Ryan is 6 weeks old!

I can't believe my baby boy is already 6 weeks old!  At the same time, it's hard to remember life with only two boys!  Ryan is a sweet, happy, content little baby.  He loves to be held, and would be happy to snuggle all day.  He's a pretty easy-going baby as well (I think since he's the third he just KNOWS that he has to go with the flow!).  He is proving to be my best sleeper.  He will sleep at night from around 8:30/9:00 until whenever I wake him up in the morning (usually around 7:00), with only waking once or twice to eat.  I have to say, being semi-well rested with a newborn is such a nice change!  It also helps that Alex and Noah are in a great nap time routine--Alex plays in his room for an hour and a half or two hours everyday while Noah, Ryan and I all nap.  I am so glad that I was persistent in teaching him how to be alone and entertain himself.  Such a life skill, and such a lifesaver for this mama!

Alex and Noah have each adjusted well to our new addition.  Noah was a little extra whiny and clingy for several weeks, but has settled back into his normal spunkiness.  They love their little brother.  They will both cover him up with blankets and talk to him if he cries. Alex has shared his special tiger stuffed animal with Ryan as well.   It's sweet to see them love him.  

Poor little Ryan came down with bronchiolitis this past week.  He ended up having a relatively mild case, but it was scary that he was so young.  His cough and congestion are still hanging around, which means he's extra snuggly.  The little chunker has had no problem gaining weight, however!  We took him in last Monday for a sick visit, and he weighed 9 pounds 8 ounces.  Just three days later he had his one month appointment.  He weighed 9 pounds 14 ounces.  Quite the gain, especially for being sick!

Lessons from Mary and Joseph

I recently had to write an article for Alex's preschool newsletter.  Here is what was on my heart:

Even though Christmas is long past, I learned a lot from the Christmas story this past December, and saw the stories in a new light.  Christmas allowed me to grow and change, both as a mother and as a daughter of God. 

My husband and I have been on a journey to adopt a baby girl for over 18 months.  We’ve hit roadblock after roadblock.  I was doing a pretty decent job of keeping up my morale, my faith in God, my stamina until last May.  We discovered that we were unexpectedly pregnant.  To say the least, I was not thrilled.  My heart was in adoption.  I went into somewhat of an emotional and spiritual tailspin as I questioned God:  “WHAT are you doing?  YOU called us to adopt, and now THIS happens?”  And so on and so forth.  Not my finest moments.  Then I heard a sermon about Mary in December.  Mary had quite the unexpected pregnancy.  Not only was her pregnancy extremely unexpected, but the child was to be the son of God.  Mary handled herself with such grace and poise.  I was ashamed.  I knew that this child was a gift from God, cognitively at least, but I finally felt it in my heart.  This child really WAS a gift from God.  He was trusting me with another child to raise into His family.  My perspective shifted and changed, thanks to the Christmas story.

Then, the very next week, I heard a sermon on Joseph.  The theme of the sermon was immediate obedience.  Joseph was told to marry Mary, in spite of her condition, and he did.  Immediately.  There are several other instances, in the Christmas story, where he obeys immediately.  So often, when I feel called to do something by God, I want to email my small group, email my moms group, talk it over with my family, receive prayer, etc. and then AFTER receiving confirmation, follow through on God’s call.  Those are all wonderful things, but what a blessing it would be to God if I just immediately obeyed, without question.  The other half of it, Joseph obeyed when it didn’t make logical sense.  I’m sure everyone thought he was crazy.  No one would have faulted him for quietly leaving Mary, as he planned to do. 

Grant and I had stalled on our licensure for foster care.  After hearing the sermon about immediate obedience, even when it doesn’t make sense, we gathered the rest of our paperwork that night.  We submitted it the very next day.  And now, as of Baby Ryan’s official due date, January 16^th, we are licensed foster parents!   I’m sure no one expected us to pursue foster care while I was 9 months pregnant.  Certainly, by the world’s standards, it didn’t make sense. 

Hopefully our adoption journey will come to a conclusion sometime in the near future.  It has been a journey with many bumps and valleys, but I have no doubt that God has used everything to make me into more of His image.   And, Ryan has proved ever since his birth that he truly is a blessing to our family! 

Ryan's Newborn Photos

Our awesome friend and photographer, Kim Melendy, came over to our house to take some newborn shots of Ryan when he was two weeks old.  She did a fantastic job!  Here are some of my favorites: