I have a baby!

She is cute and squishy and over 3 months old. I will call her Flopsy on this blog after Peter Rabbit's sister bunny. It seems fitting, as she is so relaxed. We also affectionately call her Paleo baby, because she is our first official paleo baby and by golly she is an awesome baby. Firstly she was born quickly - in only 3 hours (thankyou Lord!) and in her 3 months she has been the most relaxed baby, almost never crying. The other night she cried. I almost didn't know what to do, a long shower calmed her down (I think that is her happy place ;) She has been amazing and of course big siblings help. They help rock her to sleep when I'm busy with dinner or chores and entertain her by dancing around and being another face in her sweet eyes.

I get lots of "wow, are they all yours?" comments in the shops and I love it. Really love it. I swan around with them like the proud mother duck with them following after me. Yep, I think they are pretty cute, which explains why I have a million of them. But honestly, this time around has probably been the easiest of all. I just don't have much spare time ;) yeah... kind of don't have much spare time at all.

Put it out there

Or as I really think of it... ask God for it. He knows us and He wants to give us good gifts. I believe that all good things are from God. I believe that God is my father, in heaven yes, and all powerful. I am His child and just like Westley wants to give our children good gifts, God also wants to give me good gifts.

We have experienced many times in our lives where God has blessed us with material things we need or just plain want, but I have a fresh example in my mind which is why I am writing this specifically now... Here is my story...

When I was pregnant with Sunshine, we totally splashed out on an expensive stroller. I loved it, I still love it - three children on it is still going strong. One of the wisest things we purchased. At the time, the stroller came with a basinette/carry cot attachment but at a sweet $200 on top of the $600+ we were already forking out, seemed too much for us so I went without it. I wanted one, but we just could not justify the expense. Then with each additional child I would think about it, and think, "maybe we could get one now?" but no, we just couldn't do it. Never-the-less I enjoyed what I had and loved my beautiful stroller. I didn't think of myself as lacking or anything, I just tried to make the most of what I had and I knew I was blessed with what I had.

Earlier in this pregnancy I decided to check out ebay - maybe I could pick one up cheap?? I also started to think about a basinette for the first time too... so I would roam through ebay for both items. Dreaming... nothing really stood out to me, and I'm not really a person for second hand items when I don't know the person it's coming from either (one of my quirks). But God knew what I wanted. He knew the desire of my heart.

A month or two later and I get a random text message from a great friend who I don't see often...

"are you still a mountain buggyer? I got the basinette attachment this time around for [her third child] and found it fab ... Would you like mine if you don't have? X". 

It turns out that this attachment, is also certified by the makers for use as a basinette as well as a carrycot for the stroller (so covers both my wants). Amazing! It is in excellent, brilliant, superb, wonderful condition and I am over the moon to finally have my 'nice to have', after all these years. This was no coincidence. This was God giving me good gifts that He knew I wanted. I'm almost bawling now... :( tears of joy ;) ...

So I wanted to encourage you all out there, if there is something you need, something you want, no matter how 'material' it may seem. Why not take it to God, put it out there :)

Encouraging words for Christian mothers

Westley read this to me on 28 March 2006 and I wrote it down. It has been a huge source of encouragement to me over the past six years and I thought it may encourage some other mums out there. They are direct quotes from Rick Joyner in the "The Great Liberation" in the Morning Star Journal Vol. 15. No.4.

• "Our children have a greater calling than Solomon: they are called to reign with Christ. Therefore, every mother of a christian child is a true "queen mother"."
• "What women are called to do in the home, in intercession, and teaching children, is far more important than going out and making money."
• "It is said that our basic character traits are set by the time we are four years old. Therefore, this is when teaching and instruction are most critical. The mothers teaching has its greatest impact on the child during these most formative years, and this can have the greatest impact on the course of a person's life."

I hope they bring encouragment to you too!

I have news!

So, it's been a long time... but I have been busy. Busy growing a baby! We have a baby girl due in June. My first winter baby. It is a bit weird, I didn't really think of myself as having four children and being at home to raise and educate them (a nice sized university bill will testify to my plans of a lucrative career climbing the corporate ladder!). So I am still figuring out what this life of mine has for me when I spent so many years working towards a life that contradicts what I actually want to do now that I'm here. I know for sure I want to be here with my children but what does that mean? What does that mean for me in 15 or 20 years? I don't know... Something for another post. But what I do know now is that I love babies. I love my children and I am excited to have a million of them and raise them and educate them with Westley. Okay, well, maybe not a million, but four or five would be ace ;)