But who needs to be eloquent when talking about the joys of motherhood? Joseph is three months old and we are so incredibly happy as a family. He is such a delight and I feel is really starting to bond with me. I still find it hard to believe I have a son, but maybe I always will.
Recent developments are most noticeable in his hands. He likes to look at both hands now and he can clasp them together and look at them in front of his face. He finds it very important work and concentrates very hard. He is now quite good at reaching out and waving his hand until he gets something and then closing his fingers so that he can hold it. It’s not a smooth reach-grab movement yet, but I’m sure he’ll get there before we know it. One development in particular I find fun. From lying on his back he can grab on to my fingers and he can keep is grip without help throughout a whole sequence of pulling him up to standing, lifting him up in the air so he hangs on his own a few seconds and then lowering him back down. Holding his head up for that is no problem now. Of course if he’s tired he won’t do any of it. I wish I had a bar to practice hanging from, too.
I love watching Papa and Joseph play together.
Yesterday a lady I’ve only met once a number of weeks ago stopped by with dinner for us because “she remembered how hard it was to have a little baby.”
One of my favorite songs came up on my MP3 player. It’s one that always makes me cry. I’m sure Stephan thinks it’s cheesy, but cheesy lyrics go well with simple melodies. I wanted to find it on YouTube and dedicate it to all my family, but it’s on there. Neither can I find the lyrics online. As an exile all my CD cases are an ocean away so I can’t type them up either. It’s a beautiful ballad expressing the joys and difficulties of leaving family and living in a new country by Cherish the Ladies. It’s “The Missing Piece” on their “Out and About” CD. It’s a great recording so go out and buy it and listen to it. I won’t tattle if you cry.
As conservator of said CD cases, allow me:
John and Mary went to live in the Midwest in 1950,
They worked as hard as immigrants,
Bought a house and a used car,
But their home was still to be a long, long way from Detroit City,
It called out of the lost part of their hearts.
And their Irish eyes only really smiled
When they thought of County Kerry,
The other times they mostly squinted hard,
And they reared their kids to sing the songs
And share in the same longing,
No fault of theirs, this love of loyal hearts for what was missing.
Like an animal who'll choose
To lose his leg to gain his freedom,
And leave it cut and torn inside the trap,
When feelings stir and hearts are opened up for any reason,
The missing piece aches deeply to go back.
Their feelings stirred on holidays, 'specially Christmas morning,
When Breeda, Tom and Maureen ran with glee into their play,
Mary left alone would pick up paper,
Bows and wrapping,
And John would peel the turnips and make tea.
There were silences on days like that
That needed no explaining,
Their hearts were with their families back in Blayne,
And the wild beauty of the land to their memory calling,
"No pity now, you've learned to bear
The pain for what was missing."
The Murrays' house is empty now, the plant in town is closing,
Old John's put in his 30 years, Mary's ready to retire,
This should be the time to head back home
To what's been missing,
But their heart's no longer sure of their desire.
They talk for months and months
Of pensions, punts, and their survival,
For neither wants to say what they both know,
They'd only be "the Yanks" at home
And they'd miss their grandkids growing,
They'll stay right here and reap
What they have sown for what was missing.
Like an animal who'll choose
To lose his leg to gain his freedom,
And leave it cut and torn inside the trap,
When feelings stir and hearts are opened up for any reason,
The missing piece aches deeply to go back.
My mistake, if it was one, was to listen to the song. Typing the words left me dry-eyed, but hearing them sung tore me to pieces.
We love you and miss you so much!
(But what you are sowing is beautiful.)
I didn't need to hear the music to fight back tears :( (although it doesn't take much when you're expecting) -- so can only imagine how much more moving it is with the music. I might look into getting that CD and sharing it with my brother and his family, who've been on the mission field in Africa for years. Thanks Janet and "Mom" for sharing this.
Oh! I remember crying so easily when I was expecting - especially if it had to do with a family hardship. I felt like such a sap but I couldn't help it! I'm sure you'll enjoy the CD if you get it. It's not just vocal pieces. There are a number of good ol' Irish jigs and reels for the lifting up of spirits.
