:: gratitude ::

In this haze that I can claim is part of the newborn experience, I'm realising (again!) that it's important to focus on what I can be thankful for, because it can be all too easy to notice the mess, the failures and in tiredness to react negatively those around me, who I love so much. A friend recently posted on my Facebook wall "...Keep the thanksgiving going which you did so wonderfully with the challenges you faced with the twins." Her comment has stuck with me and reminded me that, even though we're not going through anything like the stress of those early days with the girls, it is easy to focus down in the chaotic moments, rather than up, and expressing thankfulness for even the smallest things makes all the difference to perspective, also to my heart and soul. Especially in these early days of learning how to parent three little people. So...without further ado, here are some of the many things I'm so thankful for right now...

Two wonderful little girls who have taken the big change of having their little brother occupy much of mummy's time in their stride. There are moments when they want and need my attention and I can't always do what they're wanting right in that moment because of feeding or changing Théo, but in general they are doing extremely well and I'm very proud of them. Their tender hearts are being expressed in their cuddles and kisses for their baby brother, and their initiative and desire to want to help from taking his nappies to the rubbish to finding items of clothing that he might need.

A little man who is very settled, peaceful and wakes me more often with his wriggling rather than with cries of hunger. I sensed when I was pregnant that he would have a peaceful little nature because of his gentle movements, so it will be interesting to see how his character develops as he grows. He's treating us to more awake times and is very alert to our voices, turning towards us and focusing his eyes on our faces. I'm sure his gorgeous smiles will start to appear any day now. Such a sweet, precious little gift he is to us!
 

The grace and energy that is given when sleep hours have been few. Since Théo's birth I have found that, as soon as the sun is up, I seem to possess extra energy that I definitely didn't have throughout a long night! Although, in saying that, those nights have been generously balanced with several other nights of 4-5 hour stretches of sleep, so I cannot honestly claim that I spend all of my waking time in a haze of exhaustion...as I tried to earlier :o) There are definitely moments of that, but in general I've felt pretty good. We're going through the two-week growth spurt, which brings it's extra feeding and spills, but with a wonderful husband and parents at hand, there is plenty of help in those tired moments of trying to juggle what needs to be done and whose needs are in which order of priority to attend to!

Eti has done a wonderful job picking up on what I haven't been able to do and doing it all without any complaints. He sent me off to bed early last night even though the lounge looked like a tornado had swept through it, and the kitchen wasn't a whole lot better! He settles Théo on the nights that he struggles to go off to sleep, and spends a lot of time with the girls doing what they love - reading stories, making huts or going to the playground. I am so thankful!

My parents are inredible! They are an invaluable help to us - with a freezer full of meals so that each night we have something ready to pop in the oven (my sisters have been equally wonderful in joining in with this, which is such a blessing!). Mum comes every morning around breakfast time to help get the girls ready for the day and take any washing, then returns around 4.30pm when the day is getting long, tiredness is setting in and patience can be harder to find. Dad did the morning duty this morning and found himself cleaning up several 'messes' from a little toilet-training girl. If that doesn't demonstrate a heart of service, I'm not sure what does!


I'm thankful for our little family of five. The photo above shows the beautiful certificate given to us with Théo's one-week footprint beside the celebration certificates that a lovely neonatal nurse made for each of our girls when they passed 1000g, with their footprints at roughly 6 weeks of age. Such difference in the perspective of size! I'm thankful for each of our children and their stories so far in life. I'm thankful the girls came early, survived and are absolutely full of life. I'm thankful for all we have experienced in their 3 years - the hard and the good. I'm so grateful Théo arrived right on due time (well, one day early in true Swiss style!) after a very good pregnancy, and for the joy he brings us. And I'm thankful for Eti who has walked alongside me through all of these moments, with a calm and loving strength and a desire to be the best papa he can be. We have much to learn as parents, but we're committed to doing just that and bringing up three little people who will one day leave home full of hope for this world, with generous hearts and a love for others.