Being the Bastians: September 2012

We are finally ready to welcome Baby Bastian to the world! Well, I suppose we've been ready for a long time, but now we have all the physical items in place.

A well stocked nursery with clothes, diapers, stuffed animals, blankets, a rocker, a cozy rug, and lots of books in place. Check.
Hospital bag packed. Check.
Diaper bag packed with a small going home outfit and a larger going home outfit. Check.
Baby books read. Check.
Pediatrician selected. Check.
Baby classes attended. Check.
List of people to contact. Check.

I'm tired just thinking of all the preparation that's gone into it all, not to mention all of the physical preparation my body has been doing! But I realize none of the above things will make us good parents. (Their completion only makes me more Type A than I was before, but I hear I won't have that problem very soon.) Only a lot of God's grace will prepare us for real parenthood. So, in addition to the above list, I'm reciting this list in my head, too...

A well stocked nursery... by God's grace and generous friends,
Hospital and diaper bags packed... with things we may or may not need,
Baby books read... with humility and the admittance that I still know very little about raising a baby,
Pediatrician selected... but knowing every one we interviewed seemed very knowledgeable and great,
Baby classes attended...but I still can't swaddle a rubber, immobile baby doll much less a wiggly infant,
List of people to contact... although I'm sure I've forgotten someone!

I could go on and on. I'm already figuring out that parenthood is ~~25%~~ 10% really hard work and ~~75%~~ 90% God's grace. Even though I can already see it coming, experiencing the end of myself as someone who can prepare for almost anything will be a humbling and ~~difficult~~ good thing for me. I'm reminded of the David Crowder song, "if grace is an ocean, we're all sinking." I'm ready to sink in some grace! (Do you think I could wear floaties just in case, God?) :)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

And now for the nursery pictures... because I know it will probably never look this neat and tidy again!

The crib is mine from when I was a baby, and the dresser to the right was in Jeremiah's nursery when he was a baby. I repainted it and put little animal pulls on it.

The sign is courtesy of some friends of ours and their vintage shop, Pursuing Eden Vintage Sales and Rentals. Thanks Doug and Kristal! My friend Susan helped me with the mobile. She gave me the idea and the backbone parts for it, and I made the rest. The bedding is courtesy of "YaYa," a.k.a. my mom.