Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Stubborn Boys and Seasonal Blues

Joshua is a stubborn boy. After all, how many seven week old babies do you know who still have a special attachment? Today was the second time we went to see his doctor about his belly button. He just won't let that cord go! His doctor just shrugs her shoulders and treats it with something to help it shrink. I'm hoping to have had given Josh his first real bath by Christmas. I bet he would like sitting in warm bath water, kicking his little feet. This morning I gave him a sponge bath and he didn't appreciate it very much. I think a sponge bath is much colder than a real bath. Josh just lays there and gets little goose pimples if I don't move fast enough. Hey, it's all I can do at the moment!

Last week was my first week back to work. I haven't been waitressing though. I've been packing candy boxes. Our restaurant also sells candy and Christmas is one of the big candy seasons (second after Easter). I worked three days last weeks and on the third day I didn't want to leave Josh at Grandma's. I wanted to stay and cuddle him and kiss his fat cheeks. I'm so glad that I'm only working so often for the holiday season. My plan is to work one day a week after Christmas is over and I'm so glad that Adam doesn't mind having a stay-at-home Mom for a wife. I'd much rather be at home with my baby and my house than out working days at a time. For an explanation of why I haven't stopped working altogether see my post from October 8, 2007. I guess I still have a "special attachment" too, although of a different kind than Joshua's.

There is one week until Christmas and for some reason this year, I've been strangely detached from the festivity of the season. Why can't I seem to be excited? I know that the real reason of Christmas is Christ's birth and that we are really celebrating Him, so what's wrong with me this year? Usually, I have this eager anticipation of the Christmas season, but not this year. Maybe I have too many distractions... Maybe not too many, but a big distraction. But Josh shouldn't be used as an excuse for my lack of Christmas "spirit". This Friday, I am going to a friend's to make Christmas cookies. I'm hoping that a bit of fellowship will boost my excitement and general enjoyment of the season. That and maybe when I finish Christmas shopping, I'll feel more prepared. Why is the emphasis always on shopping? Why can't our emphasis truly be on Jesus, the real meaning of Christmas? I know somebody out there can sympathize with me and my drama. Who else out there just isn't with it this year?

12 comments:

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

LOL! Didn't they tell you boys are ALWAYS stubborn!?!?

Martha said...

Sometimes I feel as though I may never be "with it" again. There must be a secret to making and keeping the Christmas season special. Maybe it involves being ready in August...

Heather said...

Bethany, I am having that same problem this year with the wedding coming up so soon. I am glad we can celebrate Jesus all year long even if we happen to be a little distracted during December!

Rachel said...

I'm with you too. I think with Jake being sick and then dying in the middle of November, and getting a puppy (who needs so much attention), Christmas just kinda crept up on me.

Priscilla said...

It usually takes me a little longer then some to get into the Christmas spirit. I'm ok now. I agree that there should be less emphasis on shopping. In a way it probably is my own fault that I've allowed myself to be so swept into it. I haven't baked Christmas cookies yet!

judi/Gmj said...

Hey sweety, could it be post-partum effects?

Bethany said...

I don't think I'm dealing with post-partum blues. But I'm not ready for Christmas at all, my house has hardly any Christmas decor and I'm just not excited! Don't know quite what to do to jump start my joyous-ness (sp?). Maybe when Jim comes home I'll be all excited and ready to celebrate 'cause everyone is home again. That's it... I'll blame Jim for moving away ;)

Heather said...

You should totally blame Jimmy for your lack of Christmas spirit! If you can't blame your older brother, then who can you blame? ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi there Bethany...I certainly understand that lack of the "Christmas Feeling" as me now without my children and usually me and Devine are all alone..however, what I did is, I pushed myself to put up some little things and Christmas lights..then I turned on my Christmas music and turned off the other lights in the house and just sit here watching for the first time in years, the snow fall lightly on the ground, feeling the lights twinkling and the songs of Christmas past and present always takes me to wonderful joyous places that I have had the good fortune to have experienced..I can't shop much but I do bake a bit..and talk to friends that I havent seen for quite some time..
I remember being in Church with my grandparents (Nanny and Nampy) in Church in Toronto when I was a little girl..it was Christmas time and my grandmother always wore her foxes at those times..they where kinda like a scarf of real fox with little fox heads that when you put them together they looked like they where biting..and I used to tease my gramdpa when my grandmother was not looking and he would laugh and cover his mouth..he was someone very very special..
On this one Christmas, they had those glasses that are filled with water and people where playing them like in a concert..what a beautiful sound that was...and this other special time they had the man who wrote "This old House" there at the church..he told the story about that song and how it came to be written and then he sang it..it was a most amazing moment also...I was the very very fortunate little girl who got to spend many Christmases with my wonderful Newfoundland Grandparents..who always made Christmas special for me..they will never know how special it was, as I carried it over quite a bit to my own children..who never had much but hopefully they will at least remember some of the Christmases..I wonder if they have good memories of good Christmases..I wish they would all write their memories of it, just to see..but no matter..I miss them, one and all very very much at Christmas..but the great memories, Christmas Music, Christmas lights, Childrens faces and snow..that does not cost much, and it makes me feel Christmas peacefull this time of year.

Anonymous said...

The Name of the man who wrote this old house is Stuart Hamblin I believe..He had quite the life.

Heather said...

Well, did the stubborn cord finally fall off??? Has Josh had a proper bath yet????

Shelly said...

Jessi helps our house get excited! If it weren't for her we probably wouldn't even have a tree up!!