Babies, Babies, Babies

One young lady came in to our store the other day holding her very new newborn in her arms, with a blank stare in her face and ordered a sandwich. When she left, my boss told me she had come in not long ago mumbling, "I am a bad, bad, bad, mother. I am a bad, bad, bad person." She stumbled around, was crying, ordered a sandwich, and walked out. We then proceeded to talk about pregnancies, young women, and how sad it is that too many young girls get pregnant when they are not ready for it. My heart always hurts when I hear and see these things (for very personal reasons) and I can always feel the tears welling up in my eyes which I must fight away, because the depth of the sadness hits me hard. A young child gets pregnant, and her whole life is altered. When she is not ready, she gives up so much, and not only gives it up, but loses it as well.

That compounds the pride I feel in my sister-in-law and nephew. I told my boss that I bet Rachel was prepared for motherhood by age 16, and would have done a fine job of it too. I wonder if motherhood is just built into some and lacks in others? And then I wonder if it lacks within me? If it does, I'm not crying over spilled milk. I can't help it. Maybe when I'm 35 the baby euphoria will hit, but in the meantime, a nephew does more than suffice.

I felt so happy when I checked my email inbox not long ago and saw a lengthy happy email from Rachel. Usually she isn't so chatty in emails like she is in person, so I thought (and hope she doesn't mind) I would post it here so more than one can enjoy it--what better way to see Lucas than from her perspective. Her email is posted below, the email of the best new mother I know of:

My life has been really busy. I'll have done 12 massages this week. Originally I was scheduled to do 10 but life has a way of changing.

Delacey is babysitting for me. She had Lucas for 3 hours last night while Rick and I went on a "hot date". We watched Shrek III, ate dinner, and then went to Baskin Robbins afterwards. I felt like a giddy teenager dating my husband. I thought we were going to be the only ones in the theater. At the last minute 6 other people came in- still very few.

Lucas did just fine. I have a harder time leaving him than he has being left!

I had Delacey come with me to physical therapy today also. Its was very nice to not have to be concerned about where he was while I was being treated. Kim gave me some exercises to strengthen this stupidly weak, painful shoulder. Hopefully, that combined with seeing Kim more frequently will help me recover.

Lucas is continuing to grow and change - of course. I've been watching "The Beverley Hillbillies". He gets so excited when the music comes on at the beginning. He dances around clapping his hands. When the music comes back on at the end he hurries over in front of the screen to wave goodbye to the Clampets with both hands.

He folds his hands when we talk to Jesus at meals and will blow on his food - whether its hot or not. He's been living on baked potatoes with either flax or olive oil and garlic salt. That is something he will eat. He's been kinda picky of late about his foods.

Tiffany and I are in the process of changing the Cradle Roll program. We re-did the room. But, I don't have the music for all of the songs. The songbook was SUPPOSED to be in. I called today and it isn't. They're closed tomorrow. I don't know what I'll do about Cradle Roll.

Got to run! Sorry so short.

Love,
Rachel