Published Tuesday, September 23, 2008 by Elisha Larsen
It's totally true! I just didn't know how true until I had one of my own. It's completely amazing. Especially when they hit the 3 month mark. All of a sudden things don't fit, and if they do fit you quickly wash them so they can wear it one last time before you have to store it in the garage for the next sweet girl. Then you do a mental recap in your mind of all your pictures to make sure you have at least one of her in that outfit. And if you don't you squeeze her into it one more time to make sure you have an image of it for all time. Especially if it was a favorite, someone special got it for her or there is some sweet memory associated with it! It's sad because although your other children may get to wear it...she will never wear it again! Seriously...never!
Ok...and if that weren't enough of a reminder that your little baby is growing up...then comes the teething and along with that comes the cries of pain, a runny nose and so on. Then once you get that "under control" an hour later (ok maybe I'm exaggerating but that's how it feels) she starts rolling over, giggling, playing, clinging, scooting, grabbing, splashing in her bath, singing and talking baby talk...all within a couple weeks! At least that was my experience with my little (can I still call her that?) baby Evie. It was quite a roller coaster. A fun roller coaster because watching her go through all those milestones is absolutely wonderful! Yet, at the same time...sad. Because she will never be that helpless newborn again.
I've never felt so many emotions. Extreme happiness that she rolled over on her own, giggled for the first time, or when holding my hand comforts her. Then sadness when I picture how fast my nieces and nephews have grown, and I think this time next year she will be how big? I look back and in a sense it seems as if it were just yesterday that my nephew, Jack, was born let alone giggled for the first time and took his first steps! So I'm sad because I'm faced with the fact that she won't stay my sweet little baby forever. I'm also completely sobered by these thoughts and reminded that she isn't mine at all...she is totally and completely God's. Yet I am so blessed to be chosen by Him to be her mommy and to care for her, and to teach her the way that she should go.
It's really like any other spiritual aspect in life. We all fail miserably. We all make it about us. That's exactly what I was doing. What I, after the miscarriages swore I would never do. Thank God for His gracious teaching that we can't do it without Him. When I have these highs and lows it is a great opportunity to turn my focus off myself and to be reminded of our Savior, and the real need in Evelyn's life (the real need in my life)...that she would come to know and serve Him! My heart is renewed with the true purpose of my being Evelyn's mommy. Yes it is to care for her needs, to comfort her, to hold her when she cries, to laugh with her, play with her, cry with her, etc... but most importantly to do it with the purpose (yes even now) of pointing her to Christ! What a glorious purpose that is. I am so thankful yet so humbled that He chose me for this challenging and wonderful task. My ministry in life is her daddy and her...to prepare her for the life God has for her no matter how sad it may make me at times. I turn to Him who is both mine and Evelyn's Heavenly Father. I wish it to never be about me, rather always about Christ. However, I know my frailty and weakness to bow to myself. So may I constantly be reminded of my need for Him. May I constantly confess my weaknesses to Him, and watch Him transform not only my heart, but the heart of my precious baby girl. What a unique and amazing way to see Christ so clearly!
When my mind is refreshed, I love watching Evelyn go through these milestones because it reminds me that some day soon I will be able to tell her of the Savior of the earth...the Savior of her soul! So on that note enjoy some pictures and video of our growing punkin!
Evelyn sucks her fingers for comfort, and she can sometimes (with mommy's help) hold her own bottle.
She enjoys tummy time and playing with her toes now.
She also enjoys her toys and rolling over (even in her sleep...she doesn't get swaddled anymore).
