You would think how hard could it be to entertain a baby? I have said it for the previous 4 children.... but let me tell you about number 5. From the beginning this sweet baby has been difficult he cried the 1st 6 weeks of life, screamed anytime we were in the car, the entire time, nursed every 2 hours for the first 6 months, was horribly crabby while teething (I mean really bad), I could go on. This sweet little boy doesn't want anything to do with "baby" things. Or "big boy" toys for that matter! He wants to play with the things you told him he couldn't touch. All day everyday. I will tell you the few things he enjoys... he LOVES going for walks, he LOVES to eat (not that you could tell by the size of him), he LOVES water and he LOVES his Mama to hold him. So as you can see my days have been spent feeding and holding my quite large 10 month old, going on many walks and baths every night. I would like to take a moment from my grumbling and just recognize my older 3 girls, they are the best help the Lord could have blessed me with. I wouldn't make it through the day without their cheery, helpful attitudes and beautiful faces. Back to the grumbling..... so as you can see it was pretty hard to unpack a house, cook for 7, keep things clean, remember to bathe the other children (they may or may not have gone 3 days without a shower...eeek!) and just deal with life. Enter the solution to entertaining such babies....Jaxon's own cupboard in the kitchen. I cleared out a cupboard in the kitchen in attempt to keep him entertained for 20 mins so I could make potato salad, salsa, shred potatoes, make brownies and iced tea. All in 20 mins. Ha! I just decided I would see how far I could get. To my surprise he played there for an hour! I couldn't believe it! It has now been 3 days and this boy LOVES his cupboard! He puts toys and tupperware in there, then takes it out. He puts himself in there, shuts the doors, then comes out. He had his snack in there yesterday with his older sister and was on top of the world! So for those of you that have a VERY busy baby... please give him/her a cupboard. He/she will love it. I promise. If they don't I will send one of my sweet older girls over to help you. Not really. I am quite partial to them. In a very big way. Now that my grumbling is over and my baby is happy enough playing in his cupboard I would like to take a moment to share that I am quite certain the Lord has given me this sweet, cuddly, smile as large as life baby boy to show me there are more things in this life than a clean house, always well-groomed children, spotless floor and never dishes in the sink. There are sweet children to love, cuddle, listen to and watch bloom. I want to put my heart into what lasts.... FOREVER. That being my family. Being a living example of what Jesus' love is, what He has done for us and whatever is good, true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. In the beginning it was so hard to focus on these things, but now after having to sit (with baby in hand) it has been such a joy to have this time to just BE with my kids and husband. To just enjoy each other's company, what a blessing family is! I thank God for this energetic, curious, adorable and quite fast little boy. He has the best laugh, biggest smile and he is such a blessing to our family and once again God has seen me through the hard times, holding my hand all along the way. Teaching me as we walked together. Just remember God doesn't use the weak.. he uses the passionate, the busy, the stubborn and curious people.... like Jaxon Courage. :)
