Let me set the scene…
Feed the baby. Change the diaper. Try to get a brief nap in. Feed the baby again. Take a shower after being barfed on. Oh great, she barfed…now she’s hungry again. Feed the baby. Try to lay her down. Poops her pants. Change the diaper. Is it 5 AM or 5 PM? Crap…it’s 5 PM - what am I going to do about dinner!? When suddenly - there is a knock on the door. To my surprise and delight, it is another one of my friends dropping off a meal. Hallelujah!!
There is just about no greater baby gift ever than the gift of food. I have been so thankful at the group of friends and co-workers that have dropped by food over the past few weeks. (Oh, and to the viewer from Lansing, Iowa who offered to be our personal nanny, maid and chef if we only lived closer - we are currently looking at properties in Lansing!)
But seriously, figuring out what to do for meals is such a challenge when you are so tired you can barely stand. Am I right? And I know some of you are thinking “food duty” would be a great job for Mike - but trust me when I say the man can’t boil an egg. I’m not joking. He literally had to ask me once why the egg was still hard after boiling it for 45 minutes. ”Mike, you do know you have to peel off the shell, right?” *looks at me with blank stare* ”Oh.” But I digress.
Just yesterday as we were picking Katelin up from school, one of the other moms sent out lunch meat and some yummy bars. And Mike and I were just saying to each other “I’m starving.” When I saw the food, it was like Christmas all over again. (by the way - thanks Sue!)
So advice to all of you that know someone about to have a baby - when cooking your own meals, make a second batch and run it over to share, because I promise you the effort will be truly appreciated. And again - thanks to all of you that have helped us out over the past few weeks.
on Jan 30th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Jennifer,
I absolutely agree. When we had our second child people kept asking us what we needed. I would tell them that dinner would be great. We had 99 percent of what we needed to prepare for a baby, but now we had a newborn and a two year old. The food was such a wonderful thing. My husband would heat up the oven or crock pot or whatever, throw it in there, and we were good to go. So many people don’t think of giving that as a gift, but honestly it is so helpful.
on Jan 30th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Sound slike a new Mother too me . You are missed on the morning news too
on Feb 1st, 2009 at 11:54 am
Dang Jen……if only I lived in your town, I would be right over with a delish-dish-in-hand!
All I can offer you is a cyber-casserole…..LOL!
on Feb 2nd, 2009 at 9:04 am
Isn’t it amazing how much better food taste when someone brings it to you already made!! You may not think it now but this time really does go fast (when you look back at it). My 2nd girl had very bad colic, like 18 hours a day, I thought about giving her back some days
but now looking back at it 16 years later that time is just a blur. Each new phase in your childs life is fun and exciting no matter how old they are. Just enjoy every phase, the good, the bad, and the poopy!!
on Feb 4th, 2009 at 2:02 am
JEN
We had our first baby over in Germany on Sept. 14th 1959 Clint was in the Army, We only had each other and Clint could only take two weeks off and he had to go back to work, thankfully we lived off base in a home where the gal that took care of the home for the landlord helped me during the day I was only 19 and a long ways form home. I had no washing machine and a kitchen that was 4ft by about 6 ft. I had to boil all of the diapers and sheets and wash every thing of our daughters by hand and also Clint’s and mine, so I was thankful for any help. But I also had my bad days, like when I boiled the diapers dry and that was because the kitchen was down the hall from the living /bedroom. and farther down the hall from that was the bathroom. But Jen that two years we spent in Germany was the best start we could ever have had as a couple, we only had the three of us and we either made or not and we made it because of the love we had for each other and our baby. On August 23rd of 2008 we were married 50years. We raised three children and we have 4 grandchildren and two Great grndchildren and but we had one grandchild that died at the age of 15. Jen You never stop being a worry wort believe me, I would wet my finger and put it under there nose to make sure they were breathing. And I still worry about them, they are all married with there own famililes but ther stilll our babies.
Jen and Mike your family is precious and beautiful and I know you will have a long and beautiful life together with them. God Bless all of you. HAVE FUN WITH YOUR FAMILY.
Kathy