Alright, pull up a chair because today’s conversation might meander a bit. That’s what happens when you’re running on short naps, no water, and a whole lot of newborn snuggles. Life on the farm has always been a balancing act, but throw in a brand-new baby and a temperamental well, and it feels more like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle.
Baby Aliyah made her grand entrance on Friday the 13th—our third December girl. She’s perfect, of course, in all the ways that newborns are. Tiny fingers, big yawns, and that soft, squishy warmth that makes you forget how much sleep you’re not getting. After five other kids, I didn’t think there’d be much left to surprise me about having a newborn, but somehow, she still finds a way.
On one hand, slipping back into newborn routines has been second nature. Late-night feedings? Check. Diaper changes on autopilot? Got it. The juggling act of holding a baby while attempting to wrangle a four-year-old’s breakfast? Surprisingly seamless. But then there’s the other side—the hard side. The “I can’t just drop everything and run outside to check on the chickens because the baby needs to nurse, and I’ve been sitting here for 45 minutes” side.
And let’s talk about this well issue. Whether the pump is on its last legs or we’re somehow running out of water in a 300-foot well that’s been reliable for 35 years, the result is the same: no water. At least one day every other week, the taps are dry, and we’re dipping into our emergency stash. Except today, after chores, the stash is gone.
Here’s the thing about farm life—it doesn’t stop. Animals need food and water, even when your well doesn’t feel like cooperating. Kids need meals and attention, even when you’re running on fumes. And the baby? She doesn’t care that you’ve got 500 other things to do. Her world begins and ends with you, and honestly, there’s something grounding about that.
I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t overwhelming. There’s a lot happening all at once, and most of it feels out of my control. But then I look at Aliyah. I feel her tiny hand gripping my finger or hear that little contented sigh she makes when she’s finally full and drifting off to sleep, and I remember why we do this. Why we chose this life, with all its challenges and chaos.
It’s easy to get caught up in the struggle, to see only the problems and not the beauty. But the beauty is there—in the rhythm of the farm, in the resilience of this land, and in the quiet moments of holding a new life in my arms. The well might not be working, but the world keeps turning. The baby might keep me trapped in place, but I’m reminded to pause and breathe.
So, today’s lesson? Life doesn’t wait for you to catch up, but it also has a way of forcing you to slow down. To reevaluate. To adapt. And sometimes, to just sit there with a warm baby in your lap and let the rest of it go for a little while.
Until next time,
Traci
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