Sunflower family welcomes baby Lawson!
Baby Lawson is now almost a year old so it's about time we get this fun update out on our blog. Sunflower has a beautiful sense of creating family - no matter what our family looks like - it is family to us. During the 35 years of life experiences, Sunflower has enjoyed the little ones that join us along the way. It's been quite a few years since little feet ran through our garden, and now we are happy to welcome little baby Lawson. What an amazing beginning to life, Aunt Beetta (Bobette) is definitely one of his favorites and the bond between them is beautiful to witness - especially seeing his little blue eyes light up in a smile at the sight of her in the house. We all enjoy watching him grow and being part of his baby awe experiences. Mom (Amanda) and Dad (CJ) seem happier than I've ever seen them as a couple. I've enjoyed seeing how little Lawson has bonded them as a couple as well.
I am also amazed to see how raising a baby in a coop experience is so much different than raising a baby as a couple alone.
"It takes a village to raise a child"
Why is it that our society expects couples to go it alone when raising a baby? Today we are often isolated from grandparents,cousins or family and then the parents spend thousands on day care just to get help. It is beautiful for me to see there is another way. Here, momma Amanda can bring baby Lawson down to the kitchen and know someone will hold him to give her a break or even be available for adult conversation. The isolation I've seen with my friends outside the coop as they raise their babies is heartbreaking. It doesn't have to be that way. If you have a little one yourself, even if outside the coop, I hope you have your 'village' surrounding you with support. You do not have to be alone.
I'm also impressed with how Amanda and CJ interact with such respect of everyone in the coop as extended family. They started with asking the house to vote whether they stay once baby was born, of course we all vote yes! The respect and love in the ask was warming to all. And it's not all just fun, it's got to be hard to clear out the living room to still be available for "community" space or to haul bottles downstairs to the kitchen and get it all back up out of the way with stairs and baby balancing act. But hopefully one of us is around to open a door and make life just a tiny bit easier.
Amanda is an amazing mother, her calm confidence is fantastic to witness. And CJ obviously loves his little mini-me and purposefully values time to be connected in his son's world. I also love how they treat each other with balance, valuing time to take care of each other as well.
Thank you for this experience CJ and Amanda, thank you for sharing your family with your extended Sunflower family!
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