Today my beautiful new Valentine is 2 weeks old. She’s brand new! Or “fresh from heaven” as Bitzy likes to say. She is proving to be a very good baby so far. Although she loves to be held 99% of the time and wants to eat constantly, she isn’t crying much so I’m a happy Mama.

As you may know, these newborn days are fleeting, so I’m trying with all my might to soak them up.

So today while Brother and Bitzy spent the day with their sweet Lolly, I rocked and rocked and rocked some more with this precious child.

Even though we do not have not a piece of fruit left in the house and I must go to the store.

Even though the chores are plenty all over the house from bills to pay to scrubbing toilets.

Even though my hair has really seen better days.

Even though _____________ (a zillion other things).

In light of all these chores and responsibilities, we rocked.

Why?

Because this poem rings in my ears and reminds me that rocking my baby is my most important job today.

Song for a Fifth Child

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

So excuse me while I go rock some more.