Postpartum Poems

Two little poems and a nice long Sharing is Caring Vol. 3

I was going through my Google Docs trying to decide which of my writing might be ready to share when I came across these two poems I wrote when my 9 month old baby was still a little newborn. How time flies. ‘They’ always say that, and it really is true. I’m closer to having a 1 year old than to having a newborn! When I was in the thick of the newborn stage I would wonder, when will we get into a good routine and be actually able to do life? And I would remind myself of how quick it went with my two oldest daughters, and that I’ll get there again in no time. Anyway, I’m sure this is nothing new to anyone, and it’s not even really new to me, but a good reminder that all stages of life, of parenting, really do fly by. The kids change. We change. But thankfully, our faithful Father never changes.

Last Night

Last night, 
I rocked my four month old baby to sleep at 7
Woke up at 8.30 and 9.30
And at 10.30 and 2.30 I fed him
Even though all I wanted to do was sleep myself

This morning,
I struggled to wake up
Trying to overcome the weight of
Sleep deprivation
Low iron
Busy days
Long evenings 

Just now,
I'm feeding him
I stand him up on my lap
Cuddle him close
Call him my sunshine boy
And he grabs around my neck
Pulling me to his face
Just like he does with his baby toys
And I almost cry
Filling up with the joy of it all

Afternoon nap

I tuck you up close 
The linen sling holding you tight
like a hug 

You fall asleep to the white noise 
of food frying 
Your head pressed up against
my heartbeat 

You are multitasking like a champion
says your dad 

Sharing is Caring Vol 3. 

First up, I have a bunch of food related things to tell you about:

I love collecting my onion ends, carrot peels and ends and celery ends in a freezer bag, as well as roast chicken carcasses, and then using all those scraps to make chicken stock. It's so easy and so satisfying to not waste those things! I use the recipetineats chicken stock recipe from her Dinner cookbook. Then I portion it out into 2 cups and 3-4 cups and store it in my freezer for using in soups or other recipes. 

I am not a huge green bean lover but one Christmas my sister made this bean recipe and I was hooked. Now I have a way to use up the beans I get in my veggie box every fortnight. So yum! 

This apple cake recommended by my sister in law is so delicious, with a bunch of lovely spices added in. And I love that you bake it in a Bundt tin. Bundt cakes always feel so fancy to me and it makes quite a few servings. Perfect for hosting! 

A couple of weeks ago I had some leftover smoked salmon in the fridge from a grazing platter that I wanted to use up. I fried two eggs, toasted some bread, grabbed a handful of spinach, popped the salmon on top and drizzled our family's very favourite sauce on top. Absolutely amazing. It was like I was having a cafe style breakfast for lunch! 

The girls and I are reading this version of Pilgrim's Progress at the breakfast table. The illustrations are stunning and so enthralling for the kids and I love the conversations we have about the story, about God and His kingdom, and about the meanings of the various names. This is already our second read through! 

I just finished reading my first Wendell Berry book in bed in the evenings and I can see why his writing is so well-loved! His descriptions and understanding of human nature are delightful and I'm learning so much about writing. I have written down so many quotes, but I think these are my favourite: 

“To her he was shelter and warmth. When he smiled down at her that way, it was to her as though the sun itself had looked kindly at her through the foliage of a tall tree.”

“By keeping still, by doing nothing, he allows the given world to be a gift.”

“He blamed it on arthritis. ‘There’s a whole family of them Ritis boys,’ he would say, ‘and that Arthur’s the meanest one of the bunch.’”

I will forever and ever enjoy the gorgeous music from Jess Ray and Taylor Leonhart. They duo together in Mission House, and Can't Stay Down and Day for Singing are my favourite ones at the moment, but I genuinely love all their music and play it often in the house and car. 

Some other songs I've been singing along to lately is this and this version of That's What Praise Can Do and anything from Tori Kelly. I find Tori Kelly awesome to clean the kitchen to when I'm on my own. She's everything I love in a powerful female singer. 

Jason and Emily from Really Very Crunchy just started a podcast! I love their little videos and their podcast is just as fun! They have such a great relationship and I find myself nodding along and laughing out loud often. 

I just got this Moolk breastfeeding jumper (in their birthday sale, 50% off! Whoo!) and I love it. I cannot wait until it comes out the wash and I can wear it again. That pink is utter perfection. 

And lastly, some spring afternoon photos:

Well, that’s enough for now, I’m sure! What are your stand out memories postpartum, good or hard? What books and music and recipes have you been loving lately? Thanks for being here!