Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep: losing a child

The gift of life is pretty prominent in my mind these days. This morning I discovered a blog dedicated to a loving family's baby who passed away just prior to his due date due to an umbilical cord injury. Two days shy of birth and meeting their baby, this mother had to endure labor and delivering the baby knowing she would not be able to raise him in this life. It was very humbling and touching. Another new friend lost her husband at the age of 25. She is now a widow raising 3 kids and a new little baby. My heart breaks. It really puts my challenges which seem very hard at times into perspective and helps me to really appreciate those quiet moments when I have felt the Lord's presence in my life witnessing to me that these things will be for my good and I can endure through them and grow from them. I pray with all my heart these sweet families have the same necessary moments confirming God's love for them. 

In reading that blog, I came across an amazing cause. The Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation provides free professional photography services to families who experience the loss of a baby. Professional photographers donate their time and talents to these families. I think it is really an amazing gift. What an amazing use of talent and gift to give. Here's the link to their website: http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/. I hope that everyone who experiences this loss would have the chance to capture the memory of their child. The website shares their belief that through photography and remembering this little baby aids in the healing process.

I have experienced an ectopic pregnancy and a miscarriage and we struggle with having more children, but I can't even imagine what it would be to experience the loss of a child or spouse. I do know that God and His angels are very near in these moments and those families are blessed to experience great outpourings of the Spirit and God's love. 

Sorry for the downer of a post, I just had to share this amazing service. I'll be back soon with a post on last night's dinner.

NAPS (at age three)

All children should nap! Seriously! G started giving up naps a month or so ago and those first two weeks were H-E-double hockey stick!! You get the picture. You've probably been there before. I finally adjusted thanks be to God and many prayers by friends and family in our behalf.

G's nap 6.5.2012 with his trusty semi-truck!

He still does nap on occasion, but it is NEVER in his bed. He won't even consider it. Its usually in the car or stroller (If I am in desperate need of a napping day I have been known to head to the mall or TJMaxx and stick him in that stroller with his pacifier and blanket. It has worked all but one time). Today he asked for his pacifier and blanket (he gets it for "quiet time" and so I obliged because i have way too much to accomplish today (duh, blogging!) and he moved from his bed to the couch to the newest landing place, my plastic lounge chair. It got quiet and then I realized he had settled in on the most uncomfortable place he could, in a very awkward position. Silly kid! It was sunny when he was chilling there, learning the joys of sunbathing from his mama. But if anyone knows Oregon, it still isn't summer here and well I think its starting to sprinkle. I can't bear to wake him though. He'll be a grump if I do. Hoping those dark clouds can resist the urge.

In other sleep news, G has been waking almost nightly as well since moving, sometimes a few times a night. When he started refusing naps he also started coming out of his room during the middle of the night and sleeping on the couch. Cute, but not practical for Ryan's early morning routine. It also wasn't safe because he could get into anything and everything or escape out or sliding glass door. Thanks to a little door handle cover he cannot escape from his room and it also seems to have put the kibosh on his nighttime waking/crying. I'm not holding my breath but I am extremely grateful to my Father in Heaven. Who knew a little plastic contraption that cost less than $2 could bring such peace, safety, and delight! He has gotten up a few times earlier than normal in the morning but as soon as he realizes he can't open the door he goes right back to bed. Heaven!