Beginnings and Endings in Motherhood

Our little girl is two months old!  Holy cow how in the world did we get here?!?  Seems like just yesterday we brought her home, exhausted and completely unprepared for how our life was changing.  As she is starting to get into a routine I have been trying to implement small consistencies throughout the day.  For example I love to sing my own version of "Good Morning" from Singing in the Rain.  (That's right.  My parents raised me on a healthy diet of classic movies growing up.)  To be honest I don't remember many of the words so I kind of made some up.  But I like to think Abby loves listening as we prepare for the day after she wakes up.

One of my favorite routines has become our morning story time.  After she wakes up and eats we usually have about an hour or so to play and explore before she starts rubbing her eyes.  That's my cue to change her diaper, wrap her up, and cuddle in the glider with a story!  We read other stories throughout the day, but this time is reserved for a chapter book.  I started with Charlotte's Web about a month after she was born and we just finished.

Confession time:  I teared up a bit as I read the last line of that book yesterday.  I know that there will be many more books that I read to my little girl, but coming to the end of this one was bittersweet.  It was our first chapter book together.  We had come to the end of one "chapter" in our adventures through the pages of stories.  But isn't that how motherhood goes?  Every beginning comes to an end, and that end leads to a new beginning.    I'm reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1.  There is a season for everything, but that doesn't make the end of the season any easier.

When that beautiful baby leaves your body and is now in your arms.

When they stop sleeping beside you in a bassinet and move into their crib.

When they stop wanting to sleep in your arms all day and become more alert and interactive.

Every day I am reminded that there will be too many endings in this season of motherhood.  So I hold on to the sweet moments that I cherish and joyfully embrace what the new beginnings will bring, because some seasons don't last nearly long enough.