Another wonderful week has come and gone. Tyler is almost three weeks old now and Bobby and I can already see how he is growing and changing! He has gained a pound and a few ounces and grown half an inch or so. He doesn’t like being swaddled anymore, but would rather have his arms free to move. His skin doesn’t look so red anymore and his eyes focus easily on our faces and objects that are close enough. Being a parent really reminds me that life is one big learning process. Each day we see new things in Tyler, learn to interpret his cries and sounds and figure out what best comforts him. I love being able to be home to take care of him. I have to remind myself to take the “sleep-when-he-sleeps” advice so many moms gave me. It is fascinating to watch this new little person. I love how he smiles and even laughs sometimes in his sleep. But when I catch a couple of two hour naps here and there during the day, it really does make all the difference!

Now that I’m more comfortable having a baby to take care of 24/7, I’m figuring out how to do that and still get things done around the house–clean the bathroom, do the laundry, load the dishwasher–so far what I’m doing is working fine. I even got my big grocery shopping trip taken care of. In this day and age you can do all your grocery shopping for a reasonable price, online! I went to Safeway.com and did my normal big stock-the-kitchen shopping, including produce, frozen foods, and meats. I placed the order online in the morning and that afternoon all my groceries were brought right to my front door. It was fabulous!

I contine to value Tyler’s feeding times to read and pray. One big thing that has become clear as day to me is the reality of Jesus’ statement, “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Jesus said this to His disciples when they were too tired to stay awake to pray. There have been times these couple of weeks that I’ve felt like this. It doesn’t really matter how hard I try to stay awake or how much I want to get done, I can only do so much. Our bodies are so weak, so limited. We have things that we need and if they don’t get met we become even more weak–sleep, food, companionship. Sometimes I can fool myself into thinking I can do it on my own. But I really couldn’t do anything without the Lord providing all I need to accomplish the tasks He has given to me. Dependance on the Lord is very freeing. It frees us to trust and not worry, to obey without excuses.

I just finished reading Elyse Fitzpatrick’s latest book, Helper By Design. Addressing the usual list of topics for a book like this–God’s purpose for marriage, companionship, communication and submission–Fitzpatrick takes a Biblically in-depth look at what it means for a wife to support and complete her husband.

This book is fairly easy to read and covers well the aspects of a wife’s role from Scripture. I always appreciated how the author didn’t try to define things on her own or just from her experience, but always asked the question: “What does God say about me as a wife?” I was refreshed and encouraged as she unfolded many struggles women have in being a godly companion for their husbands. I was often challenged by this book to rethink ways I respond to my own husband. I began to consider how I can be a better helper to him by intentionally seeking to find ways to support him and build him up. The end of each chapter has a section called “Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling”, a list of six to eight questions to help the reader go deeper in their conviction and motivation toward being a godly wife. Many of these questions had verses for further reading and I found that when I really took time to answer them they were helpful at revealing areas I need to work on and things I needed to pray about.

I really liked Fitzpatrick’s point in a section called “Common Temptations and Logs In Our Eyes”. She writes:

Things continue to go well here in the Blakey home. Tyler’s eating and sleeping cycles are becoming more consistent making naps and nights better. I’ve noticed that his wake times are longer and he is more alert during them. He can’t really “play” with us yet, but I’m told the way newborns play is by staring and Tyler is already a pro. During the times he is alert Bobby and I will hold him facing us and his eyes will open wide as he studies our faces. Sometimes he even copies them. It’s really sweet. I’ve also noticed that this week he smiles more, the only problem is that it’s always in his sleep, not due to some clever antics of Bobby’s. I guess we have to wait a little longer for that. All in all things are going wonderfully. We’re almost done with all of the dinner deliveries from people from our church. That was so nice last week to not have to think about making meals. This week I’ve cooked a meal or two now, vacuumed, and done some laundry…it’s nice to be recovered and renewed!

Perhaps the most noticeable change in our house these days is how quiet it is. I don’t know what it is about having a baby that makes you whisper all the time! When people come over they say “hi!” at the door in a normal talking volume and then when they step inside it drops down to barely there and I feel like I might have to read their lips to understand them! I think it’s so funny that we do this because Tyler sleeps fine with music or the television on and with voices at normal volume. I guess without even trying, we’re all sensitive to the new little person in the house.

I’ve been giving much of my time and thought these days to prayer. I’m not going to be taking Tyler out to church or youth group meetings for a couple more weeks still, so I really miss all my girls and getting to hear how they are and all their funny stories. I can’t go hang out with them and since some of them have colds, they can’t come here. At first I was frustrated by this until I realized that I can really spend this time praying for them. I’m not yet able to go do all the things I would like but one thing I can never do enough of is pray.

I’ve never considered myself very good at praying. I know that this is the only way that I can communicate with God and am aware that it is a great privilege to do so. Someone once told me that the extent to which I devoted myself to prayer determined the quality of my spiritual life. I have often been challenged by this because it is easy to forget to pray sometimes. Maybe this is a struggle all my own, but it seems easy sometimes to presume upon God’s grace and though I say I trust and depend on the Lord, I might live like I don’t need Him at all. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 commands us to “Pray without ceasing.” Yesterday I read something John MacArthur wrote about this verse that really encouraged me.