Kierstyn is 2 weeks old!!
This week, she started smiling more (not intentionally yet, but I’m guessing that’s coming soon!), she decided she likes eating more (something we are VERY much celebrating — there’s been a lot less falling asleep during feeds!), she went to the doctor again for another weight check and had actually gained a little bit for the first time (which we are also celebrating — and it likely would have been more had she not had three poopy diapers right before they weighed her!), and had her first real outing (a social distanced cookout in our friends’ backyard).
I’m celebrating that my milk supply has increased (all the work and effort is paying off!), that the babies are more and more getting on the same routine and are so happy so much of the time, that my postpartum blues are fading and I’m feeling more myself, and that Jesse and I have figured out a good routine at night that is allowing us to both consistently get 6-8 hours of sleep (cumulatively).
Little did I dream last Mother’s Day what this year’s Mother’s Day would look like!
Her hair looks like this every morning! It cracks us up. We’ve never had a baby with this much hair as a newborn and her hair definitely has a mind of its own.
I walked into our room a few days ago and had to take a picture of this because I don’t want to forget this season of life…
This is the season of unmade beds, unchecked off to do lists, and a master bedroom that usually has baby paraphernalia strewn all over it.
This is the season of spending most of my waking hours nursing, pumping, bottle feeding, calming crying babies, changing diapers, going to the doctor, on the phone or video chat with foster care related things.
This is the season for watching my older three sacrifice their time and routine to help out — to love on babies, to learn how to calm fussy newborns, to help with diapers and bottles, to clean and cook, to sit next to me and talk while we both feed a baby.
This is the season for falling in love even more with Jesse as he stays up until the wee hours of the morning with babies in order to let me get a good block of sleep in, as he gives medicine doses, makes bottles, calls the pediatrician or another specialist yet again, and as I see him sing to and speak love and life to these babies.
It’s not an easy season (but is there really such a thing? You all have your own hard things and struggles you’re dealing with, too!), but it’s a beautiful season and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. This is the season I’m in and I’m seeking to soak up and savor every moment and memory.
A few weeks ago, Silas offered to take care of Champ (the precious little baby boy we are fostering) so I could take a nap. This might not seem like a big deal, except it was mid-morning and I knew that he already had his day all mapped out.
You see, he’s one of those kids who always has a plan for his day and he doesn’t like to veer from that plan. He had already told me that morning what the rundown was for his self-imposed schedule and how he was hoping to get everything done by 1 pm.
And yet, here he was mid-morning, offering to hold Champ. I was thrilled to be able to sneak in a nap after not getting a lot of sleep the night before.
Silas sat next to me on the bed with Champ and just held him. As I was drifting off to sleep, I heard him tell Champ, “I had planned to do my school this morning, but sitting here with you holding you is so much more important.”
It was such a good reminder to me — who also is one to have my day all mapped out and to like to stick with the plan — to remember what’s most important.
By the way, Silas turned 11 this week. And after being the baby of the family for all those years, with the addition of Kierstyn and Champ, he now has moved up to middle child status.
He has taken his role as big brother so seriously. Almost every morning, first thing, he comes down and helps me get the babies changed into their new outfits for the day. While he’s changing them, he will be gently talking with them and telling them how cute they are, how big they are getting, and just speaking so much life and love over them.
In addition, he has become a diaper-changing and bottle-feeding and baby snuggling pro. He’s even learning how to swaddle them!
Seeing his tender love for these babies and how well he helps care for them has been such a beautiful thing to witness.
Silas and I have Bible Time with the babies every morning. We sing a hymn to them and then he reads them a Bible story.
The babies love to lay next to one another and I will often look over and see that they have their arms intertwined. It melts my hear!
Mary says
I’ve been reading your posts for a decade and this is the first one that brought me to tears! Your son, Silas, and his heart for the babies is a gift. What an amazing young man you are raising.
Kimberly says
I agree!! And ALL your kids are amazing!!
And Awwwww—those photos! Several are cemented in my memory for a long time to come. And I LOVE that you and Silas do Morning Worship with the babies!! That’s benefiting them in SO many ways, as you know.
My mind keeps going back to that photo and the one of the babies’ strong desire to be together PLUS touching.
Awwwwwww…..and those shirts are darling, too. 😁
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for your encouragement! He is such a gift and it’s been so fun to watch him be a big brother!
Guest says
Oh my goodness – I can barely handle the cuteness!!! And I’m not even a baby/kid person – ha! Little Champ’s arm on big brother Silas’ chest – ahhhhhhhhh. Kierstyn and Champ lying together, snuggling. So much love. All love.
K says
That picture of him holding the baby in front of the dark dresser – the look on his face – frame that for him! What a blessing to watch older children love on their little siblings.
Brooke Arroyo says
Champ is having such a wonderful introduction to life with you guys. It makes me happy to see all the love your family has for both babies.
Marcia C. says
Awww!!
Patti Smith says
I am smiling from ear to ear…loved hearing about your family…what a Mother’s Day! Continued blessings to you all, so very happy for you and your precious family!!!
Liza mores says
Happy Mother’s Day!!! God bless!
Julie Swihart says
These pictures are so precious! The Bible story time is the sweetest thing!
Jeanie says
What melted me was seeing “Brother” on Champ’s shirt.
JJ says
Happy Mother’s Day!!! So so excited to see a personal post and update!!! Love that your family is a team and that you guys serve one another in love.
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much! My goal has been to keep doing these personal updates every Sunday, even while on maternity leave. I’m glad you enjoy them!
Tamboliya says
Very sweet and tender. Thanks for sharing. This post was encouraging. 🙂 Happy & Blessed Mother’s Day to you.
Crystal Paine says
You are so welcome! And thank you!
diane says
So sweet! So thankful Kierstyn is nursing better. I know that can be so hard (at least it was for me but thankful we stuck it out for the long haul). Such sweet pictures. May God continue to bless your family richly. I had to sort of smile to myself (just because I remember being that tired) that you and Jesse were sleeping 6-8 hrs cumulatively, wondering if that was both of you together getting that much. Hoping it’s individually broken up sleep!
Crystal Paine says
Yes! We’re both individually getting 6-8 hours of sleep each night! We continue to shocked by that as we fully expected it would be a lot less than that!
Becky Roberts says
It brings tears to my eyes to see your son speak over the babies, read a Bible story, and sing to them. I pray that this, not trauma, will always triumph over Champ wherever his journey takes him.
Crystal Paine says
It has been so heartwarming to watch our kids speak life and love over these babies!
Rhoda says
That last picture melted my heart too! And so did the pictures of your older kids helping out!
Crystal Paine says
Seeing the two babies together + my older kids loving on them has just been the sweetest thing ever!
Amanda Raker says
Perfect. Happy Mother’s Day!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much!
Karen says
Precious!! So sweet to see your older kids helping out. ❤️
Cheryl says
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound! Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much!