Monday, October 5, 2015

Babywearing Week

I was going to post this closer to Sarah Grace's first birthday, but I am just now finding the time to make the collage & put my thoughts into words! So, Happy Babywearing Week!

On September 19th of last year, Sarah Grace was born.  We were praying that she would not follow in the footsteps of her older siblings & need to go to the NICU, but she wanted to be like them!  For some reason, this pregnancy & time after felt different to me. I think it was because I was so busy taking care of Hannah Kate (three years old) & Micaiah (almost two years old).  I didn't have time to stop & think about things so much.  I KNEW I was expecting & I was excited, but it just didn't seem quite real to me.  Sarah Grace spent only four days in the NICU (the shortest of all of our NICU stays), but even during that time I remember telling Wesley, "I don't FEEL like I have a baby."  I prayed about it, but I was embarrassed (I guess?) to feel that way, that I never said anything else.  When we came home, I made myself stop everyday during the older kids' nap & do kangaroo care.  I wanted to help the breastfeeding process & be able to enjoy this tiny baby (the biggest of all of my babies!).  Out of necessity, I wore her any time we left the house & during her fussy time most evenings. I had worn our other babies some, but not this much. Our church family joked that they had never seen her outside of "her pouch."  (Around six months, I was carrying her to class & someone said, "So THAT'S what she looks like!") 
A few months ago, I told Wesley, "Remember how I felt like I didn't have a baby & I was so concerned about bonding with her? Funny how she's the most attached to me of all of them!"  This girl LOVES her mama, & she LOVES to be worn.  I am so thankful for God's blessing of this precious girl & for the way that babywearing has helped us to strengthen our bond more. 

Moral of the story:  Keep calm. Pray. Wear all the babies!
Here's a post I did last December about babywearing information.  I need to do an updated one because I have a few more favorites since then!