Edith started smiling yesterday. Obviously the first reward of having a baby is actually having a baby--a little one to cuddle with and hold and love. But the first few weeks are a lot of hard work--taking care of all those physical needs. That first smile--the one that you KNOW is a real one and not just gas--makes it all worth it.
I find that motherhood tends to run that way. You work and slave day in and day out, keeping the house clean, cooking meals, doing laundry, entertaining and wiping bottoms and just generally doing all the messy jobs. Nobody says thank you and you never get paid. And then your new baby smiles at you or your rough and tumble toddler gives you the sweetest smile and the biggest kiss (completely unsolicited) and the work you've done without any appreciation for weeks suddenly seems worth every second!
Things are going GREAT! We got our new pushchair--Google Phil & Ted's E3 for a look. It is beautiful and wonderful and a whole bunch of other superlatives that I'm too tired to think of let alone type. I went out with the kids twice today just because I love the pushchair. And it isn't even nice weather today!
The missionaries came over yesterday and helped Martin strip the wallpaper from the downstairs landing. My house smells like bare plaster again (such a disgusting smell), but we were pleasantly surprised at the condition of the plaster. It looks like I will be able to just patch it up and we can paint rather than having to wallpaper and then paint it all. That's a relief, because the wallpaper was going to cost us around £200. The Elders are coming back on Thursday to do the top flight of stairs. It is so amazing that they are willing to help out, but it is good for everyone involved. They get to do a little service for ward members and get fed, plus they get to wear jeans for a day. They can combine the service project with visits to less active members in Barton and the surrounding villages. And Martin gets two strapping young men to help him share the work. What a blessing!
Quiet night tonight. Martin is out collecting Kleeneze brochures, so I did story time and prayers on my own with the kids. Dylan snuggled into bed without a fight and now Edith is snoozing in her bouncy chair as I bounce her with my feet. The only way it could be any better is if Martin were home with me, the house was clean, and I had a big, steaming mug of hot chocolate in front of me. But hey, we can't have perfection all the time or life would just be boring, right?
So the kids are angels, the house is getting closer to sell-able, and we got fish and chips for dinner. Bliss!
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