Newborns

Any day now there will be a newborn in our home. Believe it or not, we're ready! At least mentally and emotionally, anyway!

Babywise by Gary Ezzo, recommended by many, many friends of ours, is why we're ready. I guess we're extra-ready - we've implemented it once before.

Here's a short review of what's going to happen in our lives with a newborn...

1. birth the baby (who instantly starts to lose weight after leaving the womb, I suppose)

2. feed the baby as soon as he's clean

3. wake up the baby 3 hours later and feed him again*

4. Repeat step 3 until he's back up to his birth weight - at least a few days, maybe a week or more.

* Feed the baby until he's full - NOT until he falls asleep! Wake that kid up if he falls asleep nursing and make him eat a meal!

Step 1, not so bad. Step 2, a wonderful experience. Steps 3 and 4, much, much harder.

Mentally, we’re ready – we know what actions we’re going to take.

Emotionally, we’re ready – we are excited about a new member of the family finally joining us!

Spritually, we’re not ready – yet! Time to get ready.

We will fight our flesh with the Word of God to make it through Steps 3 and 4. Steps 3 and 4 will present the following challenges, which will be met with the following truths:

Challenge: Feeling like a failure because nursing is difficult

Truth: My value is not based on whether or not I can nurse. My value is based on who I am in Christ. I am God’s daughter! Romans 8:16 says "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."

Challenge: Feeling irritable about setting the alarm clock for 4:00 am when it just went off at 1:00 am and it’s already 2:30 am and we’re just getting back to bed.

Truth: We are choosing to schedule feedings (which is not a biblical principle) because of advice we received and applied with our older child and it just happened to work with him. We are presenting ourselves with the challenge of not getting irritated. Here's how we're going to use the Word to defend ourselves: Remember that God is sovereign (see Ezekial to really rub that in) – in complete control of everything – and works all things to make us more Christ-like. Romans 8:28-29 says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Let's watch God work and praise Him!

Challenge: My relationship with my husband is going to suffer because of the feeding schedule.

Truth: My husband will be very involved in the feedings even though I am nursing. God has joined us together. Genesis 2:23-24 says "The man said,

"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman,'
for she was taken out of man."

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." We are one flesh! We are together. Even if he is not physically standing next to me, he is on my side, supporting me in prayer and in his actions to make sure we feed our baby when he needs to be fed.