I feel like I need to just say how very blessed our family has been to have some amazing family and friends around us. Having a baby has been much easier in some aspects, since it's the 3rd time around. We've got some things figured out that we didn't before. However, some aspects never change, and others are more difficult, since we have two preschoolers as well.
It's a stress physically from the birth, to lack of sleep, to strapping three kids in seat belts for each drive. It's a stress emotionally with roller-coaster hormones.... the joy of a newborn, and the stress of less time in each day, and more chores. It's a stress practically to try to fit in errands in between naps, and try to take the older children to their appointments and classes while you nurse the baby in gymnastics class and change a dirty diaper on the floor at therapy since there is no changing table in the bathroom.
With all this change, I have to say, it's been much better than I expected. And that is in large part because we've just had such helpful family and friends! I wanted to write down some of the nice things that have been done for us, so I will remember and so that I can let some of them know how grateful we are!
First of all, mom and dad were amazing when they visited. I didn't do laundry for 7 weeks! 7 weeks! They must have done over 100 loads of laundry. I have a small washer, and usually have to do a load every day to stay on top of it. Mom and dad were constantly putting laundry in, switching out the washer to drier, folding it up, putting it away, like little invisible fairies.
The part of having a new baby I was most dreading was driving the boys to school and picking them up each day with a newborn in tow, as well as driving them to their therapy and gymnastics classes. Dad learned their routine and route and just let the baby and I stay at home while he got them out the door each morning. Mom prepped them their backpacks and snacks and helped get their shoes, coats, hats, gloves on. It's a big process in the winter! They both attended their classes with them, and figured out the crazy parking, and driving. It was so helpful, and I feel like they saved the boys from getting put on the backburner while I was recovering.
Timmy had his birthday also just a couple of weeks after Cora was born. I wanted to do something special, but didn't have time/energy to plan anything big. Having mom and dad there made his birthday very special because we could celebrate together. We went to the Tierpark, had a birthday dinner and a birthday Cherry Cobbler. G-ma and G-pa spoiled he and Aaron with a special gift from the USA. Planes!! He had a great day, which meant a lot to us.
My 2nd cousin Bekka came out to our side of the country just 9 days after Cora was born. She drove 5 hours out of her way to come visit us, and congratulate us. Her family lives on a military base, so she asked if she could bring me a few American things. I suggested a few little food items, and she came with like 20 sacks of groceries! She stocked us up with canned pumpkin, brown sugar, maple syrup, cereals, chocolate chips, sugared coconut, baking soda, salsa (that doesn't have wierd sweet sugar in it) poppyseed dressing, and other yummy things that you just can't get in the German grocery stores. She also brought 4 darling little sets of clothes for Cora. I have been enjoying each gift immensely!!
She also helped me with a Christmas errand that was stressing me out. :) SO helpful! She also treated us to lunch in Aachen, and we enjoyed visiting the Christmas Market there. SO fun!
The family all sent gifts from the states as well. I have been using everything and am so grateful for sisters who know what I needed! They sent blankets, clothes, hats, booties, hair bows, and lots of wonderful things! I especially love and use the Ergo Carrier from Christa every week!
Our good friends, and house-neighbors, the Timmers brought us this (pictured above) beautiful amazing birthday cake for Cora the night we arrived home from the hospital. Along with two quiches with a creamy sauce. It was amazing! Then, just a week later, they brought us up this delicious cheesecake.
Mike is a professional pastry chef, so these desserts and pastries are gourmet!
Several friends in my ward offered to have a baby shower for me. It was so much fun, and they were all so generous to make delicious food, plan fun games and shower us with gifts. We got some darling clothes and other items for Cora and a fantastic swing as a group gift from several friends.
(That swing has been WELL used, I can tell ya!)
I am super-grateful for the boys teachers' at Kindergarten who have been doing wonderful projects with them, taking them hiking, playing and reading with them. Also, their primary teachers, who teach them the gospel every Sunday, made "Plätzchen" with them for Christmas, and helped them put on a nativity at the church Christmas Party. They were 2 of the 4 wise men. :) They get to do so many fun things at school and church.
My upstairs neighbor gave us this crib from her sister. I love it! The mattress is so much nicer than the mattress I had for Aaron and Timmy. So comfortable! Monica let us use her bassinet as well. Mario brought us this changing table that we refurbished. Harald and Mirjam gave us this rocking chair that we painted (mom covered the pillow...isn't it cute?), a nursing pillow, and a bunch of toys and odds-and-ends for baby.
Anyway, thank you to everyone! Apparently it does take a village to raise a child. We're grateful to ours!
1 comment:
What a lovely post. You are such a blessed and very grateful girl and family. Gratitude is a wonderful virtue and high five on that!
I LOVED your second paragraph. That is exactly what motherhood is like. Exactly. I want to record it and play it over again any time someone asks me what I do all day and how I try to explain that I never have time! ha ha!
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