The last of the great-grandparents

Ellia finally got to meet the last set of her great-grandparents this weekend. Buck and Granmama were very excited to meet Ellia, and she just adored them.

Four generations of women

We did go to Galveston as well, but we didn't get a chance to take too many pictures. I'll put up a couple from our trip tomorrow. Thanks for all your prayers for us. It was wonderful to see family and get some Ellia-Christina-Brett time as well. It's also good to be back home.

By way of preview, we'll be moving into our new residence hall (Alexander) probably some time at the end of this week (maybe the weekend). That could be crazy, especially amidst all the other responsibilities we have. Again, thanks for your prayers.

Vacation

Christina and I have not left Waco since about two months before Ellia was born. All three of us are about to leave for a short vacation in Galveston, thanks to the generous gift of a friend of ours (thanks, Coley!). We'll also get to spend a couple of days with Christina's grandparents (Ellia's greats) who have not gotten to meet Ellia yet. Can't wait to see you! We'll leave this afternoon (Thursday) and get back to Waco sometime on Monday.

We're excited to get away together as a family. Pray for safe travel, restful nights, and enjoyable relaxation. Amidst all this fun, I also have to write a paper for class, so pray that I would prioritize rightly, finish my paper, and enjoy my family.

We're taking the camera, so we might be able to put up some pictures while we're there, if we can find an internet connection. Check back.

Partnership

Marriage has transitioned for Christina and me into a significant partnership. We've always embraced the idea partnership, walking beside one another, seeking God, asking for direction, helping one another. But now we have a baby to feed, calm, wake up, get to sleep, and change. We have learned in new ways the importance of partnership. That first night home especially I needed Christina in a new way. She was a model of patience and compassion for our newborn in the midst of Ellia's inconsolable cries and screams. I was about to lose it, but Christina continued to show such patience that I was brought there alongside her to help her.

I can't imagine doing this parenting thing alone. For those of you who have done that, I am in awe and have much respect for you. Parenting is difficult. But as we find those people with whom we can partner in this high calling, we are spurred on and given strength we simply can't have on our own. Here's to Christina! Here's to partners!

And now...a little partnership in action.

Happy Ellia

I promise that you're not going to want to miss these pictures. Never mind the hairy legs supporting the ridiculously cute baby.

Eating

Probably the first thing God taught me in our first days as a three-person family regarded Ellia's eating.

First, Ellia must eat. If she doesn't eat, she will die.

Second, she must receive her food from us (Mom, mostly). If Mom withholds, Ellia doesn't eat, and Ellia will die.

Yet, Ellia must work for her food. This is in stark contrast to the nine months she spent in the womb. During that time, she was fed by a cord attached directly to her stomach. She had to do nothing except let God grow her in her mother's womb. But as soon as she was delivered from her womb and began to breathe oxygen, she had to go through the (at times very painful) process of working for food. I had no idea it wasn't just automatic that babies know how to eat properly. For breast-fed babies, they have to learn to 'latch on,' how to swallow, etc. There are plenty of amazing biological/physiological things that happen automatically because God created it that way. But he also created it so that we must work for our milk.

So though all the food that is necessary must come from Christina (making Ellia 100% dependent on her mom), Ellia still must do her part. If she doesn't, she won't eat, and she will die.

The apostle Paul said it this way: 'Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure' (Philippians 2:12-13). God has all we need at his disposal, and God longs to give it to us as a mother longs to give food to her child. But the child must learn her role in this process.

As we've progressed in this past month in the eating department, there have been fits and starts throughout. Ellia sometimes spits up what her mother gives her, or even refuses to eat despite the fact that she is hungry. But her mother, a gracious and patient mother, never loses heart and is always there to wipe her off, clean her up, and give her what she needs.

May we all grow in our desire and our ability to eat and rest in the eternal resources of our loving Provider.

ONE MONTH...AND BEYOND!

Today Ellia is one month old. The initial 'culture shock' as I've tended to describe it has begun to wear off a bit, and we're settling into a new life called parenthood. My friend and mentor Bobby would often teach from his experience as a father on the Fatherhood of God. Parenthood certainly provides the opportunity to learn more about our triune God who is Father, Son, and Spirit (as we have already begun to taste).

So we intend to pay close attention to the things we see in Ellia, the experiences of parenting a child, and the opportunities to learn and to teach. Our hope is to share at least some of these encounters with you via this blog. We will continue to post pictures of Ellia, probably more than some of you care to see. But we want to complement those pictures with stories and musings that God brings to our attention with the hopes of encouraging all of us in our journeys toward knowing him.

And here is what our one-month-old looks like today.

Smiles

Around the house

It's actually more like 3 am.

Ellia has a deeply intense stare...she'll look right through your soul.

Play time, sleep time

Preliminary wedding pictures

I've gotten some complaints that there are too many pictures of Ellia with Dad and not enough of Ellia with Mom. Well, don't you worry. You'll see plenty of mother-daughter pictures in this post and in posts to come.

A note of news: yesterday (7/14) we celebrated the wedding of Ryan Neil Gibson and Megan Holly Weaver. Such a fun time with family. And, naturally, Ellia was the most popular person there. She may have gotten a bit over-stimulated, as you'll see.

Napping on Ryan, just a couple of days before his wedding.

Showing off her amazing chin and jowls.

Chillin' with mom after a long day of wedding.

The over-stimulation has set in.

Ellia's eyes

Ellia in her front-pack with Mommy

Ellia is beginning to look around a lot more. Here she is looking at GG, who's visiting this week before Uncle Ryan and Aunt Megan get married this weekend.

This is one from the archives. This is day one, probably about minute ten or so. We're so happy to have her!

"Daddy does my hair."

Ellia, cousin, and dress

She's funny already.

Cuncle (cousin+uncle) Justin dropped in for a visit to his new nousin (niece+cousin).

Ellia's dress for Uncle Ryan and Aunt Megan's wedding, complete with shoes.

Ellia contemplating Mommy's request not to spit up or poo on the pretty dress.

Ellia's angry and defiant response to Mommy's request.

She did spit up on the dress in the three minutes it was actually on her. Ah, parenthood.

All Ellia, all the time

You've gotten plenty of pictures of us people over the age of 3 weeks. Now for those of us who are a little bit younger. I won't put any captions on these. These tend to speak for themselves. We just can't get enough of her, so we'll keep taking pictures and putting them up here if you'll keep looking.

A new slew

After bath time, wrapped up nicely in her turtle towel, Ellia dries off.

Ellia sharing deep theological discourse with her dad. She really struggles with Calvin.

We have found our tongue!

Mommy really needs to get out more.

Ellia loves to rest her sweet arms on Mommy while she sleeps.



We'll have more tomorrow. Check back!