What would I do without Ford? Besides the obvious (less laundry, more sleep), I would also live with a void in my heart and many life-lessons unlearned.
Ford is now crawling (mainly army crawling). I thought that this new found independence would free-up some of my time, but I am finding that he is even more reliant on me. We sit on the floor and play together. He goes from toy to toy; however, every 2 minutes, he crawls over and climbs up into my lap. I hug him and hold him, then put him down and start the process over again. If I dare get up and leave, he watches me leave the room and then cries.
Well today, I sat him in his bedroom with a variety of toys around. Instead of sitting on the floor with him, I decided to sit in the rocking chair and play Words-With-Friends on my iPhone (as any good mom would do). Initially, he played just fine. Then, as usual, about two minutes into playing, he looked up at me and started on his journey towards me (poor guy, that 5 feet probably seemed like a desert of space between us!). I was curious as to what he would do when he reached me, so I continued to sit and play on my phone (again, being a great mom ;)) He reached me, touched my feet, and just sat.
Then it hit me. God gave Ford the same desire for me that we are to have for our Heavenly Father (our Heavenly Parent). In every situation, in every step of life, our focus should be on Him. We should know where He is at in every situation. And if comfort is needed, simply crawl up to Him and sit at His feet.
Perhaps my longing for Ford to have more independence is just a sign of my own desire for too much independence from God. Is it a sign of weakness? No! It is a need, a yearning. And we all have it from the moment we are born. In Matthew, Jesus tells us that unless we become like Children, we will not enter the Kingdom of God! I so-often think it is my job to teach Ford everything there is to know. The irony is, God uses Ford to teach me everything there is to know in my heart.
Matthew 18:2-6
The Message (MSG)
"For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. "But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't. You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don't have to make it worse—and it's doomsday to you if you do."
Friday, July 29, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Duane's Syndrome
We have noticed that Ford's right eye often crosses when he turns his head. For the first three months, this can be normal, but the pediatrician said that if it continues when he is six months old, we need to see a specialist. Well, six months came and Ford still crossed that poor little right eye. So, we made an appointment. We saw Dr. Sherman today (very friendly!), who is a pediatric eye specialist, and he dialated Ford's eyes. Almost immediately, he told us that Ford has Duane's Syndrome (aka DR syndrome or Duane's Retraction Syndrom). I will include two links to help explain, but from my basic understanding, what it means is that Ford's left eye has an inability to turn outward any further than looking straight on. Because of this, his right eye will often go inward too far to overcompensate. The cause for this condition is unknown. They do know that it happens during gestation, and the cause is either environmental or hereditary. Because the cranial nerves and ocular muscles are developed between the 3rd-8th week of pregnancy, that is when they believe the disturbance happens.
There is no simple solution or fix. Ford will just learn to cope. Instead of being able to "look" left, he will have to turn his head to see. Simple things will help him as he grows...requesting that he sit on the left side of a classroom, for example. And certain occupations are ruled out...surgeon, pilot, etc. Additionally, we need to get his hearing checked. Approximately 20% of people with DR syndrome also have hearing problems. (But, I think he hears fine.)
As a parent, I just do not want Ford to be made-fun-of. I realize that there will be times when his eye will cross, no matter how used to it he becomes, and kids can be cruel. But it could be worse...so we are thankful that God made it obvious enough to catch early, so we can get some other things checked out, and we can help him learn how to adjust to it.
Below are some links about DR Syndrome:
http://www.genome.gov/11508984
http://www.mrcophth.com/eyeclipartchua/duanesyndrome.html
There is no simple solution or fix. Ford will just learn to cope. Instead of being able to "look" left, he will have to turn his head to see. Simple things will help him as he grows...requesting that he sit on the left side of a classroom, for example. And certain occupations are ruled out...surgeon, pilot, etc. Additionally, we need to get his hearing checked. Approximately 20% of people with DR syndrome also have hearing problems. (But, I think he hears fine.)
As a parent, I just do not want Ford to be made-fun-of. I realize that there will be times when his eye will cross, no matter how used to it he becomes, and kids can be cruel. But it could be worse...so we are thankful that God made it obvious enough to catch early, so we can get some other things checked out, and we can help him learn how to adjust to it.
Below are some links about DR Syndrome:
http://www.genome.gov/11508984
http://www.mrcophth.com/eyeclipartchua/duanesyndrome.html
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Best [0-6 months].
Looking back over the last 5+ months, I realize that some of the items we thought we "needed" were a complete waste, while others were/are a complete necessity for survival. Here is my personal list of "useful" baby products (so far).
Bouncy seat: We actually never registered for one, because I thought the swing would be sufficient. WRONG. Here's the best part of a bouncy seat...it's lightweight and can move from room-to-room. So, when you need a shower, but your baby won't be content more than 5 feet away from you....bouncy seat!!
Baby carrier/sling: I am so thankful that someone generously donated a Baby Bjorn to me. From the time Ford was 6 weeks old, we carried him around in that thing, because he hated (I mean, HATED) his stroller or carseat carrier. Later on, a friend introduced me to the Baby K'tan, and that too is amazing. I suggest both these carriers/slings. They helped me go grocery shopping, go on walks, and just be able to be at home while being hands-free.
Muslin wraps: These things are awesome. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Romina, for gifting us a package of them!!...they are wonderful for swaddling. The material is lightweight and stretchy. It makes swaddling a breeze! (Side note: I totally recommend swaddling a newborn. It makes them feel secure and comfy!) http://www.adenandanais.com/shop/swaddles.aspx
Food processor: I use my food processor on a regular basis for babyfood-making. It's a breeze! If you're interested in trying to make your own baby food, check out this website: http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/
Onesies with built-in mitts: When Ford was first born, he kept his hands near his face constantly. This meant that he was continually scratching his face up. Most of the mitts do not stay on (although SOME do), so the best solution for us was to keep him in long-sleeved onsies with built-in mitts. Brilliant.
Boppy pillow: My boppy pillow came in handy sooooo many times. Quick uses...nursing, holding at night, children holding, propping baby up, giving baby tummy time, helping baby sit up. Well worth the $30. We still use it daily.
Baby Einstein: Judge me not. Baby Einstein kept (kept?...heck, keeps!) me sane. It is simple enough not to overwhelm, but colorful enough to keep their attention. Who couldn't use 24 minutes to do the dishes, do the laundry, or check facebook? :)
Ju Ju Be Packabe: This diaper bag was a gift from Nate (and Ford) for Mother's Day. It is awesome. It converts from a messenger bag to a backpack. It is very generous with space, has insulated cup holders, a changing pad, and lots of pockets. It is so useful, I LOVE it.
That completes my list, so far. I thought that before time got away from me, I should get this all out. How quickly things change and how quickly I forget as we enter a new stage!
Bouncy seat: We actually never registered for one, because I thought the swing would be sufficient. WRONG. Here's the best part of a bouncy seat...it's lightweight and can move from room-to-room. So, when you need a shower, but your baby won't be content more than 5 feet away from you....bouncy seat!!
Baby carrier/sling: I am so thankful that someone generously donated a Baby Bjorn to me. From the time Ford was 6 weeks old, we carried him around in that thing, because he hated (I mean, HATED) his stroller or carseat carrier. Later on, a friend introduced me to the Baby K'tan, and that too is amazing. I suggest both these carriers/slings. They helped me go grocery shopping, go on walks, and just be able to be at home while being hands-free.
Muslin wraps: These things are awesome. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Romina, for gifting us a package of them!!...they are wonderful for swaddling. The material is lightweight and stretchy. It makes swaddling a breeze! (Side note: I totally recommend swaddling a newborn. It makes them feel secure and comfy!) http://www.adenandanais.com/shop/swaddles.aspx
Food processor: I use my food processor on a regular basis for babyfood-making. It's a breeze! If you're interested in trying to make your own baby food, check out this website: http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/
Onesies with built-in mitts: When Ford was first born, he kept his hands near his face constantly. This meant that he was continually scratching his face up. Most of the mitts do not stay on (although SOME do), so the best solution for us was to keep him in long-sleeved onsies with built-in mitts. Brilliant.
Boppy pillow: My boppy pillow came in handy sooooo many times. Quick uses...nursing, holding at night, children holding, propping baby up, giving baby tummy time, helping baby sit up. Well worth the $30. We still use it daily.
Baby Einstein: Judge me not. Baby Einstein kept (kept?...heck, keeps!) me sane. It is simple enough not to overwhelm, but colorful enough to keep their attention. Who couldn't use 24 minutes to do the dishes, do the laundry, or check facebook? :)
Ju Ju Be Packabe: This diaper bag was a gift from Nate (and Ford) for Mother's Day. It is awesome. It converts from a messenger bag to a backpack. It is very generous with space, has insulated cup holders, a changing pad, and lots of pockets. It is so useful, I LOVE it.
That completes my list, so far. I thought that before time got away from me, I should get this all out. How quickly things change and how quickly I forget as we enter a new stage!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Pacifier
One unexpected perk of parenthood is that God often uses it to catch my attention.
On Sunday afternoon, on our way out to celebrate Easter dinner with family, Ford began crying hysterically in the backseat. This is not, by any means, an unusual situation; in fact, it is quite the norm for him. Defeated by the screaming, I decided to sit in the backseat with him and try to soothe him (yes, I am one of THOSE parents). I immediately picked up the pacifier, a tried and true method of calming him, and put it into his mouth. He instantly calmed, but after a few seconds, he grabbed the pacifier out of his mouth and began screaming again. He had such a tight grip on the pacifier, that it took both of my hands to gently pry it out of his (very strong) right hand. I finally got ahold of the pacifier, returned it to its home in his mouth, and he was...well, pacified. However, a few seconds later, we repeated the cycle...and so on...and so forth...until we reached our destination (a mere 15 minutes later).
Aren't we kind of like babies in our own lives? God is sitting in the car beside us, throughout our journeys, waiting for us to relinquish control over our wants/needs so He can use us for His glory. We spend our lives in hysterics, while hanging on ever-so tightly to our jobs, our families, our finances, our dreams; and all the while God is saying, "Let go. Let me show you what to do with this. Let me guide you to peace."
I am a bigger handful for God than Ford is for me, anyday! I am so thankful to have a loving Father who gently teaches me lessons because He loves me.
On Sunday afternoon, on our way out to celebrate Easter dinner with family, Ford began crying hysterically in the backseat. This is not, by any means, an unusual situation; in fact, it is quite the norm for him. Defeated by the screaming, I decided to sit in the backseat with him and try to soothe him (yes, I am one of THOSE parents). I immediately picked up the pacifier, a tried and true method of calming him, and put it into his mouth. He instantly calmed, but after a few seconds, he grabbed the pacifier out of his mouth and began screaming again. He had such a tight grip on the pacifier, that it took both of my hands to gently pry it out of his (very strong) right hand. I finally got ahold of the pacifier, returned it to its home in his mouth, and he was...well, pacified. However, a few seconds later, we repeated the cycle...and so on...and so forth...until we reached our destination (a mere 15 minutes later).
Aren't we kind of like babies in our own lives? God is sitting in the car beside us, throughout our journeys, waiting for us to relinquish control over our wants/needs so He can use us for His glory. We spend our lives in hysterics, while hanging on ever-so tightly to our jobs, our families, our finances, our dreams; and all the while God is saying, "Let go. Let me show you what to do with this. Let me guide you to peace."
I am a bigger handful for God than Ford is for me, anyday! I am so thankful to have a loving Father who gently teaches me lessons because He loves me.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Ford praises the Lord...
Some of you may have already caught this on Facebook, but if you didn't, check out Ford on Youtube, praising the Lord. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0qBCNjD0YU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Monday, April 11, 2011
Ford's Dedication
Yesterday, April 10th, Ford was dedicated at church. We were asked to do two things in preparation: 1) write him a letter for him to read 18 years from now; 2) choose a Bible verse to read over his life.
Life scripture: Romans 12:1 (The Message)
"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him."
Life Letter: 18 years from now...
Dear Ford,
Mom and Dad love you SO much! As much as we love you, you have a Heavenly Father that loves you more than you can conceive. In every step of life, in both your successes and your failures, draw your strength and motivation through His love and grace. The Bible says, "For the mountains may move and hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain." (Isaiah 54:10)
The bottom line is this: If you can grasp even half of God's love for you, and love Him in return, then you will be pleasing to both us and your Heavenly Father. We love you.
Love,
Mom & Dad
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Month three.
Ford turned three months yesterday, April 6th. What a combination of joy and hardwork it has been! His personality was evident from the day of his birth and he continues to show a strong-willed, personable personality. He loves people, LOVES being held, and loves watching his daddy.
Some milestones:
~He rolls over from belly to back
~He smiles, babbles, and laughs often
~He sleeps 7-9 hours straight at night (only waking up once between 8:30pm-8:00am)
~He grabs at his toys
~He talks to the animals that appear (specifically the duck) on his Baby Einsteins video
~He loves all of his cousins because they keep him entertained
~He is still exclusively breastfeeding and seems to have established a solid eating routine
~He loves bath time (I think it is his favorite part of the day) and splashes around in the bath until the water gets cold (or mommy/daddy get tired of being splashed)
Some un-milestones (if you will):
~He HATES car rides and screams during the entire trip
~He only naps 1-2 times per day for about 20-30 minutes each time
~He, as his daddy says, is "high maintenance," which means he requires being entertained most of the day
We love Ford Edward so much. He lights up my life, as cheesy as that may sound. I am with him 99% of the time, and the 1% that I am away, I miss him. The breaks are nice, but when I see him again, I truly feel happy!
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