We are expecting our second baby in a couple of weeks time, and in the last month or two, we have been physically preparing for her arrival. That includes packing away things we don't need, selling away some stuff on gumtree, so that we can have space for the new baby's stuff. We have also been receiving bags of used baby clothes and equipment (like baby bottles and breast feeding stuff) and furniture and toys. We were even given a toddler bed which we could transit Gideon into, from the cot; and then subsequently our new baby could use the cot.
I realised that even with all that physical preparation, I was still not mentally ready for baby 2. See, it was two weeks ago when Mabel had some sort of regular contractions. It started with a terrible back-ache throughout the day and she had to stay in bed to rest. She stayed in bed for almost 6 hours, and after dinner she felt some pain in her pelvis. In a short while, she started feeling contractions! Then after monitoring it for an hour, we called the hospital to speak to a midwife, confirmed all the symptoms and within the next ten to fifteen minutes, we packed some necessities and we were off. As we got to the hospital and were lead into the birthing suite, it then dawned on me that we were having our second baby! It was only at that moment that I started to imagine what it will be like when the baby is here and what we will be doing (sterilising bottles and night feedings) and the changes that will be happening in the house. Somehow I have been avoiding all those thoughts until then (when the penny dropped) and it seemed a bit too late to prepare myself mentally for it.
Thank God those sudden contractions turned out to be a false alarm. The contractions were likely caused by Mabel being too dehydrated and it went away after she was put on a drip with half a litre of fluids. This little shock was a good mental nudge for me, reminding me that we are going to have baby 2 and I had to spend more time praying for the family and preparing myself mentally and spiritually to be upgraded to "Dad 2.0".
Just a week ago, our church had Pastor Kameel Majdali share with us about the end times. He reminded us that we have to be prudent and wise as we are living in the end times. God has given us an early warning system through His Word and the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 reminds us to "not be like others, who are asleep, but lets us be awake and sober". Being asleep doesn't mean physically sleeping, but spiritually 'asleep'. People who are spiritually asleep live only for themselves and for the world. They think that everything in life is nice and wonderful, that there is peace and nothing disastrous is going to happen, and they do not need God. Sadly that is so far from the truth. The last days may not happen in our current generation (for we do not know the exact times and dates), but we know it is going to happen and Christ is coming again. So we have to be watchful, be sensitive to the warning system that God has in place for us, walk close to Him and wake as many who are asleep as we can.
Going back to our pregnancy, we are 'safe' for now, but baby 2 is still going to arrive between now and the next two weeks (whether we are ready or not).
I realised that even with all that physical preparation, I was still not mentally ready for baby 2. See, it was two weeks ago when Mabel had some sort of regular contractions. It started with a terrible back-ache throughout the day and she had to stay in bed to rest. She stayed in bed for almost 6 hours, and after dinner she felt some pain in her pelvis. In a short while, she started feeling contractions! Then after monitoring it for an hour, we called the hospital to speak to a midwife, confirmed all the symptoms and within the next ten to fifteen minutes, we packed some necessities and we were off. As we got to the hospital and were lead into the birthing suite, it then dawned on me that we were having our second baby! It was only at that moment that I started to imagine what it will be like when the baby is here and what we will be doing (sterilising bottles and night feedings) and the changes that will be happening in the house. Somehow I have been avoiding all those thoughts until then (when the penny dropped) and it seemed a bit too late to prepare myself mentally for it.
Thank God those sudden contractions turned out to be a false alarm. The contractions were likely caused by Mabel being too dehydrated and it went away after she was put on a drip with half a litre of fluids. This little shock was a good mental nudge for me, reminding me that we are going to have baby 2 and I had to spend more time praying for the family and preparing myself mentally and spiritually to be upgraded to "Dad 2.0".
Just a week ago, our church had Pastor Kameel Majdali share with us about the end times. He reminded us that we have to be prudent and wise as we are living in the end times. God has given us an early warning system through His Word and the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 reminds us to "not be like others, who are asleep, but lets us be awake and sober". Being asleep doesn't mean physically sleeping, but spiritually 'asleep'. People who are spiritually asleep live only for themselves and for the world. They think that everything in life is nice and wonderful, that there is peace and nothing disastrous is going to happen, and they do not need God. Sadly that is so far from the truth. The last days may not happen in our current generation (for we do not know the exact times and dates), but we know it is going to happen and Christ is coming again. So we have to be watchful, be sensitive to the warning system that God has in place for us, walk close to Him and wake as many who are asleep as we can.
Going back to our pregnancy, we are 'safe' for now, but baby 2 is still going to arrive between now and the next two weeks (whether we are ready or not).
 |
| At Healesville Sanctuary - Gideon on the stroller and Baby 2 in Mummy's tummy |
No comments:
Post a Comment