Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas Day!
We had a wonderful Christmas. We celebrated with our extended family in the morning and early afternoon and then headed over to Mom & Dad's house to continue the festivities. Priya opened her first Christmas gifts and we all had a great time!
Monday, December 24, 2007
Priya's First Christmas
This holiday is an extra special one for us as we celebrate Priya's first Christmas! We are happy to report that Priya is doing unbelievably well! She has passed the 3 month mark and most of her colic symptoms have disappeared. She has become a much better sleeper - sleeping through the night and falling asleep much more easily! I would have to say that this is probably the best Christmas gift I could have received - aside from Priya herself! She is a much happier baby - filling our home with smiles and joy. We have so much to be thankful for!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Friday, November 9, 2007
So much to learn...
I am consistently amazed by the roller coaster ride of raising an infant! Last weekend provided some much needed rest for both Priya and me. With the help of Ashish and his parents we were able to make some good progress in turning things around for Priya. We were able to get her to sleep in a crib rather than needing to be held constantly in order to sleep! That in itself was a huge victory! Ashish & I returned to our apartment on Tuesday excited and relieved that we had seen such progress in our little girl's ability to sleep!
We quickly hit another bump, however, when I noticed that Priya was now having trouble breast feeding! Apparently we had confused her by giving her bottles during certain hours of the night in order to give me an opportunity to get caught up on sleep. We had just claimed one major victory and then we were quickly faced with another problem. I was distraught and worried that Priya's days of breast feeding might be over.
I also began to find myself feeling very confused over the "right" ways to approach various challenges in parenting. I had been reading everything I could get my hands on, but the more I read, the more confused I became! Everyone has a different opinion as to what the "right" way is. It just gets overwhelming to try and sort it all out & to find the way that works best for you and your baby!
In the midst of my frustration and confusion my wonderful mother gently reminded me of the promise in James 1:5 - a verse that I had been claiming consistently since Priya's arrival.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
I initially thought, "I know! I've been praying for wisdom all along - but I'm more confused than ever!" But as she shared with me I was reminded of the verses that followed:
"But when he asks, he must BELIEVE and NOT DOUBT, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
I had forgotten the most important part - to BELIEVE that God truly would provide when I asked for His wisdom. No wonder I was feeling so confused and overwhelmed! I truly felt like the double-minded man, unstable in all I was trying to do with Priya!
I hung up the phone and, as I went to sooth my crying baby, I began to pray - asking God again for HIS wisdom to raise Priya and seeking His forgiveness for being so double-minded and for NOT believing that He would actually provide.
I am happy to share that my state of mind has been much better since that day (a constant process of renewing my mind and focusing on Truth). God has been so faithful in giving me the strength, peace, patience, and wisdom that I need right now! What a difference it makes when we are able to truly believe in HIM to provide!
I am far from having it all figured out, but am grateful for God's gift of providing just what I need for each day. I continue to see growth and improvement in Priya and thank God for His wisdom and guidance that is helping to make that possible! Priya is back on track with feeding and has also seemed to FINALLY get her days and nights in the right place! She has now had 3 consecutive nights of quality night sleep - in her bed without any need to get up and calm her down throughout the night! Her colicky hours have moved to an earlier time - about 3 or 4pm until 9 or 10pm. This to me is MUCH more manageable than the middle of the night! Thank you God for answering my prayers and for your consistent help along the way!
We quickly hit another bump, however, when I noticed that Priya was now having trouble breast feeding! Apparently we had confused her by giving her bottles during certain hours of the night in order to give me an opportunity to get caught up on sleep. We had just claimed one major victory and then we were quickly faced with another problem. I was distraught and worried that Priya's days of breast feeding might be over.
I also began to find myself feeling very confused over the "right" ways to approach various challenges in parenting. I had been reading everything I could get my hands on, but the more I read, the more confused I became! Everyone has a different opinion as to what the "right" way is. It just gets overwhelming to try and sort it all out & to find the way that works best for you and your baby!
In the midst of my frustration and confusion my wonderful mother gently reminded me of the promise in James 1:5 - a verse that I had been claiming consistently since Priya's arrival.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
I initially thought, "I know! I've been praying for wisdom all along - but I'm more confused than ever!" But as she shared with me I was reminded of the verses that followed:
"But when he asks, he must BELIEVE and NOT DOUBT, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
I had forgotten the most important part - to BELIEVE that God truly would provide when I asked for His wisdom. No wonder I was feeling so confused and overwhelmed! I truly felt like the double-minded man, unstable in all I was trying to do with Priya!
I hung up the phone and, as I went to sooth my crying baby, I began to pray - asking God again for HIS wisdom to raise Priya and seeking His forgiveness for being so double-minded and for NOT believing that He would actually provide.
I am happy to share that my state of mind has been much better since that day (a constant process of renewing my mind and focusing on Truth). God has been so faithful in giving me the strength, peace, patience, and wisdom that I need right now! What a difference it makes when we are able to truly believe in HIM to provide!
I am far from having it all figured out, but am grateful for God's gift of providing just what I need for each day. I continue to see growth and improvement in Priya and thank God for His wisdom and guidance that is helping to make that possible! Priya is back on track with feeding and has also seemed to FINALLY get her days and nights in the right place! She has now had 3 consecutive nights of quality night sleep - in her bed without any need to get up and calm her down throughout the night! Her colicky hours have moved to an earlier time - about 3 or 4pm until 9 or 10pm. This to me is MUCH more manageable than the middle of the night! Thank you God for answering my prayers and for your consistent help along the way!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Infants are exhausting...
I never realized how challenging a colicky baby could be! Priya is now at the peak of her colicky time (at least according to everything I've read) and is having great difficulty during the night hours. She barely sleeps, fights feeding times, and cries constantly! Needless to say things have been rather rough lately. I keep trying to focus on the positive and to remember that "this too shall pass". I'm also trying to be open to what the Lord wants to teach me through this trying time. But it's definitely easier said than done. Sleep deprivation can definitely do a number on you...
I've been trying to read anything I can get my hands on to help me find some tools to get through this time - and to help minimize the trauma for poor little Priya. I've found some helpful tips from THE HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK and am now gleaning great insights from SECRETS OF THE BABY WHISPERER. I also took my boss' advice and invested in an exercise ball. I swaddled Priya and then held her as I bounced on the ball last night. It was amazing how it lulled her to sleep. If only she would stay asleep for more than 5 minutes at a time though...
I have to say though how grateful I am for two specific things right now:
1) My parents have graciously allowed us to use their Redding home anytime we need to escape. Ashish, Priya and I came over last night and are really enjoying the escape. And...
2) Ashish's parents are here from India and while we are staying at my parents' home (where they are currently residing), they are graciously giving me time to sleep by taking care of Priya during the night hours. They stayed up most of the night with her and let me get a whopping 10 hours of sleep!!! We'll be staying here for a few more days and will be soaking up the help!
If you think of us, we'd really appreciate your prayers right now - for wisdom, rest, and peace for all of us! Thanks! :)
I've been trying to read anything I can get my hands on to help me find some tools to get through this time - and to help minimize the trauma for poor little Priya. I've found some helpful tips from THE HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK and am now gleaning great insights from SECRETS OF THE BABY WHISPERER. I also took my boss' advice and invested in an exercise ball. I swaddled Priya and then held her as I bounced on the ball last night. It was amazing how it lulled her to sleep. If only she would stay asleep for more than 5 minutes at a time though...
I have to say though how grateful I am for two specific things right now:
1) My parents have graciously allowed us to use their Redding home anytime we need to escape. Ashish, Priya and I came over last night and are really enjoying the escape. And...
2) Ashish's parents are here from India and while we are staying at my parents' home (where they are currently residing), they are graciously giving me time to sleep by taking care of Priya during the night hours. They stayed up most of the night with her and let me get a whopping 10 hours of sleep!!! We'll be staying here for a few more days and will be soaking up the help!
If you think of us, we'd really appreciate your prayers right now - for wisdom, rest, and peace for all of us! Thanks! :)
Friday, November 2, 2007
Another milestone...
Priya hit another milestone yesterday (November 1). She is now able to hold her head up on her own! I've read that this isn't supposed to happen typically until about 3 months but somehow Priya has managed this feat at only 6 and 1/2 weeks! At this rate she'll be walking in no time. :)
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Figuring this blog thing out...
Here we are - 6 weeks and 1 day into this new thing called parenthood - and it's about time that we start putting together our blog. It's been quite a ride so far! We are learning a great deal and trying to stay sane in the process. In many ways being a mom is what I thought it would be. I am amazed by how much we have so quickly come to love this little person and how quickly she has become an irreplaceable part of our lives. I cherish the closeness and the special times with our little girl. Each milestone that occurs is a gift to treasure. She started smiling a few days ago - what a treat that has been to see!! :)
At the same time she is an unbelievable handful and I have to work hard to keep from pulling my hair out. It's a challenge to try to embrace each day and to appreciate the gift that it is with our little Priya at this stage of her life. So often I find myself longing for the day when she will no longer be a colicky baby and we will be able to enjoy her more - when she will be able to sleep more easily (and for longer hours) and when she won't be so fussy. But even this time of life is a gift and there is much that God has for me to learn through this trying experience...
At the same time she is an unbelievable handful and I have to work hard to keep from pulling my hair out. It's a challenge to try to embrace each day and to appreciate the gift that it is with our little Priya at this stage of her life. So often I find myself longing for the day when she will no longer be a colicky baby and we will be able to enjoy her more - when she will be able to sleep more easily (and for longer hours) and when she won't be so fussy. But even this time of life is a gift and there is much that God has for me to learn through this trying experience...
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Our little Priya
We are proud to announce the arrival of our beautiful baby girl - Priya Grace Margaret Christian - born September 19, 2007 at 12:47pm. She weighed in at 6 lbs, 1 oz and was 18 inches long.
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