Reflections on the first week

I'll try to keep it PG:

1. Keeping a newborn alive is a big job, even if it's your 6th. I've accumulated close to 6 years of nursing experience, but somehow my "apparatus" still think a sucking newborn is the equivalent of twenty needles stabbing my chest. My experience tells me what's normal and what's not, and I know it'll get easier. But for such a natural and perfectly designed relationship, breastfeeding can still be hard work. Bottom line: lanolin and kellymom.com

2. C-section recovery is slow. Russell is rockin' the Mr. Mom gig like a champ and forbids me from doing anything other than taking care of baby this week - which means I have to let him do things NOT the way I would ;-)  The body's ability to heal is truly amazing. I've had my abdomen sliced through and stitched back up (3 x's) and am still able to function -- I even feel better physically today than I have in the last 2 months or so! Bottom line: Motrin.

3. Newborns are TINY! Squishy and floppy. Sleepy and poopy. I love how she fits in the cradle of my arm or nestled under my chin. Bottom line: they're wonderful.

She's here!

The newest addition to the Lowery family, Anna Jean, made her debut yesterday at 12:59pm. She's a perfectly healthy 7lbs, 6oz and delivery went as smoothly as possible. We are enjoying getting to know her and I think she looks most like Mary. Maybe. My tablet isn't letting me attach photos, so I'll have to add those when we get home.

We like to pick our kids names from Biblical men and women we admire or godly saints who've been important in our lives. Anna Jean has one of each.

Anna was a prophetess, who, along with Simeon, was present at the temple when Mary and Joseph presented the baby Jesus. They were part of the faithful remnant of God's people who were "waiting for the consolidation of Israel." Since the fall, God promised to send a redeemer for his people. Salvation from sin has always been through faith in Christ; in the Old Testament it was a faith that looked forward, now we look back. Anna and Simeon were some of the first to see with their own eyes the object of their faith.

This is what is recorded about Anna in Luke 2 when she met the Word made flesh:

"Anna...was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." (Lk 2:36-38)

Our prayer for this new daughter, as with all our children, is that God would grant her faith to know Jesus as her personal redeemer and the supreme object of her faith.

Jean is in memory of my dear mother, Barbara Jean, who has been seeing with her own eyes the object of her faith since April of 2014. She's left a big hole in our hearts and a legacy of faith, joy and love we long to pass on to our children, friends and loved ones.