Babies Don't Keep

When I found Mira's nursery furniture on Craigslist, (super cheap, of course!) I could have never imagined how much time I would spend in the rocking chair. I wish I could write down all of the things I think about as I sit there, but my hands are usually full with someone very important. Almost every night, for the the past 11 months, (give or take a few) I ignored the phone, computer, dirty dishes, dust bunnies, and piles of laundry to rock my sweet girl. While we were waiting for Mira to come into our lives, I found this poem ......

Babies Don’t Keep
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye 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 his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But 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.

I think about the day she was born, when her Birthmom placed her in my arms for the first time. The time we spent in hotels in Ohio, sometimes lonely, most of the time cherished one-on-one time to get to know our baby. How much she changes everyday, what she'll be like in 10 years. Her first smile, laugh, and word. I think about the strong woman that entrusted me with Mira, and gave me the opportunity to be a Mommy. I thank God for the beautiful life he created for us, and for giving us the strength and the faith to stay the course and let him lead us. I have cried many tears over the joy that Mira brings us while sitting in that chair. I hold that precious baby and pray for my friends who are waiting for the dream of becoming a Mommy to come true. I pray for our future children, whenever they will be created and whomever will be the blessed one to have them growing in their belly.

As Mira is growing so big and tall, it's harder and harder for her to be comfortable with me rocking her in our chair, so we've become quite creative with the way we snuggle. I hope that she will sit with me, with her head on my chest, and listen to me sing her to sleep for many more years, but I know that will soon come to an end. But for now, I will cherish every second, wrap my arms around her, kiss her cheeks and tell her we love her.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.