Has it really been that long? Is it possible a whole month has flown by since I sat here typing through tears about letting go of my expectations and dreams of a VBAC? Is it possible a whole month has vanished since God granted me my heart’s desire and our not-so-little Garin was born following the fastest labor and delivery I’ve ever experienced? How is it the last month of pregnancy drags on endlessly, while the first month of holding your newborn disappears before you know it?
Here are just a few little tidbits about Garin and his first month…
*Following birth, he lost 3/4 of a pound, bringing him closer to the 10 pound range. Despite his whopping poundage, he still looks like a newborn to me. Oh wait, ALL my newborns are this big! 😉
*His lullaby (remember each of my children have their very own lullaby) is Edelweiss from The Sound of Music. Why? Garin was named in honor of my German heritage. His name means “warrior” or “guardian.” Edelweiss was written to extol the strength of character belonging to Captain VonTrapp and his desire to honor his homeland. My ancestors left Germany to avoid persecution, much like the VonTrapps. However, we have not forgotten our heritage either. Mom and I worked many hours to put together a book of genealogy. I grew up eating traditional Low German foods like New Year’s Kuka (or kuchen or olie bollen) and Rull Kuka (or kuchen). Garin, like all my children, will grow up knowing where he came from.
*Garin is a wee bit fussy. Life is not all roses and pancakes, and I’d be remiss if I tried to convince you I have only quiet sleep-for-hours-on-end babies. Apparently, 11 pound babies like to eat…all the time. But we are seeing progress. He is staying satisfied longer and the fussy spells are not as many nor as lengthy.
*He is easing into cloth diapers since his mommy is finally beginning to feel she can handle the extra laundry this creates. When Garin does wear disposables, we have found the size 1 diapers are quickly becoming too snug!
*His mommy does not have all the pregnancy weight off…big surprise. 😉
*The whole family is in love with this new little one!
Cari says
Congradulations! He’s beautiful! I have 5 kids, but I have so many fears when I think of having more: can we afford it, is it fair to the kids or husband, can I handle it, what if something happens to the baby or me, etc. You are a brave woman. May God’s will be done and not mine.
Yaya says
What a sweetie. I hope you are feeling well an’ you will soon have nice, long stretches of sleep.
~ Yaya
Clara says
Wow, I can’t seem to keep up… It seems like it was just a couple weeks ago he was born… If it seems like that to me (just a reader), how much faster time must feel like it’s passing for you! Time just seems to be going faster and faster.
mary says
He is so gorgeous, I cant believe a month has gone that quick. The pic of you holding him is beautiful.
Annie @ Beauty In The Surrender says
What a blessing?
Renee says
What a cutie pie! Congrats (sorry a bit late)
tamela says
AWE~~ How precious~ A month already~ WOW~
Michelle says
One month already?! It seemed like yesterday I had left a comment of congratulations for little Garin being born. What a great name and story. One of our favorite family movies is Sound of Music!
Have a blessed weekend!
Michelle says
One month already?! It seems like yesterday that I left a comment congratulating you on little Garin’s birth!
I love the story behind the name and the Sound of Music is one of our family’s favorite movies!
Have a blessed weekend!
Grateful for Grace says
Oh, he’s adorable! I can not imagine having a baby that big. My largest was 7lbs 14oz.
Glad he’s going longer between feedings. 😉
Conversatio in Caelis says
He is so sweet! Can’t believe a whole month has passed so quickly!
My ancestors too were Germans who settled in Russia. Unfortunately they did not leave Russia timely and were sent to Siberia after WW II. We were allowed to come to Germany in the late eighties.
When I think about the dangers they dared to live in freedom, about everything they lost to gain this, I wish, more people would follow their example and stand up for truth, freedom of belief etc.
Grateful for Grace says
Oh, forgot to say that each of my kids has their own lullaby too, but it’s just whatever the LORD brings to mind for them. Soo sweet!
Gayle says
Look at that beautiful boy! God is so good to us. What a perfect little gift. <3
Angela says
Has it really been a month?! Garin is just precious, Amy. What a blessing he is. And what a blessing his birth was! As I have said before, I am so thankful that you were able to VBAC again! Awesome! I know what it feels like to tearfully let go of VBAC dreams, and I almost teared up again as I read those words. I think it’s something that only those who have been there can really understand. Keep enjoying every moment of Garin’s babyhood! It’s sure going quickly! 🙂
Love,
Angela
Charity says
He is beautiful! My oldest “baby” just turned 16 yesterday. My youngest baby will be a year old in a couple weeks. They grow much too fast for my liking. ;o)
Brandy says
It’s been a month? Already?? Wow!
He is just adorable, Amy. Just precious!!
marie says
This makes me long for more babies. But at age 37 and 47 we feel like we should be happty with our 4. Homeschooling is so hard I just don’t see how you ladies do it with large families. You have my utmost respect 🙂
Corine says
I am just so happy for you! 😀 Little (big 🙂 Garin is so blessed! With such a wonderful name with a special meaning… a special lulliby, and family genealogy and a heritage to boot! Way to go mom!!!! 😀 You are a wonderful mother!!! I’m sure the Lord delights in sending His children to you knowing that they are so well loved and cared for.
Corine
Hayley Ferguson says
Wow Amy! When I first saw a pic of Garin I thought that I had misunderstood and thought you had put on a pic of maybe one of your other children when they were babies (but not newborn.) I have 8 going to be 9 and my biggest so far has been 9″4′ and I thought he looked like a three month old. It’s also that my last was 6 weeks early weighing 4″13′ at birth and at 8 months looks only a little chubbier than Garin does now. My dad’s mother had all big babies and one of hers was 6 weeks early and she weighed 6″15’at birth. My dad was the last of 6 and weighed 11 1/2 pounds (funny how I normally work in metric but when it comes to babies I still use imperial.) When my 6th Jeremiah was born weighing just over 9 pounds (I’m only 5″1′) I hoped in the shower with him on my hip one day when he was still a newborn thinking he was much older, then realised he didn’t have head control yet (I thought it was funny anyway.) We all love Jeremiah (Wubby or Wubbs) and he is still a big boy (with chubby cheeks and dimples and curly/wavey hair) even at 3 1/2. I am in no great hurry to birth such a big baby again (so cudos to you, sister) but I would just for all that cuteness (smile.) Garin is so handsome, what an alert little man he looks. Well done.
Amy says
I had to share w/ you that my grandmother (who is 100 lbs soaking wet) had twins 6 wks early that were 6 lbs apiece! We grow ’em big in our family! 🙂
Mary Ann Stiebens says
Amy and Ty..another bouncing baby boy. He’s handsome. He reminds me of Blake when he was a baby. Hard to believe my baby boy is 10 today, and Megan will be there right around the corner. Try emailing me at my work email, I read those every day I’m here, I barley even look at the Yahoo email anymore.
Anita says
Amy he is gorgeous! “The whole family is in love with this new little one”… big surprise! 🙂 God bless you all as you welcome with open arms his beautiful blessings!
Ann Dunagan says
Hello Amy!
You came up on my twitter-recommended list today, and your “raising arrows” name caught my attention. I came by your blog, “welcomed myself in your home” and began to meet your precious family. Walked through some of your posts about griving the loss of your little #5 girl, and then rejoiced with you to see that God has recently blessed you with a BIG new little #6 guy!!! Your family is beautiful, and so is your heart.
I’m a momma of 7 (currently ages 10 to 24), and I’m about to get a precious new daughter-to-be, as our 2nd son is getting married in a few days. My husband Jon & I just celebrated our 25th anniversary, and we’re in our 20th year of homeschooling. Our heart is so deeply for God, and we love to share His love with others, especially with people who’ve never heard of Him. So, for 24 years we’ve been “doing” missions — mostly remote evangelism in Africa, and also helping to rescue and to care for over 700 orphan children, and to raise them all to be MIGHTY ARROWS for God’s purposes.
Anyway, I just wanted to stop and say HI!!! Bless you dear MOMMY!!! Your family is beautiful.
Ann
Amy says
Ann,
Thank you so much for stopping by! So glad to “meet” you!