so helpful all along failed to come to mind, then one day it does. I suppose that’s why our mamas are the experts we turn to for everything. They’ve been mamas for a long time and had their little “epiphanies” long ago.

In an attempt to keep our house clean PC (pre-Clara) I was dividing up the tasks a little bit each day. Tuesdays “Floor” days (mopping, vacuuming), Wednesdays “Laundry” etc. But the problem has been missing a day, then I tend to get all backed up and inevitably the bathrooms or our bedroom does not get cleaned…for weeks, okay, months. Now that I’m a little busier I’m still trying to stick to that schedule but way less actually gets done. I’ve got a long list of things that I “will get to” that never get gotten to. I just feel so much better when the house is neater and I know the floors and bathrooms are clean. Unfortunately I have to pick what gets cleaned and what can wait. Thus the build up. So I’ve finally asked Leanna to watch the girls for me once a week for a few hours while I get these done. It just doesn’t work if I try during nap time.
Today was the first day Leanna came to watch the girls. I did get some stuff done, but I think it will be better if she takes them to her house next week. I’m so thankful to have someone so near by that loves my babies like a grandma and is willing and able to help me out anytime I need her. The Munderlohs are such a blessing to both me and Phil.

Phil sent this link to me today:

http://www.biblemoneymatters.com/2009/07/be-content-save-money-and-be-happier.html

An excerpt:

Through all phases of life you are likely to see something or someone that you feel looks better than you or has something you want.

Let me paint a picture for you; You show up to a party and your girlfriend has on a beautiful dress with the purse, shoes and accessories to match and there you are with a dress that is 5 years old and flip-flops. Meanwhile, your husband is downstairs checking out the finished basement, with a projector TV and movie style seating. Now what? Do you completely blow your monthly budget, head to the department store and duplicate her outfit? Does your husband want to empty out your savings account or charge your credit card so he can have a movie theater in the basement? OR are you happy that you both have friends to visit, dress and shoes to wear and that fit, a means of transportation to the party, and a house to live in?

I hope you choose the latter, but chances are you will be pulling out the credit card!! It’s natural to feel envious and jealous, but these are also 2 of the 7 deadly sins. If we are constantly being jealous of others, how are we being thankful for what we have? God wants us to be like Paul and Job, who were content when they had everything and when they had nothing.

The act of being content is a challenge that one cannot face alone. Prayer is one of the most powerful tools God has given us, so use it. When you are feeling envious or jealous, pray for God to remove those thoughts and allow you to be more thankful and content for what you have. Instead of thinking about everything you don’t have, think about everything you DO have. Be happy that you are alive, have a family, can see, hear, walk, talk, drive a car, have a car to drive, clothes in your closet, food in your refrigerator, water in your faucet, a computer to read this article, the money to pay for the internet, a bed to sleep in, sheets on the bed, and most important a God in Heaven to call Father. When you see someone with something nice, be happy for them. Tell yourself that they work hard and God has blessed them and will bless you!

Change your mindset, change your life.