Early New Year Resolution

I am going to make an early resolution for this coming year. I might even try to act on it earlier. I am going to try to blog with more frequency. Even if it is just to say what I did that day or to share something deep from my heart. I have so much to say but with a young one I find it hard to sit down for any period of time to blog. I might just have to start a post, save it as a draft and continue adding to it throughout the day. This could be an interesting technique for me but I have a feeling it is something that many other more devoted bloggers do. Here is to hoping for the best!

My nephew is coming....

Well he will be coming. My sister is scheduled for an induction tomorrow! I can hardly believe it's time for him to be here. I am nearly as excited for his birth as I was for the birth of my own son. If he comes tomorrow then my son will be exactly 14 months older than him. My baby sister having a baby......my where have the years gone. Granted I am only three years older than her but my gosh! I can remember (just barely) the day mom and dad brought her home. She was my own baby. To hear mom and dad tell it I acted as if she were my own. Now we get to raise our little boys together. I hope they are the best of friends. I am praying for a short and uneventful labor that produces a healthy baby. I am going to go reminisce the birth of my own son now!

Grace for our children...

While I was still pregnant I had this disillusioned dream of how perfect our son was going to be not only physically but he was going to be as close to Jesus perfect as a human can get. Of course, this was prideful sin on my part for which I have repented. I have also learned, especially in the last couple weeks, how as parents we need to have grace for our children and their faults or bad habits. This last week we have completely weaned B from nursing. A week ago tonight he nursed his last time. It was bittersweet for me. That was our time together. Time that could not be duplicated by anyone but momma. It has been a difficult transition. He still wants to nurse; particularly at night time. We have had a hard time getting him to sleep. My husband has slept a few times on the couch with him. I couldn't sit in the rocker with him because that is where I nursed him. It is so easy to get frustrated at times like this. But I find myself thinking what it must be like for him. I mean the thing that comforts him most we are taking away from him. I haven't come up with a good substitute yet. He is too young to understand why we are doing this or how it benefits all involved.

Tonight as I was rocking him to sleep (for the first time in a week I was able to do this without him trying to nurse or screaming his head off because I would not let him)I was reminded by God of the Grace He has for His children. As a parent, I need to emulate that grace. I need to have grace for B as he struggles with this new transition. I need to have grace as he learns that he should not do something and what No means. I should continue this grace as he grows up and even into adulthood. Now I am not saying that there will not be consequences for his actions if he knowingly and repeatedly does something wrong but neither am I going to browbeat him as he is learning. There will be a learning curve for both him and myself; since we are both new to this. But I am going to try to discipline and disciple (ever noticed how close those words are; I accidentally put disciple first and kept it because it fits too) with the grace and unconditional love God shows us as His children. I am not perfect and I will make mistakes but I pray that God will help me with this and teach me. I am going to try to have an open and willing heart.

PS:
I have learned just how much nutrition he was getting from nursing. He, in the past week, has developed a veracious appetite. Can we say bottomless pit!!