GRRRR!!!!

I have to admit, these last few weeks have not been easy. I've been in a good mood and all and am very thankful for the things going on in my life, but I have been totally sleep deprived....Grrrr!!!! Sofia gets up during the night, every hour on the hour. Once in a blue moon, I get a night where she'll sleep a three-hour stretch, but most of the time it's just awful. I've tried everything, I even read that book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution, and tried some of the suggestions there. I'm still open to suggestions, though, if there are any mothers out there reading this! I'll try anything!

I have these fantasies of going off to a quiet, secluded cabin in the woods....to sleep for days and days until I am caught up with all the sleep I have missed for the last six months. I also have these fantasies of sitting down to a delicious, all-you-can-eat, East-Indian meal, UNINTERRUPTED and with the use of BOTH OF MY HANDS, thank you very much! Yes....that would be sweet.

I feel like I'm running on empty most days. I'm happy (see?....:o), just....exhausted. It's times like these that I really feel the Lord in my life. I mean, how am I even functioning right now?! The Lord is carrying me through all this, giving me strength, day by day. I give Him the glory, 'cause, technically, folks, I should not have any strength right now! I'm just chuggin' along....chugchug.

On a more positive note....despite the sleepless nights, etc., I absolutely *love* being a mother! :o) It is such a blessing to be given a child to raise....God has given us the gift of Sofia, and trusts us (of all people- haha) to take care of her- I couldn't think of a more meaningful lifetime job to take on! I keep thinking to the years ahead, of all the memories to be made....I never knew I could love someone so much....Now I know what people were talking about when they talked about their children....it's a love that goes so deep that it hurts. I would do anything for that little girl, I would even give my life for her. I guess to anyone reading this who doesn't have children, this will sound weird. But to the mothers out there....I'm sure you understand. It's a love that just can't be defined. It's unconditional and just utterly beautiful, even with all it's flaws and sleepless nights. I imagine this is how the Lord Jesus Christ loves us....Sometimes I don't know how He could love us, because of the way we are sometimes, but I do know that He does love us....there is such a comfort in that, and in knowing that I can trust Him in all things, including raising Sofia!

By the way, Sofia can stand now- and she's not even seven months old, yet! She pulls herself up to stand every morning in her crib....I think she's going to be an early walker! Look out, world, here she comes!

Love, Stacey.

P.S. Hey, who reads my blog?....It would be nice to know who reads my blog, so feel free to e-mail me at: staceyvanhecke@yahoo.ca I don't get out much anymore, so if you e-mail me, that will probably be my human contact for the day....haha (sad, but true).

Have a great weekend, everybody! :o)