Merry Christmas to All

So.......yea. I have not posted in a long, long time........and no suprise to anyone why. However, it is a little bit of a surprise to me. I knew motherhood was a lot of work, but I honestly underestimated it. Not only that, Alia is pretty easy all things considered. So, my respect to all mothers has greatly increased over the past few months.

As I suspected, it has been a huge shift in life for both of us. I turned 37 just a week before Alia was born. I didn't realize how drastically my life has changed. When I think back to college and then to St. Jude's and to all the things I have done and now to be a mother. It is like starting over. A new chapter and almost like a new book.

It has stretched me in so many ways. It has grown me as well of course, as good stretching does. You learn about yourself and old habits come back to haunt. For me the surprise was not just the sheer exhaustion but the utter lack of control. I thought I'd gotten better at letting go and going with the flow, but this adds a whole new perspective. All my tendencies to do things to the best of my ability (aka perfectly) come back with a flurry. It's of course not possible to raise a child perfectly and it a pure act of grace and prayer. God is good and redeems everything and I have yet again begun to surrender all.



first santa meeting at Richard's office party for the kids



Alia is almost 6 months. She is just about 26 weeks old and we have gone through a lot of changes together in that time. We've had minor health challenges to overcome (mainly me) and to get through this first 6 months took a lot out of me. The first three months were a blurr. I felt like I was just surviving, going through the motions and slowly came out of the fog. So now at 6 months things are getting better and I'm feeling a bit more myself again.

She is a true blessing, but I will admit a challenge. She has always been ahead of the curve. Since birth she has been able to hold up her head and it just keeps going from there. She is now standing up holding on to something and able to pull herself up to standing. She is crawling around and well. She's mobile and it's crazy. I can't leave her anywhere for a second. She gets easily bored and loves mental and physical stimulation. She is quick to smile, especially at her papa. The two of them have formed a very special relationship and I love to see it. She has the sweetest personality forming. She is a quick learner and absorbs everything around her. Since she was very young she looks intently at people and listens to them talk. She loves to look out our front window and watch the cars pass below. She loves to get out of the house. I have been wearing her since she was born and she is very comfortable in her carrier/wrap. She is calm and just takes the world in bit by bit. She gets LOTS of attention from people when we are out, for various reasons. One, she's pretty darn cute. Two, most babies under 6 months are under a pile of blankets and rarely seen. Three, she looks at you when you look at her and for some reason it grabs people's attention. Regardless, everyone her calls her "muneca (doll)" and even little children look and point. I sure hope she doesn't get a complex!

Alia is amazing. Everytime I need to go somewhere or do something she either sleeps or takes it in stride. She's very flexible that way, which is good, cause our lives lack a lot of routine in general. So, all in all. I continue to be in awe of this life that is given to me to care for and nurture. It is hard to believe sometimes. It's overwhelming and of course........there is no break. That's the hardest I think. Lacking any personal time. However, she's only young once and it lasts a short time. So, I will do my best to fill her cup and help her feel secure in her world.

Anyway, that's a bit of what's been going on. The other part is raising a child in a culture that is not your own. Oh my the stories I can tell and hopefully will tell. It goes from scandal to scandal...haha. It has been much more of a challenge than I thought and very lonely at times. I miss having friends and family around and things that are familiar, but alas. This is the life I have chosen......or has been given to me.

Blessing and tidings of joy to each of you!

Laura, Richard and Alia

A few recent images for those not on Facebook.