2.28.2012

A Celebration of 'Not Yet'



(Fyi...I wrote this about a week and a half ago, thus the rapid changes.  I figured I'd better post it before I had to mark off everything! :)

As of today, Selah's not yet...

sleeping through the night...
eating solid foods...
sleeping in her crib all the time...
crawling...
sitting up on her own...
saying her first words... (though she has been doing a "mmm-uh" thing when she's hungry)
clapping...
sitting in a high chair...
needing discipline...
taking a bath without the newborn insert...(though her feet hang over:)
rolling over from back to front...  (2/25)
rolling over from front to back...
reaching out to us...
been in a swing at the park... (just today actually!)


One night last week, (well more like 4am), I was snuggling Selah after a feeding. She rested her sweet head on my shoulder and was all curled up close to me. As I was staring at her face I couldn't help but be swept right back to those first days and nights with her in the hospital, when her tiny self was all curled up on my chest and I couldn't take my eyes off her. And all I could think in these new moments of discovery with my 5 month old was, "Wow, wow, wow." Truly the amazement hasn't lessened in the least. There isn't a day that goes by that Kevin and I don't say, "She's just so neat...," or, "Isn't she so awesome?" When she falls asleep we just stare in wonder at this beautiful girl God so uniquely created. It's incredible and we are only grow in gratitude.


I never want to forget this precious time when our baby girl, our firstborn, is still our baby.  She's already doing so much and I'm not at all interested in rushing what's next.  Because I will blink my eyes and my Selah girl will be running and begging to be chased, sleeping straight through and not gifting me with middle of the night smiles and snuggles, she'll be feeding herself, communicating with words, needing correction, snuggling and chatting with toys in her crib, and melting our hearts in all new entirely wonderful ways.  Until then, I'm staying right here and loving right now.  Because I just can't get enough.  What a generous God we have, to give such an amazing gift of getting to love a child.  Nothing like it.  And I'm loving it.


I am constantly overcome with where we are in her life...on the edge of so much.  So many "milestones" that will be celebrated, so many things people look forward to.  But I insist on taking a pause right where we are... to celebrate the right now, the not yet.

6 comments:

Nicole said...

She is SO beautiful. And I love the idea of the "not yets". I think I need to make my own list of things to be thankful for right now instead of thinking about the "not yets". I have missed your posts!

Heidi said...

Wow - she looks so much older in these pictures and it's only been a month! I'm glad that you can take some time to "enjoy" the fact you aren't sleeping through the night..I'm sure it has to be tough!

Elizabeth said...

Page, she is beautiful! I, too, need to be thankful for the "not yets". I have to admit, I'm ready to sleep through the night though. lol Sure have missed your posts! I don't think I've blogged in forever. I can't seem to get my prego brain to think, let alone, write coherent thoughts. One day soon...

Melanie said...

I totally agree with your thinking!!! Its best to enjoy your baby at each stage and to not rush the next big thing they will be learning to do..they grow up fast enough..we need to learn to savor each day with them!! Selah is sooo beautiful!!

cait said...

Page! This is beautiful and she is beautiful! I am right with you...loving and hanging onto every single moment. They just fly by way too quickly and they are each so precious! I have the same mentality about the middle-of-the-night cuddles! I was just sharing with someone at church tonight that was saying how sorry she was that Adeline wasn't sleeping through the night for us...that it was okay with me. I love that middle of the night time with my baby girl! I guess we're crazy in the eyes of some for having that mentality. ;)

Can't wait to see you girls again soon sometime! Keep enjoying those "not yets" friend!

Lori said...

Page - what a beautiful little girl! I really enjoyed your post! Keep snuggling!