Yesterday morning, for the first time, Shav laughed.
I was sitting in my glider rocker in the corner of my room where I often nurse Shav; and while he was still in my arms after he had eaten, he made eye contact and was grinning up a storm. And then--oh, sweet sound--something that sounded for all the world like a chuckle came from his little body. I'd never heard that sound from him before, and I couldn't help but laugh along with him. It was an encouraging reminder of what is to come: times of smiles, giggles, tickles, belly laughs, jokes, silliness, and much, much joy.
One last thing before I call it a night: my new favorite quote comes from a blog that perhaps many of my readers are familiar with, the Williams Family Blog. Patrice, mom of Jonah who was born with a very rare skin disorder called Epidermolysis Bullosa, wrote this: I hope I never sound ungrateful when I'm having these tough days. I'm definitely not. I thank God every day for Jonah...Please don't misread exhaustion for ingratitude.
Yes, yes, yes. I couldn't have said it better. I'm tired. Sometimes I'm discouraged. Occasionally I'm completely overwhelmed. But I'm also thankful beyond words for my situation in life, and I'm unceasingly aware of how very blessed I am and how the very cause of my fatigue and discouragement is something that many women would give almost anything to have. I am humbled by that knowledge. And so, like Patrice said, please don't misread exhaustion for ingratitude.
4 comments:
I love those first little giggles and laughs - and love them all the more later {especially on hard days}.
And I so understand the exhaustion. :)
Yay for the first giggle! They are wonderful for making a tough day better.:)
Never would I read your exhaustion as being ungrateful. As a mother of exhausting children :) I understand completely.
Glad you recorded it! I remember Elizabeth's - I ran to the other room to tell Wayne. It signals the start of so much more, and we hope the joy and wonder will last his lifetime. I liked Patrice's quote, too. I have thought, and should have said, the exact words myself.
What a good post! Exhaustion is so hard to handle! When my little guy was very little and a very poor sleeper, I'd sit and rock and rock and rock him, exhausted, at night, and I tried very hard to remember that someone like my grandmother would probably give her right arm to be able to sit and rock a baby again during the night. Such sweetness and joy, even in the midst of the weariness. You are so wise to remember that!
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